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Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2004Rules governing commas?
What are the rules concerning the use of commas? Sometimes I think I use too many, but at the same time the sentence(s) looks correct. Anyone care to share the definitive rules on this matter? Thanks, Mark Ferrante >What are the rules concerning the use of commas? Sometimes I think I >use too many, but at the same time the sentence(s) looks correct. >Anyone care to share the definitive rules on this matter? > >Thanks, >Mark Ferrante Much too complex to deal with in a nwsgroup post. This URL will answer most of your questions. It's a US site; if you're UK, usage differs a bit. http://ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/commas.htm Carter Jefferson carterj98@mindspring.com http://carterj.homestead.com/ > >What are the rules concerning the use of commas? Sometimes I think I > >use too many, but at the same time the sentence(s) looks correct. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > http://ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/commas.htm "However, there are situations in which, if you don't use this comma (especially when the list is complex or lengthy), these last two items in the list will try to glom together (like macaroni and cheese)." I've never heard of "glom" it's not in COD5 but 'glomerate' is, meaning 'compactly clustered' which seems to fit the context, however the meanings of 'glom' in Merriam-Webster (www.m-w.com) doesn't seem to correspond at all. >> >What are the rules concerning the use of commas? Sometimes I think I >> >use too many, but at the same time the sentence(s) looks correct. [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] >meanings of 'glom' in Merriam-Webster (www.m-w.com) doesn't >seem to correspond at all. I don't remember hearing it used much, but AHD4 labels it slang and says this: 1. To steal. 2. To seize; grab. 3. To look or stare at. v. intr. To seize upon or latch onto something: "The country has glommed onto the spectacle of a wizard showman turning the tables on his inquisitors" (Mary McGrory). Commnet tries to be cute, sometimes, but they're pretty good on punctuation. Carter Carter Jefferson carterj98@mindspring.com http://carterj.homestead.com/ > >> >What are the rules concerning the use of commas? Sometimes I think I > >> >use too many, but at the same time the sentence(s) looks correct. [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > Commnet tries to be cute, sometimes, but they're pretty good on > punctuation. Actually 'conglomerate' is a much more familar word, to me, than 'glomerate' and has a very similiar meaning ('collect into a coherent mass'), so I'm wondering what the prefix 'con' means? According to COD5 'conjoin' means 'join'; 'connatural' means 'inate, blonging naturally'; so apparently the prefix 'con' does very little. Would you agree? >> >> >What are the rules concerning the use of commas? Sometimes I think I >> >> >use too many, but at the same time the sentence(s) looks correct. [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] >'join'; 'connatural' means 'inate, blonging naturally'; so apparently the prefix >'con' does very little. Would you agree? No, I like it, even though, as you say, it may not contribute much. "Con" means "with" in Latin. "Conglomerate" thus seems to me to indicate co-operation, while "glomerate" implies seizure. In "conjoin," that "with" is unnecessary, since "join" either implies or us followed by "with." I don't hear "conjoin" much, and wouldn't use it. It's been around since Latin days, though, so it probably won't go away. I've never heard of "connatural" before, and hope I don't again. It sounds like one of those words people dream up to befuddle other people, but Milton used it, according to the dictionary. Carter Carter Jefferson carterj98@mindspring.com http://carterj.homestead.com/ |
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