#2 (permalink) Sat Feb 24, 2007 5:04 am Help with grammar: How it's punctuated? |
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. The punctuation in your sentences can be quite arbitrary-- I doubt all grammarians (or punctuators) would be able to agree. I would say:
1."I'm telling you (that) we're going to get caught." -- therefore, no comma; however, I can see using a comma if the writer wishes to indicate a pause after 'you'.
2."Get over here, hurry! We have to stop them." -- OK 2.A. "Get over here. Hurry! We have to stop them." -- OK 2.B. "Get over here! Hurry! We have to stop them!" -- OK 2.C. "Get over here; hurry-- we have to stop them!" -- OK 2.D."Get over here-- hurry, we have to stop them!" -- OK
The permutations are endless.
3.It sails over her head and hits Charles hard in the chest (,) without her noticing. -- Again, the comma is possible, though I wouldn't use it. I feel that the noticing is tied closely to the action; the writer, however, may feel that it is more clearly a comment about the whole rest of the sentence when set off by a comma-- at the front of the sentence, there would be no question of its being required:
Without her noticing, it sails over her head and hits Charles hard in the chest. . _________________ Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's |
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Mister Micawber Language Coach
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