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Starstuff Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

Comma and nonessential elements

0 I have a question on how commas are used in the bold part below:02br
02br
00"But, while the technology has moved on, 01b00the patent system that is supposed to protect it, is badly in need of reform.02b00"02br
00Source:02br
05002br
02br
00However, as a single sentence, is #1 the right way to punctuate?02br
02br
001. The patent system01b00,02b00 which is supposed to protect it01b00,02b00 is badly in need of reform. 02br
02br
002. The patent system that is supposed to protect it01b00,02b00 is badly in need of reform.02br
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00I've leanred I have to use two commas, not one, to separate a nonessential element from a sentence. Is the author also correct in this case?02br
02br
00Thanks for any help. 0510240hrefhttp://www.economist.com/daily/news/displaystory.cfm?story_id=875891411id1
  

Top answer

0I shudder to try to contradict so widely respected a publication as the Economist, but the sentence as you have originally quoted does seem wrong. ")0-

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3 Answers
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0I shudder to try to contradict so widely respected a publication as the Economist, but the sentence as you have originally quoted does seem wrong. I would remove the comma between "it" and "is."02br
02br
00Your #1 is okay as well - it depends on whether you see the "supposed to protect it" as additional information (set it off with commas and use "which") or required (no com
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0Hi,02br
02br
01font00 have a question on how commas are used in the bold part below:02br
02br
00"But, while the technology has moved on, 01b00the patent system that is supposed to protect it, is badly in need of reform.02b00"02br
00Source:02br
05002br
02br
00Howeve
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0
0 Thank you both! 0-
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