Ducks1160  +  960399 Tue, 03 Nov 09 04:58 AM Swint grabbed Herman by the hair atop his head so that Herman had no choice but to trot along with him while Swint ran down Main Street. Is the above sentence missing any punctuation?  Should there be a comma after "head"? Ducks1160 Joined on Fri, Jul 3 2009 New Member 33 Commas, Punctuation, Writing, Sentences

	Clive  +  960406 Tue, 03 Nov 09 05:11 AM Hi, I wouldn't say any punctuation is essential, but I would offer my opinion that it's not a well-written sentence.   Best wishes, Clive Clive Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004 Canada Veteran Member 29,679 El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo Sentences

	Ducks1160  +  960434 Tue, 03 Nov 09 06:05 AM Why do you think it is not a well written sentence? Ducks1160 Punctuation, Writing, Sentences

	Clive  +  960601 Tue, 03 Nov 09 11:51 AM Hi, Swint grabbed Herman by the hair atop his head so that Herman had no choice but to trot along with him while Swint ran down Main Street.   The word 'atop' does not seem very natural to me. I suggest simply 'by the hair atop his head'. It will normally just be assumed that the hair is on his head. ( We seldom, for example, grab people by the hair on other parts of their body.)    I don't like the way the sentence is constructed. It seems to describe a dramatic event in an undramatic way. I suggest this. Swint grabbed Herman by the hair and ran down Main Street.  Herman had no choice but to trot along.   Best wishes again, Clive   Clive Punctuation, Writing, Sentences