Comma necessity

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Chompipe  #180191  Sun, 08 Jan 06 07:56 AM
How important is the comma before "too".

Grammar books usually state that "too"  is an additional word and should be set off by a comma when used at the end of a sentence.
  • He likes to play tennis, too.
I find people leaving it off even in formal writings. It makes me wonder, is it acceptable to leave it off, or should "too" always be set off by a comma in this context?

Thank you very much.
  
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Mister Micawber  #180242  Sun, 08 Jan 06 12:00 PM

Most rules for commas are not hard and fast, with emphasis placed on clarity:  is the comma necessary to convey the information clearly and accurately?  Michael Swan (Practical English Usage) seldom uses a comma after a terminal too, nor do I if the sentence is short and sweet.  It seems to me that here it depends somewhat on the man's other likes (as well as the context):

He likes to play golf, and tennis too. (= he likes to play golf-- and, oh yes, he also likes to play tennis.)
He likes to play golf and tennis, too. (= he likes, e.g., to tapdance-- and, oh yes, he also likes to play golf and tennis.)
He likes to play golf and tennis too. (= he likes to play baseball-- and, oh yes, he also likes to play golf and tennis.)

I may have gone too far in this, however.

  
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Sam C  #180289  Sun, 08 Jan 06 03:20 PM
to comma or not, in my book, is chiefly a matter of intonation.  see John Lawler on comma use

sam,

 'One man can't punctuate another man's manuscript any more than one
  person can make the gestures for another person's speech.' - Twain
  
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Chompipe  #180298  Sun, 08 Jan 06 03:53 PM
Thank you very much, Mister Micawber and Sam C, that really made sense. Next time when I see somethine like that, I'll try to look at the meaning of the sentence more in depth.
  
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