tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post469168819500837054..comments2024-01-08T00:51:30.080-05:00Comments on Write Now: Do You Pause?Karen Langehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18177923284595298347noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-86918482123959973812012-09-15T14:27:51.620-04:002012-09-15T14:27:51.620-04:00Hi Hilary,
Good to see you! Thanks for your kind w...Hi Hilary,<br />Good to see you! Thanks for your kind words and input. A comma after "pickles" - that is called a serial comma, and it's the advice Strunk and White and others have offered for years. I have an editor who requires its use this way. But as Susan W. above mentioned, the newer AP style does not require it. So I guess it is just a matter of where it is used and who wants it which way. Go figure, right? Trying to keep up with this can be very tiring.<br /><br />As for Ryan, yes, I suppose a frying pan might be in order. Not a good way to start off a marriage!<br /><br />We're always learning something, aren't we?<br /><br />Hope you are doing well,<br />KarenKaren Langehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18177923284595298347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-16409037782749267772012-09-15T04:16:34.732-04:002012-09-15T04:16:34.732-04:00Hi Karen - great post ..
3) - do you need the com...Hi Karen - great post ..<br /><br />3) - do you need the comma after the pickles? I don't think so ... as in 4)<br /><br />5) If my husband to be did that .. I'd be running away! - or having the frying pan ready to swat him!!<br /><br />6) I learnt a new word!<br /><br />And in answer to your question - I get to thinking about commas fairly often ... <br /><br />Really useful post - thank so much .. cheers HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-87847567378246904462012-09-13T09:32:11.618-04:002012-09-13T09:32:11.618-04:00Linda,
You are welcome! This is why I am thankful ...Linda,<br />You are welcome! This is why I am thankful for the revision stage. :)<br />Blessings,<br />KarenKaren Langehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18177923284595298347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-71342134743667029372012-09-12T23:08:04.080-04:002012-09-12T23:08:04.080-04:00Thank you for the refresher. I sometimes get tripp...Thank you for the refresher. I sometimes get tripped up, too. Linda O'Connellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15982895073903619018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-63705379941793018712012-09-12T16:20:59.354-04:002012-09-12T16:20:59.354-04:00Dottie,
I use them too much too. Not sure why eith...Dottie,<br />I use them too much too. Not sure why either! But at least we can revise and review before putting it out there, right? :)<br /><br />Susan,<br />Now I'll always think of you as the comma queen! LOL Well, I guess we can work to find a balance. I do the same, reading aloud to see how it sounds.<br /><br />Blessings,<br />KarenKaren Langehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18177923284595298347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-37840476913270919842012-09-12T11:23:07.455-04:002012-09-12T11:23:07.455-04:00My friend, Barbara, calls me the comma queen. I th...My friend, Barbara, calls me the comma queen. I think she doesn't use them enough. This will settle our uncertainty! <br /><br />What I do, unscientifically, is to read the sentence aloud. Do I feel that a pause is necessary to better make my point, and so would a comma be warranted there? North Jersey Christian Writers Grouphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03981039468686243008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-85141823298824445262012-09-11T23:54:54.878-04:002012-09-11T23:54:54.878-04:00Thanks for sharing those tips, Karen. I think I...Thanks for sharing those tips, Karen. I think I'm an over-user of commas. Not sure why, but I have a feeling they come out often enough to render me guilty. Will try and remedy that... :)Dorothyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13622521834128746217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-66109958716726806812012-09-11T18:29:18.619-04:002012-09-11T18:29:18.619-04:00Melanie,
You are welcome! Hope that you find the l...Melanie,<br />You are welcome! Hope that you find the link helpful. :)<br /><br />Susan,<br />Me too! And I've seen it done the other way as well, where a comma before the "and" is okay. Guess it just depends who you're writing for!<br /><br />Janette,<br />You are welcome. I think I overuse them sometimes too. I often find myself reading back over it - aloud - to see how it sounds.<br /><br />Maria,<br />I have seen those situations handled different ways, but according to Ben Yagoda in the article linked above, that would be correct if that is your only dog. Trying to keep this straight can really make you think!<br /><br />Nas,<br />Thanks for letting me know! This is a nice surprise. :) Glad you found the list helpful!<br /><br />Blessings,<br />KarenKaren Langehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18177923284595298347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-28659475664064827332012-09-11T17:18:42.603-04:002012-09-11T17:18:42.603-04:00Hi Karen,
Thanks for the list about commas. I'...Hi Karen,<br /><br />Thanks for the list about commas. I've saved this post in my favorites so that I could check back often.<br /><br />Congratulations are in order as you won the Anna Hackett Giveaway on Romance Book Haven!<br /><br />NasRomance Book Havenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01268150556737773533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-50272641040395596232012-09-11T16:17:55.186-04:002012-09-11T16:17:55.186-04:00Thanks for this comma brush up, Karen. I tend to b...Thanks for this comma brush up, Karen. I tend to be comma-happy! Question for you, is it appropriate to use a comma in the following phrase: Our Golden Retriever, Precious, just had knee surgery. <br /><br />Hope your week is punctuated with blessings! :) Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11475395753533265087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-65221079452681231092012-09-10T21:49:11.777-04:002012-09-10T21:49:11.777-04:00Karen:
Thanks for the refresher! I use commas qui...Karen:<br /><br />Thanks for the refresher! I use commas quite a bit and have been wondering if I overuse them. <br /><br />Informative post! I always find something fun to read over at your spot. Be well...<br /><br />~JanetteJDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05234966786590125696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-73780917482683909622012-09-10T20:31:53.587-04:002012-09-10T20:31:53.587-04:00Hi Karen...Yeah, commas occasionally trip me up.
...Hi Karen...Yeah, commas occasionally trip me up. <br /><br />In threes, I believe it is Associated Press style to Not put a comma before an "and." At least that's the rule they follow at a weekly newspaper I freelance for.<br /><br />For example, He went to the store to buy, potatoes, apples and oranges.<br /><br />Thanks for the post. SusanSusanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12358462881287190635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-84504635904876795452012-09-10T20:29:10.031-04:002012-09-10T20:29:10.031-04:00Thanks for this refresher, Karen! I need to go che...Thanks for this refresher, Karen! I need to go check out that link now. :) Melanie N. Brasherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16911818530874840829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-89782201274792922902012-09-10T20:11:00.169-04:002012-09-10T20:11:00.169-04:00Sarah,
Thank you! I happened across that tip years...Sarah,<br />Thank you! I happened across that tip years ago and it really is a big help. :)<br /><br />Rhonda,<br />I do see variations in editors at times. About the time you think you have it straight, someone wants it done differently. Oh well, we can be flexible, right? :)<br /><br />Ruth,<br />Well, hey, if it stuck, that's a good thing! You never know what will make your memory head into gear sometimes. :)<br /><br />Diane,<br />You are welcome! :) Glad you came by.<br /><br />Mood,<br />You're welcome. I'm learning that I am not the only one who gets tripped up. :)<br /><br />Susan,<br />That's a great way to remember it. :) I always think of it as a natural pause. You're right, we do need to breathe!<br /><br />Livia,<br />Me too! We'll get a better handle on it one of these days. :)<br /><br />Blessings,<br />Karen<br />Karen Langehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18177923284595298347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-61787651505220222362012-09-10T19:45:00.587-04:002012-09-10T19:45:00.587-04:00Great advice, Karen! I get confused with commas to...Great advice, Karen! I get confused with commas too -- one of these days, I'll figure out how to use them correctly! :)Livia Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00059335917756643684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-3682157369232260842012-09-10T18:41:01.288-04:002012-09-10T18:41:01.288-04:00I love punctuation reviews like this. I think of a...I love punctuation reviews like this. I think of a comma like I think of a breath mark in music. Sometimes you just gotta take one. Great post. Susan Sundwallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17747706680849311882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-72114957298203568582012-09-10T17:25:04.685-04:002012-09-10T17:25:04.685-04:00Thanks for the tips. Always helpful to have a hand...Thanks for the tips. Always helpful to have a handy guide.<br /><br />cheers,<br />mood<br /><a href="http://moodywriting.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Moody Writing</a>mooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-2181848359668271472012-09-10T16:53:06.725-04:002012-09-10T16:53:06.725-04:00Thanks Karen :-)Thanks Karen :-)Diane Fordhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15018013338268306704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-35554064622519696272012-09-10T16:46:22.992-04:002012-09-10T16:46:22.992-04:00I learned about comma usage in a way that stuck wi...I learned about comma usage in a way that stuck with me in stenography class in high school. Go figure!Ruth Schiffmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02625363295823548969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-49049233686225486792012-09-10T14:29:33.484-04:002012-09-10T14:29:33.484-04:00Great review, Karen! And I find that there's s...Great review, Karen! And I find that there's significant variation between editors, even, on the use of these little things. Don't you? <br /><br />(Word lover that I am, I like the name of the article you referenced.) :)Rhonda Schrockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05512423397478708632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-43246874071082497012012-09-10T14:23:04.215-04:002012-09-10T14:23:04.215-04:00The "equally modify" rule has tripped me...The "equally modify" rule has tripped me up before. I love how you explained it. Thanks, Karen! :)Sarah Forgravehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09101753891967001104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-87333457207156797972012-09-10T14:11:05.851-04:002012-09-10T14:11:05.851-04:00Lydia,
I know, and me too. Seems like something is...Lydia,<br />I know, and me too. Seems like something is always changing or being tweaked too. Trying to keep up...!<br /><br />David,<br />I do the same, even as conscious of it as I like to think I am! Glad you found it helpful. <br /><br />Susie,<br />Thanks a bunch! I overuse sometimes too. We'll get it one of these days! :)<br /><br />Joylene,<br />Love it! It's like that picture that floats around Facebook that talks about how punctuation saves lives - "Let's eat Grandma" or "Let's eat, Grandma." Yeah, and who is Janet John anyway? lol<br /><br />Loree,<br />Thank you! Punctuation can be tricky. We'll just be works in progress. :)<br /><br />Nancy,<br />You are welcome. Hope they don't trip you up too much!<br /><br />Blessings,<br />Karen<br /><br />Karen Langehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18177923284595298347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-36917352749511417182012-09-10T14:02:04.849-04:002012-09-10T14:02:04.849-04:00This is a great list to keep handy. Thanks.This is a great list to keep handy. Thanks.Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15163662759281341381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-91175105665120936952012-09-10T13:33:46.933-04:002012-09-10T13:33:46.933-04:00Commas give me grief at times. Great post.Commas give me grief at times. Great post.Loree Huebnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09845600356878587780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-21956817569261875112012-09-10T13:29:50.581-04:002012-09-10T13:29:50.581-04:00Part of me believes we use way too many commas. Ho...Part of me believes we use way too many commas. Honestly, you take them out and few are missed. Of course there's exceptions. For example, I am obsessive when it comes to the comma in direct addresses. So many good writers omit the common when addressing a person and I don't understand why. <br /><br />"How are you doing, John?"<br />(How are you doing John? Probably with a salad, why?) wrong!<br /><br />"How's Janet John?"<br />(Janet John? Who's the hecks Janet John?)<br />Oh you mean:<br /><br />"How's Janet, John?"<br /><br />LOL. Okay, that's enough fun for today. <br />Joylene Nowell Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04497637513532136615noreply@blogger.com