punctuation

[welfareloser]

i have some questions about when a comma is or is not appropriate. please, if you are only guessing, say so (and if you are anenglish professor, i'm all ears!)

instead of walking, she ran.

or

instead of walking she ran.

it's the first one, right?!?!?!



tomorrow morning, i will leave.

or

tomorrow morning i will leave.

(the obvious answer is that "i will leave tomorrow morning." is best, but just for future reference in similar sitchy-ashuns...)



It confirmed what they already knew: that the first two battles were already won.

on that one, is the colon right? should the word "that" be there?

[coleslaw]

In your first exampe, the comma is indeed needed because you are separating a prepositional clause from the rest of the sentence. Sure, you could say "she ran instead of walking," but if you write it as you have previously mentioned, the comma is needed.

In your second example, the comma is not necessary. There are no conjunctions or prepositional clauses to contend with.

Lastly, the colon is not correct. You should use a semicolon and omit the word "that". Colons should only be used for quoting lengthy passages and for lists.

[Markel]

Originally posted by coleslaw
Lastly, the colon is not correct. You should use a semicolon and omit the word "that". Colons should only be used for quoting lengthy passages and for lists.

I disagree concerning the semicolon. The two phrases are closely related, which makes the use of the colon correct. The thought of the first phrase carries over into the second phrase. (Agree that "that" is not proper after the colon.)

[coleslaw]

Rules here: http://www.emory.edu/ENGLISH/WC/colonsemi.html

"Semicolons unite closely-related statements. Colons indicate symmetry or equivalence between items on either side."

That's a close call on that one...

[apmiller]

What, the; heck" is. punctuation?

[welfareloser]

thanks - esp for the link!!!

i used the colon cuz the first part says "what they already knew" and the second part IS what they already knew... i think that's equivalence, so i'm gonna leave it.

[Markel]

The rule of thumb I remember being taught <mumble> years ago was that the semicolon indicates a "pause" in the train of thought, whereas the colon suggests "keep going" with the thought.

[attgig]

with the commas...my 'rule of thumb' that i was taught by my 6th grad english teacher(though teacher, that's why i still remember her), is that a prepositional phrase (those are prepositions, right???), containing 3 words or more should have a comma. Prepositional phrases with 2 words or less should be avoided.

Then, with that colon deal, that should NOT be a colon.
It confirmed what they already knew: that the first two battles were already won.

I agree with coleslaw that the semi colon and removing the 'that' is the best answer. OR just split it into 2 sentences (though the first sentence may be a bit short to consider intelligent sounding).

But, the thing about use of colon, it can also be used in a list. For instance:
1) this is a list 2) this is a bad list 3) this list sucks.

I'm not sure about numbering or whatever, but it would be seen more in documents than in english papers...

[welfareloser]

i still think the colon is right. these are two examples of colon usage from coleslaw's link:

To introduce an appositive, use the colon as follows:
There is one impediment to my graduation: failing all my classes.

[Remember, an appositive is a word, phrase, or noun-clause placed beside another of the same grammatical construction in order to identify or explain it.]

To introduce an independent clause that modifies a prior independent clause, use the colon as follows:
Elvis lives: he was spotted yesterday buying a slushy at the 7-Eleven.

so i take out the "that" and it is an independant clause... AND it is modifying the previous independant clause.

[Markel]

I stand by the use of the colon. (Something sounds kind of funny about that statement!) Here's a couple of examples off the web:
From http://www.sta.cathedral.org/lowersc...unctRules.html
1. ...A colon says "note what follows." A colon suggests equality.
2. Use a colon before a statement that expands or clarifies a preceding statement.

From http://www.simpson.edu/academics/Haw...nctuation.html
2. Use a colon after an independent clause to introduce an elaboration or an explanation.
I have done the impossible: I have gotten both of the jobs I was hoping for.

[coleslaw]

I think you could probably make an argument either way, but I have now decided that the colon is most correct.

Cheers.

[ProMinx]

Thank god! There are actually other people on this board who strive for proper grammar (at least as far as punctuation goes). I grow weary of the all-too-common stream-of-consciousness posts that clutter this board. Although I hold nothing against Sir_Froggy, the leading pioneer and architect of this post type, the chaos of his "sentences" drives me insane. Were he not 14, I'd wring his neck.

ProMinx

[K2]

yeah? wanna see mine.. $#*&% (@#*&$% (*#&%* (#&^)!!!... hehe j/k