Lan Barnes wrote:
On Wed, March 5, 2008 2:03 am, Ralph Shumaker wrote:
Todd Walton wrote:
On Sun, Mar 2, 2008 at 12:24 PM, David Brown <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Both forms, 'can not' and 'cannot' are valid, they just mean slight
different things.
And "into" "in to" and "log on" "logon" and of course "log in" and
"login". They mean slightly different things and it's not always
apparent which one to use.
A grammar rule that gets me is using commas. I use them like Arnold
Schwarzenegger uses bullets on the Predator, and the result is usually
as grisly. I always opt to make a list of three elements, parts, or
sections comma-ed all the way. Most people put a comma after the
first element, but not the second.
1. Commas that do not improve readability are candidates for deletion. A
comma is not a synanym for a pause in speech -- their sole use is to
improve readability.
I agree with this completely, particularly with the word "candidate",
which does not mean that it must be or should be deleted.
I cannot count the number of times that I have wished that the author of
some email (or article) had used more commas (to improve readability),
but I do not recall *ever* thinking "I wish this person had _not_ used
so many commas. I'm sure it happens. But examples where someone uses
too many commas are nearly nonexistent compared to the number of authors
not using them enough.
2. Use commas to separate independent clauses separated by "and" or "but"
if the subject changes. Do not use commas if the subject remains the same.
Anna picked up the book and the pencil.
Anna picked up the book, and Jack picked up the pencil.
That should be two separate sentences. But hey, that's my opinion.
This example is rather simple, but more complicated examples might show
the wisdom in chopping it into two sentences.
3. Use commas to separate a series of three or more parallel elements when
it improves readability. The last comma may (and often should) be left out
if it does not improve readability, especially if it might tempt the
reader to vocalize a pause where none is needed. If commas doo not improve
readability in these situations, follow Rule 1 and leave them out.
I like baseball, long walks on the beach, and German beer.
I like baseball, football and basketball.
Three cheers for the red white and blue.
If you are referring to the American flag, my opinion is that it should
be red-white-and-blue. But have no delusion of thinking that anyone
else would share this opinion.
4. In a series of three or more that contains internal commas in the
elements, use semicolons to separate the elements. This frequently occurs
after a colon.
The three indications of a myocardial infarction are: radiating pain in
the neck, chest, or arm; profuse sweating; and elevated liver enzymes.
Note in the above example that the colon after "are" isn't really necessary.
Except for purposes of clarification. I happen to like it that way myself.
I'm sure there are other guidelines that I'm forgetting. In general when I
did this for a living, we followed the Chicago Manual of Style, which is a
no-nonsense font of good advice.
http://www.amazon.com/Chicago-Manual-Style-Essential-Publishers/dp/0226103897/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1204738652&sr=1-2
~Lan, the former copy editor
I just wish the mistake of using "I" where it should be "me" would die a
horrible death. Saying:
"Would you like to go to the movies with my brother and I?" is the same as:
"Would you like to go to the movies with my brother and would you like
to go to the movies with I?" is akin to:
"Would you like to go to the movies with we?"
The bad grammar of the second and third lines are obvious to everyone.
The previous mistake is just as bad as using "me" where it should be
"I". Saying:
"Me and my brother are going to the movies." is the same as:
"Me is going to the movies and my brother is going to the movies." is
akin to:
"Us are going to the movies."
Again, the second and third lines are obviously wrong.
But then again, [sigh], if it catches on enough, it will become normal,
and once normal, then correct. [sigh]
I put commas after each element, no matter how many element (except less
than three, of course). But I also tend to put commas any place where I
would have a pause in speaking the same thing.
You're probably not making a lot of mistakes, but it's a simplistic rule
that will lead you astray eventually.
You may be right. But like you said before, if it helps my text to be
readable, then the occasional mistaken comma here or there is probably
not so bad. Personally, I'd rather see a few commas too many than too few.
Sometimes, I use parenthesis to quarantine elements of a long sentence,
particularly elements that are merely there for clarification and are
not referred to in following sentences, basically, parts that can be
left out and only lose clarity. Sometimes, I'm reading a sentence that
is so long (written by others) that I cannot follow what it's saying.
So I have to identify the basic elements of the sentence: subject,
verb, and object. Then I can go back and read the entire sentence as
written and finally be able to understand it.
Parentheses, em-dashes, and elipses can all serve this noble purpose. I
save parentheses for the _really_ parenthetical thoughts.
(Parentheses), em-dashes like left-click and right-click, I think I
know. Remind me, what's an elipse? (My spell-checker wants to replace
"elipse" with "ellipse".)
I usually use parentheses for parts that are more like a whisper.
Writing is an art very similar to coding, but the target processor is
subtle and not very deterministic.
Yes, I remember an English teacher of mine (when I pointed out an error
of grammar or spelling (I don't recall which)) told me about something
called literary license where any and all laws of grammar or spelling
can be suspended if the author so chooses. That was a difficult concept
for me with my mindset that rules are made to be followed. Odd tho. I
now take solace in it.
--
Ralph
--------------------
Well if you're going to _explain_ it, ... damn, that's just cheating to
win an argument!
--Lan Barnes
I, for one, would never let mere proof sway my opinion.
--Tracy R Reed
That's because you have integrity. I am not so cursed.
--Lan Barnes
--
[email protected]
http://www.kernel-panic.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/kplug-list
