More comma trouble.

[30098392]

Please take a look at this sentence. If the commas are in the srong places please tell me which, and why. I really want to get to grips with this because it's snapping me. I think that its fine personally, but my mind is playing tricks.

"That speculation turned out to be more than speculative when he was released, and despite Kansas City reportedly trying very hard to hammer out a new deal, Dorsey ultimately ended up in San Francisco. "

 

[Shoreditch]

I think your punctuation is fine. Comma is not always a black and white issue. Often times it is a matter of preference. You know what I mean?

Please note I am not a native and nor am I a professional advisor.

 

[emsr2d2]

Please take a look at this sentence. If the commas are in the wrong places please tell me which, and why. I really want to get to grips with this because it's [STRIKE]snapping[/STRIKE] annoying/irritating/bugging me. Personally, I think that it's fine [STRIKE]personally[/STRIKE], but my mind is playing tricks.

"That speculation turned out to be more than speculative when he was released and​, despite Kansas City reportedly trying very hard to hammer out a new deal, Dorsey ultimately ended up in San Francisco. "

Remove the comma after "released" and move it to after "and" as I have done above.

 

[Shoreditch]

That speculation turned out to be more than speculative when he was released, and, despite Kansas City reportedly trying very hard to hammer out a new deal, Dorsey ultimately ended up in San Francisco.

Is the first comma before "and" optional or ill-placed?

 

[emsr2d2]

As I said in my first response, it should be removed.

 

[5jj]

1. That speculation turned out to be more than speculative when he was released, and Dorsey ultimately ended up in San Francisco.

That comma is optional.

2. That speculation turned out to be more than speculative when he was released and, despite Kansas City reportedly trying very hard to hammer out a new deal, Dorsey ultimately ended up in San Francisco.

Those two are essential.

As ems said, the comma before 'and' in #2 must be removed. Although you can use it in #1, it's just doesn't work in #2. With the essential comma following 'and', one before it strands the 'and' unnaturally.

 

[30098392]

Thanks for the advice. Ems, thanks for fixing my post too. ;-)

It seems I have a habit of putting commas after a co-ordinating conjunction. Its a common error apparently, but I know it, so I'm trying to sort it out in my head. I'll crack that issue, as I believe it to be a typo.

I've gone with this.

"That speculation turned out to be more than speculative when he was released, and despite Kansas City reportedly trying very hard to hammer out a new deal, Dorsey ultimately ended up in San Francisco. "

That's an interpolation right? The sentence still makes sense without it. Without the interpolation there should be a semi colon. Am I along the right lines here?

 

[30098392]

How about the comma placement in this sentence?

"After opening the 2012 season having lost none of their starters, the 49ers carried on the stellar play that made them best overall defence in 2011. "

I was thinking that there could be a semi colon here.

 

[Barb_D]

No. A semi-colon separates two independent clauses. The frist part of the sentence cannot stand alone so it cannot be separated from the rest with a semi-colon.

 

[30098392]

I got it. Independant clause.