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Words From the Grammar Nazi

2/25/2013

7 Comments

 
She'll point out every little mistake.  She'll scream at you for using comma splices and split infinitives.  She has no tolerance for fragments and run-ons.  Today, she's taken over the Cerebral Writer, and hate her if you will, she does know her grammar.

Today's lesson:
The Most Common Punctuation Errors You Probably Didn’t Know You Were Making

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As writers, many of us use our intuitions to get through much of our prose.  While this might be a good thing where characterization, dialog, and storyline are concerned, it can also be a huge pitfall when it comes to proper punctuation use.  Before formally learning all of the rules, for example, I based my own comma use on various canonical works I’d read.  After all, the authors of acclaimed classics had to have gotten it right . . . right?  Unfortunately, the answer to that is not always a “yes.”  Following are a few of the most common errors I see in other authors’ writing.

Inattention to the adjectival phrase:  An adverbial phrase’s location in a sentence will determine whether you should use a comma between it and the main clause.  An adverbial phrase is any cluster of words that modifies the main clause.  It can determine how, when, why, or where the main clause is being performed.

Example [phrases and clauses labeled in brackets]: If the adverbial phrase comes before the main clause [adverbial phrase], use a comma [main clause].  Don’t use a comma [main clause] if the adverbial phrase comes after the main clause [adjectival phrase].

Failure to use the Oxford comma when it really counts:  There has been much debate recently on whether the Oxford comma should remain a grammatical rule.  Many people have opted to drop it altogether; however, there are some instances in which it is absolutely necessary.

Example:  “I’m going out later with my parents, Anna and Paul.”  The readers don’t really know this, but my parents’ names are not Anna and Paul.  I’m actually going out later with four people: my parents, Anna, and Paul.

Take note that there are rare instances in which using the Oxford comma can create ambiguity, and in those circumstances, it should be eliminated.

Example:  “I’m going to a movie with my mother, Carol, and Jesse.”  In this case, readers might mistake Carol for my mother, when she is one of two friends who will be joining my mother and me.

Using a comma to break up a list of two:  This one should be a no-brainer, but I see it far too often.  Even if the list is comprised of actions, never use commas unless that list contains three or more items.

Example:  After we go to the store, we’ll organize the kitchen, and make dinner [wrong].  After we go to the store, we’ll organize the kitchen and make dinner [right].

Failing to use a comma when addressing someone:  This is a problem I see often in dialog.  Most of us have read the comical example, “Let’s eat Grandma!”  Unfortunately, far too few people actually heed the rule.  Unless you’re actually planning on eating Grandma, don’t forget the comma.

Using a semicolon before a participle phrase:  Far too many people have no clue how to use semicolons, being under the impression that there are places in which they can be used interchangeably with commas.  This is rarely true.  Never use a semicolon unless you have a complete clause on both sides; those clauses should also have a strong enough relation to one another to merit a semicolon rather than a period.  (See how that works?)

Example of improper semicolon use in a participle phrase:  When they got to the beach, they made a sand castle; taking great care not to knock it over [wrong].  When they got to the beach, they made a sand castle, taking great care not to knock it over [right].

Using commas in a list in which semicolons are more appropriate:  Going back to the necessity of using commas in a list of at least three items (the debate over the Oxford comma aside), there are a couple of instances in which commas need to be replaced with semicolons.  The first instance is when listing items that, in themselves, have commas.  The second is when listing phrases that come after a colon.

Examples:  We got up early yesterday, having set the alarm for five; ate a quick breakfast of eggs, toast, and juice; and got to the conference by seven.  The group made the following mistakes: heavy use of grammatical errors; using numerous run-on sentences; and failure to use spell-check.

While you might have readers who also do not know the rules, there is always a chance that editors, agents, or reviewers reading your work do.  If you take the time to know and understand these rules, your writing will be sharper and you will be able to present it to the world with confidence and skill.


Until next time, my pretties!  (Insert evil cackle.)

7 Comments
Sumiko Saulson link
2/25/2013 04:38:09 am

I still have the worse time understanding the comma. I feel at times, that the comma has a personal grudge against me. Perhaps I did something evil to it, or it's creator, in another life?

I just Googled it and learned that Italian printer Aldus Manutius invented the comma. I must have offended him in a previous lifetime - I'm not sure how, but apparently I stole his goat. I am posting a link to his biography / in hopes that he will forgive me / and we won't have to return the / mark called the "virgule" because I cannot see how that could possibly be better.

http://hotword.dictionary.com/comma/

Reply
Becki Ryan aka Shadow Girl link
3/17/2013 05:22:23 pm

I feel bad for all the pain & abuse I inflict on the poor, little guy.
If I keep it up, we're going to have to agree on a Safe Word!
(Maybe the Safe Word could be 'VIRGUILE')

Wanted to reply because your post made me smile :)

Reply
Bob Kruger
2/25/2013 09:01:09 am

A very good list. The point about apposition and omitting the Oxford comma is one I used to make to my students, but I never thought about omitting it when it creates ambiguity in a list -- I simply recast the sentence -- but I like that idea and will keep it handy.

Reply
Leigh M. Lane link
2/25/2013 12:49:56 pm

Thanks for reading!

Reply
Okpulot Taha
3/18/2013 05:55:15 pm

Many examples I read up there are lazy tongue writing styles. Punctuation serves some purposes but should be severely limited and should never be used to replace what words can accomplish.

An example used is a low level amateur style to be avoided:

“I’m going out later with my parents, Anna and Paul.”

A creative and professional writing style avoids both apostrophes and commas:

“I am going out later with my parents along with Anna and Paul.”

Rather boring sentence there but nevertheless more entertaining.

Use of punctuation should be avoided whenever possible. This leads to more creative and more lively sentences.

Okpulot Taha - Choctaw Nation

Reply
Leigh M. Lane link
3/19/2013 05:31:24 am

While I appreciate your sentiment, Okpulot, this lesson was for the people who need to learn how to use commas, not how to avoid them. Would you call a math teacher lazy for teaching arithmetic simply because you understand calculus?

Reply
jdz
4/6/2013 05:09:42 am

Commas, as opposed to math, are completely made up Leigh... Math is symbolic representations of logical structures, while commas are mostly stylistic rules somebody just made up and change over time. Writing itself is just a vague representation of spoken language, which is a symbolic representation of thought but it isn't science/math... not the right comparison.




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