wholegrain  +  550045 Sat, 02 Aug 08 03:44 PM Such a path that he chose to take, is dangerous Such a path, that he chose to take, is dangerous. The first means the EXACT same thing right, since SUCH defines the PATH all by itself and HE CHOSE TO TAKE is not a necessary part of it's definition? Thank you. wholegrain Joined on Thu, Jun 19 2008 Regular Member 534

	Avangi  +  550167 Sun, 03 Aug 08 04:06 AM Hi, wholegrain, I agree completely with your analysis.  The comma after "path" makes "that he chose to take" parenthetical, rather than a modifier of "path," as it is absent the comma.  Best regards,   -  A. Avangi Joined on Mon, Nov 19 2007 Veteran Member 8,172 ". . . le plaisir delicieux et toujours nouveau d'une occupation inutile." - Henri de Regnier Regards, Commas

	Grammar Geek  +  550169 Sun, 03 Aug 08 04:10 AM wholegrain “Such a path that he chose to take, is dangerous Such a path, that he chose to take, is dangerous. The first means the EXACT same thing right, since SUCH defines the PATH all by itself and HE CHOSE TO TAKE is not a necessary part of it's definition? Thank you. ”    This is so highly unnatural in American English. A path such as the one he chose to take is dangerous. Is the comma in the first one a typo?       Grammar Geek Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006 Veteran Member 19,652 Barbara, who answers in American English. My housekeeping skills attest to the truth of the second law of thermodynamics: Left to themselves, things get more and more random! American English, Commas

	Avangi  +  550173 Sun, 03 Aug 08 04:27 AM Grammar Geek “ This is so highly unnatural in American English. A path such as the one he chose to take is dangerous. Is the comma in the first one a typo?” Hi GG,  Sorry to ask  -   "This" refers to the one with the the second comma? I guess I'm way older than you!      - A. Edit.  If your example were "The path," then it would more closely resemble the OP, "Such a path,"  N'est-ce pas?  That is, isn't the fact of the existence of the path essential to the OP? (As you can see, I'm struggling to express this.) Avangi American English, Grammar, Commas

	Yankee  +  550175 Sun, 03 Aug 08 04:54 AM I agree with GG that the wording of the original sentence is awkward.  With respect to only the commas, either a pair of them or none at all should be used.  Yankee Joined on Sat, Apr 15 2006 Connecticut, USA Veteran Member 6,494 Amy "You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." - Mark Twain Commas

	Avangi  +  550177 Sun, 03 Aug 08 05:05 AM Yankee “With respect to only the commas, either a pair of them or none at all should be used.  ” Hi Yankee,  Would this effect the meaning? Best regards,  - A. Edit.  Sorry, did you mean that discussion is off-limits? Avangi Regards, Commas

	Yankee  +  550181 Sun, 03 Aug 08 05:54 AM Hi Avangi I meant exactly what I said. Nothing more, nothing less. I think the Wholegrain's original sentences are awkward, and since Barb asked whether the comma in the first was a typo, I stated what I see as a correct evaluation of the comma situation in Wholegrain's sentences.  That's all. I decided not to comment further because I don't think I'd actually use the sentences, and because I see the punctuation in the first sentence as incorrect anyway. Yankee Commas, Punctuation