Commas

Livvie

I hear a lot about the over-use of commas, but I'm still not sure what is correct and what isn't.

If you are writing dialogue and want to use an adverb - which I know isn't considered good writing if used excessively - should you use a comma. I think it might be grammatically correct, but have views altered on comma usage?

e.g.

"..said Jim, softly

or "...said Jim softly

or "...he said, softly.

or "...he said softly.

EileenG

In general, I'd only use a comma if it contributes to the clarity of the piece, or if you would naturally pause at that point when reading aloud.

I would write "....he said softly" without a comma.

If you have more than about three commas in a sentence, you either need to take some of them out, or restructure your sentence.

Livvie

EileenG wrote: »

In general, I'd only use a comma if it contributes to the clarity of the piece, or if you would naturally pause at that point when reading aloud.

I would write "....he said softly" without a comma.

If you have more than about three commas in a sentence, you either need to take some of them out, or restructure your sentence.

Thanks, Eileen. I tend to feel the same, but I've heard that it's not grammatically correct.

I'm glad I'm not alone though.

PurpleBee

I didn't get commas at all until I just started sticking them in where I thought they'd help the flow of my writing best. I still don't really get them, but I just use them for purposes of rhythm and to give the reader a breather.

also I don't want to start a thread about this but does anyone know the difference in these two sentences....

He was happy at my being there.

He was happy at me being there.

Actually now that I look at them neither seems right.

Eliot Rosewater

"He was happy at my being there" sounds right to me. However its a very formalized way of saying that. I would usually reserve that kind of style to formal things like debates or letters. "He was happy I was there" would sound a lot more natural.

pickarooney

PurpleBee wrote: »

I didn't get commas at all until I just started sticking them in where I thought they'd help the flow of my writing best. I still don't really get them, but I just use them for purposes of rhythm and to give the reader a breather.

also I don't want to start a thread about this but does anyone know the difference in these two sentences....

He was happy at my being there.

He was happy at me being there.

Actually now that I look at them neither seems right.

Although they amount to the same thing, in the first sentence your presence is what pleases him whereas in the second you have given him happiness by showing up.