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comma before 'although

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Ruttonjee  #307077  Mon, 25 Dec 06 08:11 AM

Hi there,

I was told not to use a comma before some adverbs such as 'because', although' , but I found a sentence in a textbook on learning English like this:

To date, we have not traced it, although we are usually very efficient when dealing with incoming remittances.

Why is there a comma in front of 'although'? Is it a modern usage?

Thanks in advance.

Simon

  
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Mister Micawber  #307133  Mon, 25 Dec 06 02:23 PM

These particular commas (before subordinating conjunctions) are used rather cavalierly these days, and depend more on the writer's view of the restrictiveness of the clause.

  
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Marius Hancu  #307167  Mon, 25 Dec 06 04:34 PM
The original poster should check the New York Times, the comma is still in common usage there:

http://query.nytimes.com/search/query?query=although&srchst=nyt

  
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