Results 1 to 5 of 5

Thread: commas

  1. #1
    Anonymous Guest

    Default commas

    I hate milk and therefore I hate chocolate.

    i read a rule that when a cojunctive adverb joins 2 independent clauses it should be seperate using a semicolon but there is another rule that a adverb can be puncuated using set off commas as well, both rules can be used here. there i am confused about how to punctaute a conjunctive adverb in this sentence. Please advise the correct punctaution. Also, is it wrong to say "and therefore?"

  2. #2
    Tdol is offline Editor, UsingEnglish.com
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • English Teacher
      • Native Language:
      • British English
      • Home Country:
      • UK
      • Current Location:
      • Philippines
    Join Date
    Nov 2002
    Posts
    38,607

    Default

    I think different people would use different punctuation, but I would go for this:

    I hate milk and, therefore, I hate chocolate.

  3. #3
    MikeNewYork's Avatar
    MikeNewYork is offline VIP Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Academic
      • Native Language:
      • English
      • Home Country:
      • United States
      • Current Location:
      • United States
    Join Date
    Nov 2002
    Posts
    6,164

    Default Re: commas

    Quote Originally Posted by chandni
    I hate milk and therefore I hate chocolate.

    i read a rule that when a cojunctive adverb joins 2 independent clauses it should be seperate using a semicolon but there is another rule that a adverb can be puncuated using set off commas as well, both rules can be used here. there i am confused about how to punctaute a conjunctive adverb in this sentence. Please advise the correct punctaution. Also, is it wrong to say "and therefore?"
    Both rules are correct. The problem is that you have a potential conjunctive adverb and a conjunction together. Thus, "therefore" becomes just an adverb here. The "and" does the conjoining.

    I hate milk; therefore, I hate chocolate.
    I hate milk, and, therefore, I hate chocolate.

    As TDOL suggested, some would leave out the comma between "and" and "therefore", making the two words a sort of combined conjunction. The additional comma is more widely accepted.

    The punctuation having been dealt with, the logic of the sentence escapes me. :wink:
    Pope of the Dictionary.com Forum
    Moderator of Delphi UsingEnglish Forum
    and www.usingenglish.com

  4. #4
    bmo
    bmo is offline Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Posts
    508

    Default Re: commas

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeNewYork

    The punctuation having been dealt with, the logic of the sentence escapes me. :wink:
    I think it is the milk chocolate he hates. BMO

  5. #5
    MikeNewYork's Avatar
    MikeNewYork is offline VIP Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Academic
      • Native Language:
      • English
      • Home Country:
      • United States
      • Current Location:
      • United States
    Join Date
    Nov 2002
    Posts
    6,164

    Default Re: commas

    Quote Originally Posted by bmo
    Quote Originally Posted by MikeNewYork

    The punctuation having been dealt with, the logic of the sentence escapes me. :wink:
    I think it is the milk chocolate he hates. BMO
    Either that or chocolate milk.
    Pope of the Dictionary.com Forum
    Moderator of Delphi UsingEnglish Forum
    and www.usingenglish.com

Similar Threads

  1. Commas before and after names
    By hopechest in forum General Language Discussions
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 12-May-2009, 08:29
  2. commas and periods inside quotes
    By commajf1 in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 26-Aug-2004, 17:46
  3. commas
    By navi tasan in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 27-Jun-2004, 15:29

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