tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post7360925854577288609..comments2023-12-07T08:42:44.505+00:00Comments on Wendy's Writing Now: A Bee in My Bonnet - about commasWendy's Writinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06960941625432714363noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-47498522342139058662018-03-12T08:36:49.442+00:002018-03-12T08:36:49.442+00:00Yes... those too.Yes... those too.Wendy's Writinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06960941625432714363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-40267793544914008112018-03-12T08:31:22.123+00:002018-03-12T08:31:22.123+00:00Apostrophes are my bugbear!Apostrophes are my bugbear!https://www.judithbarrow-author.co.uk/https://www.blogger.com/profile/11916706180945300075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-78640697164336167432018-03-09T13:39:38.942+00:002018-03-09T13:39:38.942+00:00Hmm... Why is that then, Phillipa? 😀Hmm... Why is that then, Phillipa? 😀Wendy's Writinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06960941625432714363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-70321280458130696802018-03-09T13:38:54.770+00:002018-03-09T13:38:54.770+00:00Yes, have a try, Keith. It soon becomes second nat...Yes, have a try, Keith. It soon becomes second nature.Wendy's Writinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06960941625432714363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-14351372148789900722018-03-09T11:07:04.159+00:002018-03-09T11:07:04.159+00:00Oh dear. Slinks off...Oh dear. Slinks off...Phillipahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15638591059241672256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-34604844040809191152018-03-09T09:57:58.475+00:002018-03-09T09:57:58.475+00:00I didn't know about the cut it out test. I'...I didn't know about the cut it out test. I'll try it out in future.Keith Havershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05133563220362208820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-6305568398482002552018-03-09T09:47:03.375+00:002018-03-09T09:47:03.375+00:00Yes! You’re right! Consider it done 😊Yes! You’re right! Consider it done 😊Wendy's Writinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06960941625432714363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-12348637133424119072018-03-09T09:39:35.368+00:002018-03-09T09:39:35.368+00:00Agree with everything you say, Wendy, but may I ge...Agree with everything you say, Wendy, but may I gently point out that at the end of your para 3 there should be a comma between 'Oh' and 'well'. Sorry, but I'm a punctuation pedant!Denise Barnes Writerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08966199395241983613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-90142571888137483432018-03-08T10:36:04.175+00:002018-03-08T10:36:04.175+00:00Thanks, Wendy. I don't see any reason to start...Thanks, Wendy. I don't see any reason to start using them!<br />Rosemary Goodacrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07678614077376988278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-65977314802876820872018-03-08T09:56:14.449+00:002018-03-08T09:56:14.449+00:00Absolutely, Sue. That’s exactly how I used to teac...Absolutely, Sue. That’s exactly how I used to teach it 😊.Wendy's Writinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06960941625432714363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-7088550308414842872018-03-08T09:39:39.499+00:002018-03-08T09:39:39.499+00:00So interesting and so right! I always automaticall...So interesting and so right! I always automatically cut the bit enclosed by commas and see if it reads right. The one that I see most often is it's and its. If it reads it is and makes sense like in it's (it is) a lovely day you need the apostrophe. If it doesn't make sense as in, for example, in its own way. That doesn't read right as it's (it is) own way. A simple check but it works for me. I hope you can understand a word of this as it's my way of seeing if, in its own way it's right. Teehee xxSue Blackburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12289238779017931338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-58362968192651841622018-03-08T07:49:24.071+00:002018-03-08T07:49:24.071+00:00If used correctly, commas should create clarity in...If used correctly, commas should create clarity in your writing while keeping the flow. Wendy's Writinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06960941625432714363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-1929377066024970472018-03-08T07:47:17.266+00:002018-03-08T07:47:17.266+00:00An Oxford comma is where a comma is placed before ...An Oxford comma is where a comma is placed before the last ‘and’ in a list. <br /><br />I like dogs, cats, and fish.<br /><br />I don’t personally use them as the word ‘and’ separates the final two items in the same way as a comma. A lot of people like them though (like Helen above) which is why I didn’t mention them in the post 😊.Wendy's Writinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06960941625432714363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-66465663435161974932018-03-08T07:41:41.728+00:002018-03-08T07:41:41.728+00:00I do sometimes use dashes (sparingly though). Rand...I do sometimes use dashes (sparingly though). Random capitals are annoying through. A common one is ‘his Mum’.Wendy's Writinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06960941625432714363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-53846154601641976972018-03-07T19:30:46.195+00:002018-03-07T19:30:46.195+00:00Great post, Wendy. I used to love learning grammar...Great post, Wendy. I used to love learning grammar right from primary age! Glad you don't like the Oxford comma - I've taken quite a few out before republishing The Highland Lass!Rosemary Gemmellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09311840205603508422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-6832123722141888802018-03-07T12:24:10.358+00:002018-03-07T12:24:10.358+00:00I've recently seen mention of The Oxford Comma...I've recently seen mention of The Oxford Comma. Could you enlighten me about this, please?Rosemary Goodacrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07678614077376988278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-30202776623047068192018-03-07T09:34:17.116+00:002018-03-07T09:34:17.116+00:00Well said! I don't like the increasing tendenc...Well said! I don't like the increasing tendency to use a dash where none is needed. 'He reached for the teapot - and poured a cuppa.' Grr! I also edit copy for two magazines that have military content. Oh, how the military loves a random capital letter. 'The Army also owns lots of Military Helicopters.' Again: grr!Julia Thorleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00485301135194085398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-27923132751325836672018-03-06T14:50:54.328+00:002018-03-06T14:50:54.328+00:00Yes!!!! He he.Yes!!!! He he.Wendy's Writinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06960941625432714363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-27169921912225174322018-03-06T14:50:29.917+00:002018-03-06T14:50:29.917+00:00Yes, I do have Eats Shoots and Leaves. It’s really...Yes, I do have Eats Shoots and Leaves. It’s really useful. I’m afraid I don’t agree with the Oxford comma though. I always taught that the ‘and’ before the final item in a list served the same purpose as the comma so you didn’t need both. I deliberately didn’t mention the Oxford comma as I’m sure there are many people who would disagree with me!Wendy's Writinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06960941625432714363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-45858823630320822352018-03-06T14:45:05.321+00:002018-03-06T14:45:05.321+00:00You did! Gold star.You did! Gold star.Wendy's Writinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06960941625432714363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-71110451912164227172018-03-06T14:40:16.429+00:002018-03-06T14:40:16.429+00:00A great post, Wendy. And, it seems, a great teache...A great post, Wendy. And, it seems, a great teacher too. Did I use my commas correctly? :-) xAmandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06919354420843737481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-19890772770404308032018-03-06T14:08:04.714+00:002018-03-06T14:08:04.714+00:00Excessive use of exclamation marks. Or screamers a...Excessive use of exclamation marks. Or screamers as they're sometimes known.Sue Featherstonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03682257273573944601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-74398852871637456302018-03-06T14:03:46.304+00:002018-03-06T14:03:46.304+00:00I comma too comma used to teach English, Wendy, an...I comma too comma used to teach English, Wendy, and LOVED teaching punctuation. I found a really old book at the back of a cupboard called 'Exercises in Punctuation' (by S. Tremayne?) which absolutely nailed it.<br /><br />Do you have a copy of 'Eats Shoots and Leaves'? (I'm sure you do) <br />Lynne Truss is a girl after my own heart!<br /><br />It really is satisfying to have punctuation rules acknowledged; as you say, nowadays, they often seem to be overlooked.<br /><br />Keep up the good work and spread the news!<br /><br />P.S. I love the Oxford comma, too.Helen Laycockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13798216210954894871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-45364684954907681222018-03-06T11:27:49.958+00:002018-03-06T11:27:49.958+00:00Maybe next week, Tracy - though I agree that they&...Maybe next week, Tracy - though I agree that they're becoming less common. Wendy's Writinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06960941625432714363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-17653082433038230812018-03-06T11:23:25.249+00:002018-03-06T11:23:25.249+00:00After many years I have come to love semi-colons j...After many years I have come to love semi-colons just as they are going out of fashion. Could you do a post on them next please, Miss. And I wish you had been my English teacher, your grammar teaching methods sound such fun. TracyFellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10224475173136774530noreply@blogger.com