Comma question

The Book Elf · Feb 13, 2015

I have a question on commas.

[FONT=&quot]#1
With a practiced fluid motion she cracked some of the eggs into the bowl.

or does it really need a comma like this:

With a practiced fluid motion, she cracked some of the eggs into the bowl.

[FONT=&quot]#2 [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]Once she had turned the corner and he could no longer see her[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]he noticed a blue hair ribbon on the ground by his feet.

[FONT=&quot]or
[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]Once she had turned the corner and he could no longer see her, he noticed a blue hair ribbon on the ground by his feet.[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT]
[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]#3

Min Jae thought he saw the little dragon out of the corner of his eye, but every time he turned to look nothing was there.

[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Min Jae thought he saw the little dragon out of the corner of his eye, but every time he turned to look, nothing was there.[/FONT]
Thank you!
[/FONT]

TellMeAStory · Feb 13, 2015

All your examples benefit from having that comma after the introductory clause. The others will give you more erudite information.

Good question, well put.

The Book Elf · Feb 13, 2015

TellMeAStory said:
All your examples benefit from having that comma after the introductory clause. The others will give you more erudite information.

Good question, well put.

Thanks! I'm going to go google "introductory clause."

Chase · Feb 13, 2015

The Book Elf said:
Is there a rule?

Yes:

Comma Rule Number 2: A comma is necessary to separate a long introductory element before a main clause. Rule 2 holds true for both simple and complex constructions:
Even though ignorant of our culture, we must always be kind to strangers. (Simple)
Since Constance is new to our company, all of us should strive to help her. (Complex)

It’s always correct to set off any introductory element with a comma, but a more modern lean toward fewer commas in novels has made the practice optional for shorter elements. Either is acceptable:

Later, you can join us for dessert.
Later you can join us for dessert.

King Neptune · Feb 13, 2015

The Book Elf said:
I have a question on commas.

[FONT=&quot]#1
With a practiced fluid motion she cracked some of the eggs into the bowl.

or does it really need a comma like this:

With a practiced fluid motion, she cracked some of the eggs into the bowl.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]

Introductory clauses can use a comma after them, but that's mostly for participle clauses. I would probably not use a comma here, because the prepositional clause describes the action that follows.

[/FONT][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]#2
[/FONT][/FONT]

[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]O[/FONT][/FONT][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]nce she had turned the corner and he could no longer see herhe noticed a blue hair ribbon on the ground by his feet.

[FONT=&quot]or
[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]Once she had turned the corner and he could no longer see her, he noticed a blue hair ribbon on the ground by his feet.[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT] [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT] [/FONT][/FONT]

[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]
There should also be a comma after "corner". This sentence requires two commas. You might want to rewrite it.

[/FONT][/FONT][FONT=&quot]

[FONT=&quot].[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]#3
Min Jae thought he saw the little dragon out of the corner of his eye, but every time he turned to look nothing was there[/FONT][/FONT]

Min Jae thought he saw the little dragon out of the corner of his eye, but every time he turned to look, nothing was there.[/FONT]
Thank you!

[/FONT]

I would use a semi-colon before "nothing"; using a comma there is a comma splice. You might want to rewrite this to simplify.

Ken · Feb 13, 2015

Once she had turned the corner and he could no longer see herhe noticed a blue hair ribbon on the ground by his feet.

In general, you wanna avoid constructions like this. Even with commas they're awkward.

So instead, do something like ...

Once she had turned the corner and was no longer in sight he noticed a blue hair ribbon on the ground by his feet.

(Not to dismiss the excellent, grammatical advice above.)

guttersquid · Feb 14, 2015

Min Jae thought he saw the little dragon out of the corner of his eye, but every time he turned to look, nothing was there.

King Neptune said:
I would use a semi-colon before "nothing"; using a comma there is a comma splice.

That sentence is correct as it is. There is no comma splice. A semicolon would be incorrect.

guttersquid · Feb 14, 2015

Ken said:
Once she had turned the corner and was no longer in sight he noticed a blue hair ribbon on the ground by his feet.

That's a good rewrite, but a comma is still needed after "sight."

King Neptune · Feb 14, 2015

guttersquid said:
Min Jae thought he saw the little dragon out of the corner of his eye, but every time he turned to look, nothing was there.

That sentence is correct as it is. There is no comma splice. A semicolon would be incorrect.

A comma splice is the use of a comma to join two independent clauses.
An independent clause (or main clause) is a clause that can stand by itself as a simple sentence. An independent clause contains a subject and a predicate; it makes sense by itself and therefore expresses a complete thought.

Both of these are independent clauses.
he turned to look
nothing was there
That sentence does contain a comma splice.

The Book Elf · Feb 14, 2015

Thank you. There is so much to remember. (I get confused with all the terminology.)

guttersquid · Feb 14, 2015

King Neptune said:
A comma splice is the use of a comma to join two independent clauses.

Both of these are independent clauses.
he turned to look
nothing was there
That sentence does contain a comma splice.

Here is why your logic fails:

"He turned to look" is an independent clause, but that is not the complete clause in the sentence. The complete clause is "but every time he turned to look," which is not an independent clause. It is a fragment (it cannot stand alone as a simple sentence). So there's no comma splice.

NDoyle · Feb 14, 2015

It's not a comma splice if there is also a conjunction (for example: and, but, if).

This would be a comma splice:

Min Jae thought he saw the little dragon out of the corner of his eye, every time he turned to look, nothing was there.

Comma question

The Book Elf

TellMeAStory

The Book Elf

Chase

It Takes All of Us to End Racism

King Neptune

Ken

guttersquid

I agree with Roxxsmom.

guttersquid

I agree with Roxxsmom.

King Neptune

The Book Elf

guttersquid

I agree with Roxxsmom.

NDoyle

Writer, Editor, Photographer