[Grammar] commas

red an' dead · May 1, 2013

Hello,

with regard to 'The Joining Comma' and a conjunction (but, and, etc) being
used to join two complete sentences (I went for a walk, and I picked some flowers), does
the same principal apply when the pronoun I is omitted in the second sentence? And if so,
is such a pronoun referred to as 'an invisible pronoun'?

Thank you,

Red an' Dead

Rover_KE · May 1, 2013

Welcome to the forums.

I wouldn't use a comma there.

You can omit the pronoun when the two ideas are closely linked.

'I enjoy maths but don't like history'.

Otherwise, use the pronoun.

'He often goes to Spain and he is good at embroidery.'

I've never heard of 'an invisible pronoun'.

Rover

red an' dead · May 1, 2013

Hello Rover,

yeah, I've come across that solution before, but it slipped my mind. You may notice that
regards the sentence just written I inserted a comma before but, despite, as you say, both
ideas being closely linked. I've done this in respect of William Strunk, JR, who advised that
in such instanced a comma should always precede but (as opposed to and). You may or may not
agree. Quite a few people have taken issue with the late grammarian. His famous pamphlet, ' The
Elements of Style', I've read described as, 'The book that ate America's brain'. Having said that, many
are they who swear by it.

Cheers

emsr2d2 · May 1, 2013

red an' dead said:
Hello Rover,

yeah, I've come across that solution before, but it slipped my mind. You may notice that
regards the sentence just written I inserted a comma before but, despite, as you say, both
ideas being closely linked. I've done this in respect of William Strunk, JR, who advised that
in such instanced a comma should always precede but (as opposed to and). You may or may not
agree. Quite a few people have taken issue with the late grammarian. His famous pamphlet, ' The
Elements of Style', I've read described as, 'The book that ate America's brain'. Having said that, many
are they who swear by it.

Cheers

I don't know how old Mr Strunk's works are but I imagine that "... many are they who swear by it" probably sounded perfectly natural when he was alive. These days, it doesn't.

red an' dead · May 1, 2013

Hello Rover,

I've already sent a reply, but it seems to have got lost in the ether. I'm trying to get the hang of this format.
Briefly, I understand what you mean; I had come across the solution before, but it slipped my mind.

I'll reply properly tomorrow,

Cheers

red an' dead · May 1, 2013

Many are they who swear by it is all my own. Try not to blame Mr Strunk for
that one. I misspelled instances, but you probably got that!

emsr2d2 · May 2, 2013

red an' dead said:
Many are they who swear by it is all my own. Try not to blame Mr Strunk for
that one. I misspelled instances, but you probably got that!

I wasn't suggesting that you took the construction from Mr Strunk. I simply meant that it sounds unnatural in modern English.

[Grammar] commas

red an' dead

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red an' dead

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emsr2d2

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red an' dead

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red an' dead

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