50. Charlie Martin:
And third, commas are used after an element in a list, to indicate a subordinate clause, or around a parenthetical phrase.
Chuck Marty, let’s talk grammar. From your, oh what do you call it, um, er, uh, well, oh yeah, blog:
“Now, that attracted a number of, um, interesting commenters, including one guy from My Old Home Town (extra credit to anyone who catches that literary reference) who I’ve run into off and on for years. He’s a commenter who lurks on the edge of trollery most of the time, but manages to be somewhat interesting.
No comma needed after an introductory prepositional phrase of a single word.
The addition of devices like “um” serve to highlight the writer’s inability to create a sense of contrast or irony through effective word choice or efficient construction.
There is a difference between objective and subjective; you should discern that difference before deciding “To M or not to M.”
Choosing to nudge the word “interesting” into a role as substitute for what you really mean is nothing more than cowardice.
Commas require a conjunction when joining two independent clauses. When the second clause is dependent, no comma or conjunction is needed.
I suggest you strunk your white a few more times before trying that lame crap again.
Anyone out there interested in an example of good grammar gone bad should check out Chuck Marty’s, er, blog.
Thus endeth the lesson
