Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

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

To: The Philosopher who wrote (3168)	7/15/1999 8:37:00 PM
From: jbe	Respond to of 4711

Punctuation rules are only traffic rules, Christopher. Sometimes you can ignore them with impunity. I would not have picked on you for leaving out the comma. But once the question was raised, I had to line up on the side of "correctness." <gg>

To: The Philosopher who wrote (3168)	7/15/1999 10:04:00 PM
From: E	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 4711

I know I'm late in weighing in on this matter of the comma, but... 1. <<<"Nonsense. If we had a decent educational system, everybody would use it at least once a month.">>> and 2. <<<"Nonsense. If we had a decent educational system everybody would use it at least once a month.">>> are sentences quite different in authorial tone, and therefore in meaning. The comma in number 1 makes the sentence a rather placid observation, or speculation. The sentence with the comma has almost no emotional force. Bemusement, or at most a certain ruefulness, is conveyed. The absence of the conventional ("correct") comma in number 1 is felt by the reader, and gives the sentence drive. The absence of that comma conveys a specific authorial attitude toward the existing educational system--one containing an element of disgust or bitterness. IMO, it was entirely appropriate, in fact, skillful, of Christopher to omit the comma in that sentence, as that small touch subtly evokes for the reader Christopher's emotions toward the educational system he mentions.