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29-Sep-2006, 16:24
|  | Key Member | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Country: Transilvania
Posts: 3,351
Current Location: Transilvania Native Language: Hungarian Member Type: English Teacher | |  Comma problems: ,but?
hi,
Do we have to put comma before "but"?
eg.
I have learnt a lot, but I am not satisfied with myself.
m |
29-Sep-2006, 17:09
|  | Key Member | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Country: England
Posts: 1,574
Current Location: Germany Native Language: English Member Type: English Teacher | | Re: Comma problems: ,but?
It's usually a good idea, but nobody will shoot you if you don't use it. |
29-Sep-2006, 19:52
| | Junior Member | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Country: Russia
Posts: 42
Current Location: England Native Language: Russian | |  Re: Comma problems: ,but?
Yes, you may, two independent clauses can be joined in the same way |
30-Sep-2006, 08:23
| | Key Member | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Country: Transilvania
Posts: 3,351
Current Location: Transilvania Native Language: Hungarian Member Type: English Teacher | | Re: Comma problems: ,but?
hi,
Neither of you was 100%. Am I compelled to use comma before but or not?
have a nice day,
m |
30-Sep-2006, 10:49
| | Senior Member | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Country: England
Posts: 671
Native Language: English | | Re: Comma problems: ,but?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mad-ox  hi,
Neither of you was 100%. Am I compelled to use comma before but or not?
have a nice day,
m | No, you are not compelled to do so. I would personally, but it is not compulsory. If you have a comma problem, say the sentence aloud, and ask yourself whether you pause before the comma or not. If you don't, it should not be there.
In your sentence, some speakers would pause and others would not. |
30-Sep-2006, 15:04
|  | VIP Member | | Join Date: Nov 2002 Country: USA
Posts: 6,089
Current Location: New York Native Language: American English Member Type: Academic | | Re: Comma problems: ,but?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mad-ox hi,
Neither of you was 100%. Am I compelled to use comma before but or not?
have a nice day,
m | As others have told you, punctuation varies from person to person and style guide to style guide. That said, when "but" is used to connect two independent clauses, a comma before but is preferred by most guides unless the two clauses are very short. Then it is optional. |
01-Oct-2006, 04:58
| | Key Member | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Country: Transilvania
Posts: 3,351
Current Location: Transilvania Native Language: Hungarian Member Type: English Teacher | | Re: Comma problems: ,but?
hi,
Thanks to all of you!
m |
01-Oct-2006, 17:33
| | VIP Member | | Join Date: Nov 2002 Country: USA
Posts: 6,089
Current Location: New York Native Language: American English Member Type: Academic | | Re: Comma problems: ,but?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mad-ox hi,
Thanks to all of you!
m |
You're welcome, Mad-ox. |
02-Oct-2006, 13:56
|  | Moderator | | Join Date: Jul 2006 Country: England (South East)
Posts: 8,020
Current Location: England (South East) Native Language: English Member Type: English Teacher | | Re: Comma problems: ,but?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mad-ox hi,
Do we have to put comma before "but"?
.
.
. | Trust me to introduce difficulties.  The advice given so far applies when 'but' is used to contrast two thing: "Not A but B" and "Not A, but B" are both acceptable.
However, in this usage there's no option: "I have nothing but admiration for people like that."
b | |
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