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Pastimes : SI Grammar and Spelling Lab -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: The Philosopher who wrote (3147)	7/14/1999 10:52:00 PM
From: Dayuhan	Respond to of 4711

If the cadence of speech is desired a comma would be appropriate, but I see no reason to think it necessary. I hope this doesn't disqualify me from Edwarda's attentions during the next online orgy. On second thought: YOU'RE WRONG!! SHE'S RIGHT!!

To: The Philosopher who wrote (3147)	7/14/1999 11:27:00 PM
From: Achilles	Respond to of 4711

"If we had a decent educational system everybody would use it at least once a month." I am going to argue against you, Chris, though I will admit that modern usage is not consistent on the use of commas to separate clauses. Generally speaking, however, the rule is that a comma should be used after an introductory subordinate clause. By the way, what was the word that I am supposed to use once per month?

To: The Philosopher who wrote (3147)	7/14/1999 11:36:00 PM
From: jbe	Respond to of 4711

CHRISTOPHER, SORRY ABOUT THE CAPS, BUT MY CAPLOCK KEY IS STUCK. ON COMMAS: BEST THAT I CAN SAY THAT IT MAY BE A DRAW, IF YOU CAN MAKE A GOOD CASE FOR OMITTING THE COMMA. NORMALLY, A COMMA IS REQUIRED AFTER A DEPENDENT CLAUSE. AND MOST EDITORS WOULD ALTER YOUR SENTENCE TO READ AS FOLLOWS: IF WE HAD A DECENT EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, EVERYBODY WOULD USE IT AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH. HOWEVER, YOU DO HAVE A POTENTIAL OUT, ACCORDING TO JACK LYNCH'S GUIDE: Some style guides call for omitting the comma after very short dependent clauses at the beginning of a sentence: not "On Saturday, the office is closed," but "On Saturday the office is closed." But do use a comma after long dependent clauses: "Because the entire epic is concerned with justifying the ways of God to man, Milton must present free will in a positive light." (It's often a judgment call whether a dependent clause is long or short.) andromeda.rutgers.edu WELL, CAN YOU ARGUE THAT THE DEPENDENT CLAUSE IS SHORT? YOU ARE A LAWYER, AFTER ALL....<G> JOAN

To: The Philosopher who wrote (3147)	7/15/1999 8:04:00 AM
From: B.C.	Respond to of 4711

In an elliptical clause, one or more words are unstated but clearly implied. Introductory elliptical clauses are followed by a comma. In your sentence, "then" is the unstated yet implied word. "If we had a decent educational system, then everybody would use it at least once a month." An introductory clause of over 5 words (as is yours) is considered long and in need of the comma. Hence, I believe the following is correct: "If we had a decent educational system, everybody would use it at least once a month." Plus, the sentence SCREAMS for a comma, and my senses bristle without it!

To: The Philosopher who wrote (3147)	7/15/1999 8:30:00 AM
From: B.C.	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 4711

Oops! You wanted a rule! "If a conjunction is inserted, the proper mark is a comma. (Rule 4.)" From Strunk and White's THE ELEMENTS OF STYLE, Third Edition, page 6. Rule 4: "Place a comma before a conjunction introducing an independent clause." "If" is a conjunction. There is also a rule for when an introductory adverbial clause is elliptical, but I came up with a rule already and will allow you to find that one. :)