20. Punctuation Basics. Restrictive and Non-Restrictive.

Yossarian explains that commas are used to set off non-restrictive (sometimes called non-essential) elements. He also describes the serial comma. English grammar and language.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• language
• english
• grammer
• grammarian
• sandor
• grammar
• proper
• correct

[Stefan5444]

What if we put a comma in the second sentence? Would that make all the pitchers in the world left handed?

[mrthoth]

The following sentence means that all pitchers in the world are left-handed: "Pitchers, who are left-handed, are called southpaws."  According to the preceding sentence, right-handed pitchers do not exist.

[Topgeneral3070]

I'll take 3 boxes of cereal commas plz! :D

[shinsuke0123]

Thanks for the helpful and decent lesson. ^^

[liqdC]

Thank you for this lesson. It is very helpful because I have a very hard time with commas. I sweat from fear of using commas.

[TheGreenmansWife]

@JamesfromOhio Yes. The conjunctive 'and' is all that is required here there is no need at all for the last comma.

This is a relatively recent development known as the Oxford comma or serial comma and is totally superfluous. Same applies before a conjunctive 'or'.

[JamesfromOhio]

"We need stamps, squill, squid, and wax."

Should we always use a comma and the coordinating conjunction "and" to complete joining elements in a series? "squid, and wax."

Can we get away without the last comma?

Thanks

[lubu1996]

Thank you, I have been looking up text definitions for a few days now. This is the best explanation I've seen thus far.

[codemonkey732]

cereal comma!!! (you said serial. i twisted it into cereal)

COMMA-O's! *punctuation in every bite* :)

[nehalfn0078]

nice

[TheLarssan]

Thanks. :)