The Worlds of Katherine Kurtz

Off Topic => Writing Tips => Topic started by: Evie on October 01, 2012, 12:58:06 PM

Title: Those pesky comma rules
Post by: Evie on October 01, 2012, 12:58:06 PM
While this isn't as entertaining as Holy Mother Grammatica, I figured this refresher on comma rules would be helpful for anyone who might be confused about where to insert (or delete) those pesky little tadpoles:

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/607/02/ (http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/607/02/)
Title: Re: Those pesky comma rules
Post by: Elkhound on October 01, 2012, 05:40:47 PM
Thanks.
Title: Re: Those pesky comma rules
Post by: Aerlys on August 22, 2013, 05:52:37 PM
Eats, shoots, and leaves...
Title: Re: Those pesky comma rules
Post by: Evie on August 23, 2013, 09:20:26 AM
Quote from: Aerlys on August 22, 2013, 05:52:37 PM
Eats, shoots, and leaves...

Given the comma usage, we must be talking about a Wild West outlaw rather than a panda.   ;D    (I love that book, btw!)

There's also the online cartoon regarding the Oxford Comma that's making the rounds.  For those not familiar with the Oxford Comma debate (or who don't know of it by that name), there are some writers who prefer to punctuate a list of things as "X, Y, and Z" and others who prefer to punctuate this same list as "X, Y and Z."  The comma before the word "and" in the first sequence is called the Oxford comma.  Some teachers will tell you this comma is unnecessary and ought to be left out.  Others (including yours truly) believe that there are times when it is quite necessary to meaning, and therefore it's best to leave it in.

Since the comic illustration is not exactly the most family-friendly picture out there on the internet, I won't link to it here (it's easily found if you just Google "Oxford comma cartoon").  But just consider these two hypothetical and wildly unlikely party scenarios for a moment:

Situation A:  "We invited the strippers, JFK, and Stalin."
Situation B:  "We invited the strippers, JFK and Stalin."

The first scenario describes a wild party involving two heads of state and some entertainers in a state of extreme deshabille.  The second scenario requires me to bleach my brain and makes me wonder just how drunk JFK and Stalin got at that party!
Title: Re: Those pesky comma rules
Post by: Laurna on August 23, 2013, 10:58:21 AM
Interesting.  I ran into this phrase just yesterday and had to try to decipher the meaning.
AKC dog show rules for Owner handler series. "Professional handlers, household members and current assistants to professional handlers may not exhibit."
The question was, were the household members of the professional handlers or of the dog owners.  We finally decided it was the professional handlers because there was no comma and the second phrase is therefore associated with the third phrase.

As for most comma rules, I am still in the dark.  Little by little I am working on understanding each form of usage, but it is slow going.
Title: Re: Those pesky comma rules
Post by: Aerlys on August 23, 2013, 11:43:22 AM
(//)
Title: Re: Those pesky comma rules
Post by: Evie on August 23, 2013, 01:07:55 PM
Quote from: Aerlys on August 23, 2013, 11:43:22 AM
(//)

A woman of few no words today, are we?   ;D
Title: Re: Those pesky comma rules
Post by: Laurna on August 23, 2013, 01:29:19 PM
Evie, if you could see the attachment you would laugh.
Title: Re: Those pesky comma rules
Post by: AnnieUK on August 23, 2013, 01:43:27 PM
I can see a box with an "x" in it in Internet Explorer, and nothing at all in Chrome.

Either browser fail, or our firewall is blocking it, for some reason.
Title: Re: Those pesky comma rules
Post by: Evie on August 23, 2013, 01:58:08 PM
Quote from: Laurna on August 23, 2013, 01:29:19 PM
Evie, if you could see the attachment you would laugh.

Ah, is that what it is?  For some reason I can't see attachments on this Forum at all.  On the other SimpleMachines forum I belong to, I'm able to read and create attachments, but not on this one.  Odd.   Now that I've looked at Aerlys' post again, I can see the paper clip, but can't view the attachment.  I'm using Chrome, but since I also use Chrome for my other forum and attachments work fine for me there, I'm guessing the failure here has something to do with the forum settings.  (Or perhaps there's just some personal setting for attachments that I've got set to Off for some reason, since Laurna is able to see it?  Time to go hunting....)

And speaking of hunting, Aerlys, I'm no Latin scholar, but I suspect you might want to chase down that woodchuck and find out what he did with the last half of your signature sentence....   ;D
Title: Re: Those pesky comma rules
Post by: Aerlys on August 23, 2013, 03:40:00 PM
Grumble, grumble...I was having trouble with images earlier, and thought I got it this time. Help, anyone?

Here's the link: http://communicationrhodes.wordpress.com/2011/10/04/punctuation-saves-lives/

And while we're on the subject: http://snarkygrammarguide.blogspot.com/2012/11/punctuation-saves-lives-please-use.html

Evie said:
QuoteAnd speaking of hunting, Aerlys, I'm no Latin scholar, but I suspect you might want to chase down that woodchuck and find out what he did with the last half of your signature sentence....   

Oooooo, that wascally woodchuck wan off on me again!
Title: Re: Those pesky comma rules
Post by: Evie on August 23, 2013, 04:43:04 PM
Quote from: Aerlys on August 23, 2013, 03:40:00 PM
Grumble, grumble...I was having trouble with images earlier, and thought I got it this time. Help, anyone?

*links clipped*

/me giggles at web comics

You've already figured out how to post a website link.  To post an image, first make sure it is already uploaded on the internet somewhere, since I don't think there's a way to upload a photo directly into a forum post.  I use Flickr for my online photo storage if I want to post one of my own photos rather than something that's already online.  Next, copy the link to the image itself.  (It will usually end with .jpg, .gif, or some other ending that indicates it's a picture file.)  Click on the picture frame icon (first one in the second row, just under the B), and you'll see <img> </img> appear in your window (except with square brackets rather than < and > brackets.).  Just paste your link between those two codes.  Or you can just type them in yourself if you prefer.  You end up with something like <img>http://www.yourpicturehere.com.jpg</img> (again, using square brackets instead).