Comma help needed!

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Anonymous

#450298 Thu, 06 Dec 07 11:09 AM

"The sketch lay on the Chinese artist's table, and the artist stepped aside diffidently, in silence." My question is: should there be a comma before 'in'? What point does the comma serve and why is it there? Is it an appositive?

Anonymous

Commas

Mister Micawber

#450324 Thu, 06 Dec 07 01:04 PM

Yes, I think the comma is needed, and yes, in silence does stand in a sort of appositive position, though it is an adverbial.

Mister Micawber

Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004

Yokohama

Veteran Member (23,409)

'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.'

Commas

Anonymous

#453956 Mon, 17 Dec 07 05:28 AM

Anonymous wrote:

"The sketch lay on the Chinese artist's table, and the artist stepped aside diffidently, in silence." My question is: should there be a comma before 'in'? What point does the comma serve and why is it there? Is it an appositive?