Hi! I was just wondering whether I'm using a comma correctly here:
I like to read anywhere in my house, so long as I can't hear my brother!
Most people I talk to seem to think I could include the comma, or I could leave it out. I was wondering whether there's a rule?
Thanks!
***** NOT A TEACHER *****
Felicity,
(1) I believe that your friends are correct.
(2) The "rule" seems to be this:
If the adverbial clause ("as/so long as") comes at the beginning,
then you must use a comma:
So long as I can't hear my brother
, I like to read anywhere
in the house.
If the adverbial clause comes at the end, the comma is
optional (it's your choice).
(a) Probably, most people nowadays would not use a comma.
(b) It is fine if you want to
emphasize the adverbial clause.
I like to read anywhere in the house
, so long as I can't hear
my brother.
In fact, a dash would be even more
dramatic:
I like to read anywhere in the house -- so long as I can't
hear my brother!
In my opinion, you would probably be better off NOT using a
comma in your particular sentence.
By the way, if you used the very formal conjunction "provided
that," then you would HAVE TO use the comma:
I like to read anywhere in the house
, provided that I can't
hear my brother.
The people "who make the rules" have decided that a comma
in front of "as/so long as" is optional, but a comma before
"provided that" is mandatory, I believe.
***** NOT A TEACHER *****
