I find that commas can sometimes be overused, but if you remember that it's a natural pause in the sentence as if you were speaking out loud, you can't really go wrong.

In my sentence above, I could have either use the second comma or not, but either way is correct. I used it because I naturally paused in that spot.

This post was edited on 5/14/14 at 3:18 am

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Posted by Corkfather

Houston

Member since Sep 2007

19748 posts

Posted on 5/14/14 at 3:30 am to Mr. Tom Morrow

Gotcha.

quote:
if you remember that it's a natural pause in the sentence as if you were speaking out loud, you can't really go wrong.

That's pretty much what I do. I'm pretty good when it comes to writing and English-related things, but I sometimes second guess myself. I always try to use proper grammar/spelling, even when texting and on TD. I feel that everyone should be proper all the time, because if you don't practice you won't get it right when it counts. You'll notice that pretty much every post I make is edited, because I go back and reread each post and correct any mistakes.

I appreciate the little lesson, and that's no joke. Any hints with semicolon usage? I normally use them when I feel like the other half of the sentence could be it's own sentence but is also relevant to the first half and doesn't really need to be it's own sentence. If that makes any sense.

This post was edited on 5/14/14 at 3:34 am

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Posted by shutterspeed

MS Gulf Coast

Member since May 2007

63563 posts

Posted on 5/14/14 at 5:55 am to Mr. Tom Morrow

quote:
my sentence above, I could have either use the second comma or not, but either way is correct.

You actually need the second commas, as well, since that part of the sentence began with a subordinate clause. Had you swapped the arrangement slightly, it would have been optional.

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