American Grammar Quiz: A Comedy of Comma Errors
?? Susan Rooks ?? The Grammar Goddess
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Ah, commas. That ubiquitous punctuation mark that is small and seems so insignificant – until we leave one out and a reader gets confused about what we meant.
Oops.
If a reader laughs because of the idea the missing comma creates, how does that help our reputation as a professional?
And although there is often a disagreement about some of them (like the Oxford comma), most errors come from writers having missed or forgotten the lesson.
Now, please remember that I’m using the American system here; it’s possible that the system you’re using for English is different.
In the sentences below, there are actually two sentences that need NO comma at all. But for those sentences that need commas, (or in one case another mark altogether) do you know where they should be – and WHY?
1. Mrs. Jones can you please help Amy our newest student?
2. If I miss my bus I’ll be late to work.
3. Retired professor Chris Smith attended the event with me.
4. One of the retired professors Chris Smith attended the event with me.
5. Thanks for sharing Emily!
6. Thanks for sharing Susan it’s been a lot of fun working with you!
7. Jack walked home and took the long way this time.
8. Jack walked home and he took the long way this time.
9. That was some party wasn’t it?
Ready for the answers and the term for the type of error?
1. Mrs. Jones, can you please help Amy, our newest student? (direct address / afterthoughts)
2. If I miss my bus, I’ll be late to work. (introductory elements)
3. Retired professor Chris Smith attended the event with me. (titles vs. occupations)
4. One of the retired professors, Chris Smith, attended the event with me. (titles vs. occupations)
5. Thanks for sharing, Emily! (direct address)
6. Thanks for sharing, Susan; it’s been a lot of fun working with you! (direct address / compound sentences)
7. Jack walked home and took the long way this time. (compound sentences)
8. Jack walked home, and he took the long way this time. (compound sentences)
9. That was some party, wasn’t it? (afterthoughts)
For explanations on these issues:
ttps://grammargoddess.com/mondays-grammar-checkup-june-15-commas-in-compound-sentences/
(For some reason, the third link above refuses to show the page.)
From what I can see, many writers use commas where they think they should go (remember the old “rule” about using a comma where you pause?), but have truly lost track of the basic for-real rules. And for ordinary writing, there are only a dozen or so that actually matter.
Do you have any other punctuation questions -- in the American system?
Oh, someone sent me this -- and yes. I believe the Shatner comma does represent the way he speaks. (Actually, I think the writer missed one there -- after "to.") Love the humor!
*****
Susan, perhaps you can refer to this article as your commady of errors. And maybe my mind isn't hearing #2?correctly, but I would want it to be "If I miss my bus, I’ll be late to work." It seems to me the introductory element is not just missing, but missing the bus.? If we omit the introductory element you identified, then I can imagine the remainder being "My bus I'll be late to work." But that sounds as though I'm telling my bus I'll be late for work. Does that make my bus the direct addressee? "My bus,?I’ll be late to work." Being a person who doesn't often talk to his bus--primarily because I don't have a bus--I can't quite relate to that sentence. But back to that bit of punfun with commady, I've been wanting to tell you a safe for all ages punny joke: Q. How do you catch a unique rabbit? A. Unique up on it. Q. How do you catch a tame rabbit? A. Tame way.
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5 年Ahem..., while it may be correct to add a comma to the second sentence ("If I miss my bus I’ll be late to work."), the comma should be after "bus", not after "my". The author would have benefited from proofreading/editing. I find it kind of amusing when an article on comma use make a comma error. ?? I often over-use commas, so I would certainly not write an article on the correct use of commas... but this was such a glaring error that it's difficult to not say something... and to chuckle a bit...??
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5 年I got all of the correct answers.? And I knew why.