Results 1 to 7 of 7
Like Tree1Likes
  • 1 Post By Raymott

Thread: Regarding parentheses comma

  1. #1
    Joe333 is offline Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Student or Learner
      • Native Language:
      • Tamil
      • Home Country:
      • Sri Lanka
      • Current Location:
      • Spain
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Posts
    262

    Default Regarding parentheses comma

    This is just a general question to know whether parentheses comma can be used "when" multiple comma are following it. Like this for example : "He has ripped apart, the most biased, the most immoral, the most corrupt, government organization".

    Here in the example the parentheses comma has been used after the word "apart" and ends after the word "corrupt". So essentially we have put "most biased, most immoral, most corrupt" under the parentheses. This is just an example. My question is can parenthesis be used in this way? Can multiple commas follow parenthesis like in my example? Please help.


    Thanks and regards
    Last edited by Joe333; 01-Sep-2010 at 00:29.

  2. #2
    Raymott's Avatar
    Raymott is online now VIP Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Academic
      • Native Language:
      • English
      • Home Country:
      • Australia
      • Current Location:
      • Australia
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Posts
    16,105

    Default Re: Regarding parentheses comma

    Quote Originally Posted by razer View Post
    This is just a general question to know whether parentheses comma can be used "when" multiple comma are following it. Like this for example : "He has ripped apart, the most biased, the most immoral, the most corrupt, government organization".

    Here in the example the parentheses comma has been used after the word "apart" and the parenthesis ends after the word "corrupt". So essentially we have put "most biased, most immoral, most corrupt" under the parentheses. This is just an example. My question is can parenthesis be used in this way? Can multiple commas follow parenthesis like in my example? Please help.


    Thanks and regards
    If you take your parenthesis out, you don't have a proper sentence:
    "He has ripped apart government organization".
    So, it's not a parenthesis.

    In theory, as I'm sure you'll find out, sooner or later, commas can occur within a parenthetical element.

  3. #3
    Joe333 is offline Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Student or Learner
      • Native Language:
      • Tamil
      • Home Country:
      • Sri Lanka
      • Current Location:
      • Spain
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Posts
    262

    Default Re: Regarding parentheses comma

    Thanks a ton for your reply. Are you saying I've used the parentheses correctly?
    Last edited by Joe333; 02-Sep-2010 at 19:13.

  4. #4
    Rover_KE is offline Moderator
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Retired English Teacher
      • Native Language:
      • English
      • Home Country:
      • England
      • Current Location:
      • England
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Posts
    9,198

    Default Re: Regarding parentheses comma

    Omit the first comma and it's correct.

    Rover

  5. #5
    Joe333 is offline Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Student or Learner
      • Native Language:
      • Tamil
      • Home Country:
      • Sri Lanka
      • Current Location:
      • Spain
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Posts
    262

    Default Re: Regarding parentheses comma

    Thanks Rover for your comment. But then it will not remain the parenthesis if I omit the comma ! I want to know what the VIP member was implying by "if you take your parenthesis out, you don't have a proper sentence..in theory, as I'm sure you'll find out, sooner or later, commas can occur within a parenthetical element"

    Isn't it the opposite of what he said?! Was he connoting that I have used the parenthesis rightly?

    Regards

  6. #6
    Raymott's Avatar
    Raymott is online now VIP Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Academic
      • Native Language:
      • English
      • Home Country:
      • Australia
      • Current Location:
      • Australia
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Posts
    16,105

    Default Re: Regarding parentheses comma

    I'm saying your use is wrong.
    "most biased, most immoral, most corrupt" does not fit the definition of a parenthetical phrase. If a phrase is parenthetical, you can remove it and still have a sentence. I removed this phrase, and demonstrated that you are not left with a proper sentence.
    Putting a phrase between two commas doesn't make it parenthetical if you can't removed the phrase and the commas and still have a sentence.

    I then tell you that it is possible to use commas within a parenthetical phrase; and the sentence in which I tell you this illustrates the fact.
    Joe333 likes this.

  7. #7
    Joe333 is offline Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Student or Learner
      • Native Language:
      • Tamil
      • Home Country:
      • Sri Lanka
      • Current Location:
      • Spain
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Posts
    262

    Default Re: Regarding parentheses comma

    Got the point. Thanks a million.

Similar Threads

  1. Parentheses
    By Allen165 in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 15-Jun-2010, 13:49
  2. parentheses
    By GUEST2008 in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 05-Nov-2009, 18:15
  3. lst name between parentheses
    By san in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 29-Jul-2007, 22:31
  4. brackets/parentheses
    By Itasan in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 11-Dec-2005, 05:49
  5. Parentheses
    By Unregistered in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 04-Nov-2004, 07:48

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Hotchalk

Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.1