Need for a comma due to the existence of a phrasal element

Question

Hi, I have asked this question as one of the questions in a thread I started named "three 'mixed bag' questions." My main contention in that was that the use of a comma like here is due to the presence of an element like "as well as phrases". Had it not been there, a comma should not be placed there.

1. I think both of these show the use of a comma due to the existence of another javascript:void(0). If there were no element like that present, commas would not been necessary. Am I right? (Did I make the subjunctive right by pluralizing the verb 'was'??)

We are looking at sentences, as well as phrases, that are ten words or less.

To this, I think Philip answered that the comma is correct to be there but did not offer an extensive explanation. I am going to give you another sentence in support of my contention and wish you would give me your expert opinion. I feel if the underlined part had not been there, the need to place a comma after it wouldn't have arisen.

I these this kind of application appear/occur a lot in today's writings

It's located in southern Europe, on the Mediterranean Sea, and looks like a boat.

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

I have asked this question as one of the questions in a thread I started named "three 'mixed bag' questions." My main contention in that was that the use of a comma like here is due to the presence of an element like "as well as phrases". Had it not been there, a comma should not be placed there.

1. I think both of these show the use of a comma due to the existence of another element. If there were no element like that present, commas would not been necessary. Am I right? (Did I make the subjunctive right by pluralizing the verb 'was'??)

We are looking at sentences, as well as phrases, that are ten words or less.
This means that we are looking at 2 things. 1. Sentences that are ten words or less. 2. Phrases that are ten words or less.

Now let's remove the comma.
We are looking at sentences, as well as phrases that are ten words or less.
This means that we are looking at 2 things. 1. Sentences ~~that are ten words or less.~~ 2. Phrases that are ten words or less.

Now let's remove 'as well as phrases'.
We are looking at sentences that are ten words or less.
No commas should be placed here.

To this, I think Philip answered that the comma is correct to be there but did not offer an extensive explanation. I am going to give you another sentence in support of my contention and wish you would give me your expert opinion. I feel if the underlined part had not been there, the need to place a comma after it wouldn't have arisen. You haven't expressed your meaning clearly here. It seems self-evident that I wouldn't need to put a comma after something that is not there. It 's a bit like saying 'If a chair is not there, you don't need to sit on it'.

I these this kind of application appear/occur a lot in today's writings

It's located in southern Europe, on the Mediterranean Sea, and looks like a boat.

The comma after 'Sea' is needed because 'looks like a boat' is a second main clause and is unrelated to the phrase 'on the Mediterranean Sea'.

If you remove the phrase, you could write the sentence as either
It's located in southern Europe and looks like a boat.
or It's located in southern Europe, and looks like a boat.
In other words, the comma is optional here.

Best wishes, Clive

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you. I don't understand why a comma would be optional when the subject is shared.

Pasted from the previous part with my question part and your answer:

I these this kind of application appear/occur a lot in today's writings

It's located in southern Europe, on the Mediterranean Sea, and looks like a boat.

The comma after 'Sea' is needed because 'looks like a boat' is a second main clause and is unrelated to the phrase 'on the Mediterranean Sea'.

If you remove the phrase, you could write the sentence as either
It's located in southern Europe and looks like a boat.
or It's located in southern Europe, and looks like a boat.
In other words, the comma is optional here.

Clive · Answer

Hi,
It's located in southern Europe and looks like a boat.
or It's located in southern Europe, and looks like a boat.

Do you find either of these versions hard to understand?

Is it unclear in either of them that the subject is 'it'?

Best wishes, Clive

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you so much. I think my answer to that (your question) is either is clear. What is the your point, if I may ask? I have this short sentence that seems to fit the question mode. Why the comma there? Would you say a comma is a punctuation device that can be used in a liberal fashion (?) if no acute confusion arose from the absence of it?

The city was small. but very rich.

Clive · Answer

Hi,
I think my answer to that (your question) is either is clear. What is the your point, if I may ask? I wanted to show that a comma is optional, even whene the subject is not repeated in the second clause. I thought you were questioning that.

I have this short sentence that seems to fit the question mode. Why the comma there?

Would you say a comma is a punctuation device that can be used in a liberal fashion (?) if no acute confusion arose from the absence of it?
Very generally speaking, yes, I would, although it's hard to generalize.

The city was small. but very rich.I think you intended a comma rather thath a period after 'small'. Yes, it's optional here. A comma represents a pause. Here, using a comma makes the reader pause for a moment and reflect on the fact that the city was small. This heightens the effect, the contrast, of the next statement that the city was very rich.

Clive

Need for a comma due to the existence of a phrasal element

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