Author: Robin Blue
Date:   09-27-02 17:04

I will be the first to admit that my grammar needs polishing. I have a question though. Once again, while refering to The Elements of Style, I am confused. I read the thread on comma splicing and am still a little confused. So, using a sentence from the book:

Well, Susan, this is a fine mess you are in.


If I were wanting that to sound conversational, why would I put the comma after well? I am stuck. If this sounds stupid, I apologize.

Thanks,

Robin

Author: Nellie Butler
Date:   09-27-02 17:32

That's the way I would do it--but I'm not an expert either. I'd be interested in hearing what others have to say.
Nellie

Author: Karen Dionne
Date:   09-27-02 18:24

Try: "Well, Susan. This is a fine mess you're in."

Commas aside, if you're going for conversational, contractions are REALLY important.

Karen

Author: Murg
Date:   09-27-02 18:40

I can't cite the name of the rule (expositional, maybe??) but commas are placed after words such as gee, Marty; or golly, Wally! I don't know why, but they just are. Also, direct addresses are set off by commas. Mary, how are you? John, go to hell. That kinda thing.

Author: Nellie Butler
Date:   09-27-02 20:05

Murg,
I remember that same rule, but I think I like your examples for it better! LOL
Nellie

Author: Brad M.
Date:   09-27-02 20:21

I believe this also has to do with spoken words, as opposed to written ones.
If you speak the sentence in a certain way, inflecting emphasis on certain syllables, then the punctuation, as it is, is fine. Change the spoken emphasis though, and the commas need to be moved.

Author: Kaz
Date:   09-27-02 20:44

Robin,

The sample in your book is correct. Commas are used to show a person is being addressed.
Johnny, you're a good boy.

Look at that man, Joe, he looks like Mike. (man isn't Joe)

By leaving out the comma before Joe, it takes on a new meaning.

Look at that man Joe, he looks like Mike. (man is Joe)

Regards, Kaz

Author: Kaz
Date:   09-27-02 21:42

The power of punctuation

Quoted from Games Magazine (1984)

Dear John I want a man who knows what love is all about. You are generous, kind, thoughtful. People who are not like you admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me for other men. I yearn for you. I have no feelings whatsoever when we're apart. I can be forever happy - will you let me be yours? Gloria

Dear John I want a man who knows what love is. All about you are generous, kind, thoughtful people, who are not like you. Admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me. For other men, I yearn. For you, I have no feelings whatsoever. When we're apart, I can be forever happy. Will you let me be? Yours,Gloria

Author: Robin Blue
Date:   09-27-02 23:31

OK. I know I have a long way to go. It can be confusing sometimes. I think my question (using the first sentence I put on here) would be why is it Well, Mary, and not Well Mary? I know the rule states to place a comma after words like well, but it doesn't make sense to me. (lol) I suppose the more I ask and the more I practice, I will get it right. Thanks everyone...

Robin

Author: Murg
Date:   09-28-02 07:55

Without the comma, you are stating how healthy Mary is.

Author: Mary M.
Date:   09-28-02 08:47

The Elements of Grammar by Margaret Shertzer (Macmillan Publishing Company, 1986) recommends using a comma to set off light exclamations with this example:

"Oh, a change would be nice, but I can't afford a vacation right now."

The comma causes confusion, doesn't it?

Author: Gary Kessler
Date:   09-28-02 16:43

Commas (and other punctuation) are used in writing to help the reader get the meaning you intended. They follow a standard form so the reader won't pay more attention to the punctuation you chose to use--and whether it agreed with the reader's concept of what should be used--than they spend concentrating on the content of what you wrote.

In the original case here, "Susan" is set off by commas because that's the standard way to convey direct address. And there's a comma rather than a period after "Susan," because "Well, Susan." is a sentence fragment, not a sentence (no verb).

Author: keith miller
Date:   09-29-02 09:38

Somewhere I read a list of famous lines in which a single comma is inserted to change the meaning. Only one I remember is the opening to Moby-Dick: "Call me, Ishmael."

Author: Sheergen
Date:   09-30-02 15:35

No, more.
No more.

Author: Nellie Butler
Date:   09-30-02 18:58

LOL! :)