Search results for 'tag:Grammar tag:Commas' matching tags 'Grammar' and 'Commas'

Re: malnutrition that's becoming more and more widespread

Cool Breeze — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 19:42:46 GMT

New2grammar
Dozens of UN humanitarian workers are exposed to risk on their job every day. A good example is truck drivers who deliver much needed food to remote villages in poor countries to combat malnutrition, which is becoming more and more widespread.

Hi N2G

It has become more and more fashionable to use hyphens in English and therefore some might put a hyphen between much and needed but I don't think that is necessary. I wouldn't object to one, either. Clearly, the relative clause is a non-defining one and thus a comma is needed, which means that which is the correct pronoun.

Re: How to use dash, colon, semicolon ?

Feebs11 — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 01:16:32 GMT

Pleasecorrectme
Thank you so much ! The website helps a lot ! Hmmm ... but ... the site said that dash can be used to emphasize on a point . Can it be use on any point? Does it have to be a sentence or can it be just a phrase ?

E.g .   But we managed to get out in time - I hoped .    (acceptable?)     <-- is this emphasizing on a point? Acceptable - and indicating a pause for effect when spoken

           She just stood there, not moving - at all - not until we move . (What about this?)      <-- a phrase ? If written as: not moving at all - not until we moved, then it is fine.
I think the use of the dash to emphasize a point is better shown as: There are several things to be considered - correct spelling, correct grammar, correct usage.

And .. and ! Colon and semi-colon . Is it apporiate to use in this way :

E.g . A few excellent ideas were thought out by our committee members: Ashley with the idea on holding an open house; John with the idea on printing booklets; and Jolin with the idea on giving a presentation.

Some website said that   " ; and " cannot be used together, they have to be changed to   " , and " , so I have to change it? And according to the website you suggested, it says that a semi-colon is used to separated sentence with commas . So the above sentence without commas is not acceptable?

That sentence is fine. It could be either semi-colon or comma. I see no reason why you canot use "and" after a semi-colon.

Sorry to ask so many question ! And thanks a lot ! ^^

will someone proofread my essay? need by monday

basic2008 — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 05:14:02 GMT

I just finished a compare and contrast essay and I do not trust my grammar. I do not know if my commas are in the right place and I do not trust my spell check on my computer.

Many thanks!

   There are two great cliffs located at Lake Nichols Landing in Tuscaloosa. They both can be found just off the winding footpath, through the wooded area as you get to the clearing. Many people do not know the exact location of these cliffs because there arenât any posted signs or visible indication that there are cliffs there. For that very reason, the cliffs are never crowded. A beautiful nature scene greets people as they arrive. Both cliffs share impressive views that skim the horizon, and a calming pool of water, deep enough for jumping, rests at its feet. Despite these similarities, each cliff is quite different.
    To begin with, access to the cliffs can be challenging. The first cliff is directly up a gently sloped hill and is easily accessible. After arriving at the clearing, a person can see the first cliff within minutes. It is a short hike up the straight trail and left at the weather-worn oak tree. In contrast, the other cliff is not as easily accessible, and its view is hidden from unaware people passing by.   One might say that it is a hikerâs delight. A person has to hike farther up the rock-strewn hill, through the dense woods, until they reach a narrow trail. The trail then winds for a good five to seven minutes until they finally reach a patch of brush. The other cliff is just past the dead patch and is a larger well-shaded area that is more secluded than the first cliff.
    Admittedly, jumping off the high cliffs are dangerous, but the drop-off distances appeal to enthusiasts on many levels. Many thrill seekers are still keen on tempting their fate and taking the leap. The first cliff has a 20-foot drop to get to the water. People prefer to jump from this cliff because jumping 20-feet doesnât seem so daunting. A daring individual will stand at the edge of the cliff without being intimidated. There are no obstacles to interfere with the jump, and it is a clean shot to the cool water. Alternatively, the other cliff is much higher with a 30-foot drop. Many people tend to stay away from this cliff because of how high it is. It takes either a very courageous, or a very frivolous, individual to launch themselves off a 30-foot cliff into thin air. They must take a deep breath and a running start to avoid the jagged rocks and trees below. Clearly, this cliff is the more dangerous of the two.
    Lastly, climbing out of the water is not the easiest of tasks. If jumping off the first cliff, a person needs to climb out of the water on the left side of the natural stone. The dirt path is not a difficult climb and is soft on the feet. The smooth rock steps are well formed and easily spotted due to many visitors trampling up and down the route. Consequently, climbing out of the water from the other cliff may require a bit more exertion. A person has to repel up a small overgrown rock trail, while grasping at young branches and trees for support. They trek through a heavily wooded area and murky water. Even on the brightest of days, the soggy path seems dark and damp. It is like walking barefooted through patches of thick mud and leaves. If a person is not careful, they could easily slip on the slimy rocks or even worse â encounter bugs or snakes! It actually is very scary.
    On a final note, the cliffs at Lake Nichols may differ in many ways, but nevertheless, their similarities have one goal in common: to be there for everyone to enjoy. Whichever cliffs people choose, they should be aware that both cliffs have rewards and risks. It all depends on what type of adventure they are looking for.

Re: Punctuation-commas and so on

bhikkhu1991 — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 08:38:52 GMT

Hello Mister Micawber,

I have recently found out the rule of commas in the 'Guide to Grammar and Writing' is contradicting your remark, ' the second requires a comma between independent clauses'.

When a coordinating conjunction connects two independent clauses, it is often (but not always) accompanied by a comma:

Ulysses wants to play for UConn, but he has had trouble meeting the academic requirements.

When the two independent clauses connected by a coordinating conjunction are nicely balanced or brief, many writers will omit the comma:

Ulysses has a great jump shot but he isn't quick on his feet.

Thank you.

With best wishes.

inverted commas

Anonymous — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 16:54:37 GMT

Hi everyone and I hope you are all well today. It's sunny here in Aberdeen, Scotland, which is rather rare here!

Anyway, the local paper has caused the grammar geek within me to stir and I would welcome some feedback on the following:

1) I thought to myself "it is hardly a good look when they've got a Hollywood star to launch the venue".

I'm not sure if this is correct. If there were no inverted commas, I reckon that's fine, but if they are being used, should it not be as follows:

I thought to myself ,"It is hardly a good look when they've got a Hollywood star to launch the venue".

2) Similarly, I read this in an earlier edition:

"Coronation Street once said "no star is bigger than the show".

Again, I doubt if inverted commas are really needed here, but if they have to be used, should it not be:

"Coronation Street once said, "No star is than the show".

Thanks everyone!

Re: Punctuation-commas and so on

bhikkhu1991 — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 09:11:51 GMT

Hello Mister Micawber,

I would like to thank you for your comment. Could you elaborate on the awkwardness of my punctuation, please?
Is the matter a rule of grammar rather than a form of awkwardness? Well, I have found 'and then' is a complex subordinator under 'Coherence: Transitions between ideas' in the 'Guide to Grammar and Writing' from the Internet, but your punctuation is in the form of FANBOYS. Could you explain the word 'then' after 'and' in your sentence?

He usually has a shower, and then he has a shave and brushes his teeth.

Thank you.

With best wishes.

Re: gas hike

Cool Breeze — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 09:46:02 GMT

New2grammar
The government has been known for strictly regulating (the) prices of essential goods, which makes the country extremely competitive in the global economy.

The prices is better because of the of. I would leave prices in the plural since the goods don't all have the same price. A comma is naturally needed after goods because the entire main clause is the antecedent of the relative clause.

Re: Grammar Suggestion

Mr Wordy — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 20:47:10 GMT

Hi Cute572

1. Sitting at my writing desk and working on my assignment, I become captivated by the soft evening rays, pouring in through the side window and gently covering my sheet in their yellow and orange shades.

"Become" is fine (if you've decided that you want to write the sentence in the present tense).

2. The evening rays, entering through the window, casting a gradient colors [or look?] to my smooth carpet.

The commas are OK, but there is no main verb, and this is not a proper sentence. The prepositions in the last part of the sentence also need fixing. You might say:

The evening rays, entering through the window, cast a gradient of colors on my smooth carpet.

Now "cast" is the main verb.

Re: Grammar Suggestion

Cute572 — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 16:21:07 GMT

Hello again Mr. Wordy!

Well I have one old sentence and one new one

1. Sitting at writing desk and working on my assignment, I become [can use instead of am?] captivated by the soft evening rays, poring in through the side window and gently covering my sheet in its yellow and orange shades.

Please Just check; is there any grammar or comma problem here?

2. The evening rays, entering through the window, casting a gradient colors [or look?] to my smooth carpet.

This part is suitable?

And I have separated Rayâs subject and Entering Verb with comma, it is ok in this case OR casting is Verb of rays?

Thanks Mr. Wordy for Your help

Re: Grammar Suggestion

Mr Wordy — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 19:57:05 GMT

Looks pretty much OK to me! Just a couple of comments:

Today, in such a warm evening glow, different colors streaming in through the open window over [?] the blue wall, I feel much relaxed -- light as fur ...

I took out the comma after "window". The comma isn't wrong but to me the sentence reads better without it (others may have a different view). I also put a space before the dash. Spacing around dashes is optional (in proper typeset work some people use a "thin space"), but in my view if you do use them then you should use them both before and after.

To indicate that the sentence continues beyond what you've written, it's usual to use three dots (...) rather than two. (I assume that's what you meant by the two dots.)

Final point. Previously I've been assuming that "over the blue wall" meant that the colors were streaming in over the wall. This is why I suggested "different colors streaming in over the blue wall through the open window" -- because, on their journey from (presumably) the sun, the colors pass over the wall before they come through the window. It's just occurred to me, however, that you might be saying that the window is over the wall. If so, then I'd be tempted to change "over" to "above" to avoid the ambiguity.