tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731159552335760887.post7411612238841870835..comments2024-03-18T12:02:51.113-04:00Comments on KILLER HOBBIES: Comma, PleaseBetty Hechtmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14652848311122102223noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731159552335760887.post-40677384987710174282010-03-27T18:20:29.120-04:002010-03-27T18:20:29.120-04:00Joanna, interesting about the Michael Connolly boo...Joanna, interesting about the Michael Connolly book. <br /><br />Your example was great.Betty Hechtmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14652848311122102223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731159552335760887.post-57635715980463376162010-03-27T16:37:21.471-04:002010-03-27T16:37:21.471-04:00Here's an example I heard: I leave all my mone...Here's an example I heard: I leave all my money to John, Mary, and Jim. (Okay, that means the money should be split three ways, right?) Try this: I leave all my money to John, Mary and Jim. (Now the money should be split 50% to John, and 50% to Mary and Jim. I'd rather have 30% than half of 50%!)Joanna Campbell Slanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01951637123269159053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731159552335760887.post-45505302340647644552010-03-27T16:35:09.758-04:002010-03-27T16:35:09.758-04:00Betty, I bought my first copy of that book in the ...Betty, I bought my first copy of that book in the UK. It came out there before it came out here. I loved it then and I love it now. Some parts were laugh-out-loud funny. Comma usage is really changing. I just read a Michael Connelly book where they didn't put commas in compound sentences at all! (Is compound right? I mean sentences with complete clauses.)Joanna Campbell Slanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01951637123269159053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731159552335760887.post-24445500253509773742010-03-27T13:52:12.622-04:002010-03-27T13:52:12.622-04:00Linda, I never appreciated what commas do until I ...Linda, I never appreciated what commas do until I read that book.Betty Hechtmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14652848311122102223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731159552335760887.post-3263622755879938542010-03-27T12:44:49.345-04:002010-03-27T12:44:49.345-04:00I love Eats, Shoots and Leaves, Betty! It's fu...I love Eats, Shoots and Leaves, Betty! It's fun to ponder the havoc that misused commas can wreak.Linda O. Johnstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01512430135042480450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731159552335760887.post-81036910669604097492010-03-27T11:21:00.714-04:002010-03-27T11:21:00.714-04:00Yes, Camille, clarity seems to be what commas are ...Yes, Camille, clarity seems to be what commas are about now.Betty Hechtmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14652848311122102223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731159552335760887.post-39431657779668427402010-03-27T09:51:49.390-04:002010-03-27T09:51:49.390-04:00I think today's "rule" is to put a c...I think today's "rule" is to put a comma wherever it's needed to make a sentence clear.<br /><br />I've noticed that commas for appositional phrases are no longer required, for example, unless the sentence is hard to read without them. In grammar school I learned a hard and fast rule: My brother, John, is six years old.<br /><br />Now it's: My brother John is ... <br /><br />I like the idea that clarity dictates where and when we use commas.Camille Minichinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04701150885595400018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731159552335760887.post-16197721525604086242010-03-27T04:19:04.900-04:002010-03-27T04:19:04.900-04:00Jeanne, thanks for your comma confession. I'm...Jeanne, thanks for your comma confession. I'm glad I'm not the only one who is comma challenged.Betty Hechtmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14652848311122102223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731159552335760887.post-29601337963697501442010-03-27T04:14:35.241-04:002010-03-27T04:14:35.241-04:00I am so guilty of comma over-usage! Same as the e...I am so guilty of comma over-usage! Same as the exclamation point! I feel like Elaine in Seinfeld! :)Jeanne C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09983400327527054058noreply@blogger.com