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Sentence Structure Help- Is this comma misplaced?
Posted: 08 Nov 2021, 13:54
by Kaitlyn Canedy
Hi,
I am trying to figure out if the comma in this sentence is correct or not. I am having trouble trying to find any solid information about it, which is why I decided to ask you all. If you have any reputable sources for me that I missed, that would be great! Thank you in advance.
"I used to play tennis, but as I got older, I stopped being interested in it."
Re: Sentence Structure Help- Is this comma misplaced?
Posted: 08 Nov 2021, 21:06
by MsH2k
I’m not sure which comma you are referring to, but both are fine as written. The first one is before a coordinating conjunction separating two independent clauses. The second one is after a subordinate clause preceding the main clause (of the second independent clause). This link addresses both scenarios separately, but it works the same when they are together.
I hope this helps!
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writ ... ommas.html
Re: Sentence Structure Help- Is this comma misplaced?
Posted: 09 Nov 2021, 19:44
by Kaitlyn Canedy
MsH2k wrote: ↑08 Nov 2021, 21:06
I’m not sure which comma you are referring to, but both are fine as written. The first one is before a coordinating conjunction separating two independent clauses. The second one is after a subordinate clause preceding the main clause (of the second independent clause). This link addresses both scenarios separately, but it works the same when they are together.
I hope this helps!
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writ ... ommas.html
Hi! I did forget to specify which comma I was referring to, but I was referring to the first one after the "but." I am confused because if the phrase that starts with "but" is removed, this would mean that the sentence becomes a run-on.
Re: Sentence Structure Help- Is this comma misplaced?
Posted: 09 Nov 2021, 22:40
by MsH2k
Katie Canedy wrote: ↑09 Nov 2021, 19:44
MsH2k wrote: ↑08 Nov 2021, 21:06
I’m not sure which comma you are referring to, but both are fine as written. The first one is before a coordinating conjunction separating two independent clauses. The second one is after a subordinate clause preceding the main clause (of the second independent clause). This link addresses both scenarios separately, but it works the same when they are together.
I hope this helps!
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writ ... ommas.html
Hi! I did forget to specify which comma I was referring to, but I was referring to the first one after the "but." I am confused because if the phrase that starts with "but" is removed, this would mean that the sentence becomes a run-on.
"I used to play tennis, but as I got older, I stopped being interested in it."
"But as I got older" is not being treated as a nonessential element. The comma before "but" is separating the two independent clauses. It is as if there are two separate sentences:
I used to play tennis. But as I got older, I stopped being interested in it.
"As I got older" is a subordinate clause and takes a comma after it because it precedes the main clause "I stopped being interested in it." It does not require a comma before it. Point 4 in this reference discusses this situation:
http://guidetogrammar.org/grammar/commas.htm
Re: Sentence Structure Help- Is this comma misplaced?
Posted: 10 Nov 2021, 14:12
by Kaitlyn Canedy
MsH2k wrote: ↑09 Nov 2021, 22:40
Katie Canedy wrote: ↑09 Nov 2021, 19:44
MsH2k wrote: ↑08 Nov 2021, 21:06
I’m not sure which comma you are referring to, but both are fine as written. The first one is before a coordinating conjunction separating two independent clauses. The second one is after a subordinate clause preceding the main clause (of the second independent clause). This link addresses both scenarios separately, but it works the same when they are together.
I hope this helps!
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writ ... ommas.html
Hi! I did forget to specify which comma I was referring to, but I was referring to the first one after the "but." I am confused because if the phrase that starts with "but" is removed, this would mean that the sentence becomes a run-on.
"I used to play tennis, but as I got older, I stopped being interested in it."
"But as I got older" is not being treated as a nonessential element. The comma before "but" is separating the two independent clauses. It is as if there are two separate sentences:
I used to play tennis. But as I got older, I stopped being interested in it.
"As I got older" is a subordinate clause and takes a comma after it because it precedes the main clause "I stopped being interested in it." It does not require a comma before it. Point 4 in this reference discusses this situation:
http://guidetogrammar.org/grammar/commas.htm
Okay, thank you! This makes so much more sense now. I appreciate it very much.
