punctuation, sentence structure, and grammar.

[DaveW]

I thought it might be worth having a place to post examples of sentence structure, punctuation, and grammar, making a difference to meaning.

 

An old, and most likely apocryphal, example:

"An English professor wrote on the board: A woman without her man is nothing.

The class was then asked to punctuate the sentence

The men wrote: "A woman without her man, is nothing." 

The women wrote: "A woman:  without her, man is nothing.""

 

Please let's  have no argument about the debate or the merits of grammatical analysis - start a thread about it if you like - this is just for examples, hopefully a bit funny if possible but not necessarily.

 

Edited April 29, 2015 by DaveW

[Alimantado]

With Oxford comma:

"Thanks to the authors, Dave, and Mandy."

Without Oxford comma:

"Thanks to the authors, Dave and Mandy."

Are we being told the names of the authors?

 

 

 

[Covenanter]

I thought it might be worth having a place to post examples of sentence structure, punctuation, and grammar, making a difference to meaning.

 

An old, and most likely apocryphal, example:

"An English professor wrote on the board: A woman without her man is nothing.

The class was then asked to punctuate the sentence

The men wrote: "A woman without her man is nothing." 

The women wrote: "A woman:  man is nothing.""

 

​We learn from that, that men do not use punctuation, while women can express themselves in few words - in this case the sentence is reduced by 28.5714% fewer words. 

Let's try again:

A woman, without her man, is nothing.

A woman: without her, man is nothing. 

 

[DaveW]

The site I quoted from had it wrong.....

The site had it in a picture where it was correct, but then reproduced it (wrongly) in text, which is where I did the cut and paste from.

I will fix the original post.

[HappyChristian]

Grammar and punctuation are vital to clear understanding of what one is saying.

"Eats, shoots and leaves."

"Eats shoots and leaves."

[1Timothy115]

This, should be in the humor forum, instead of the ______________ .

a. dictionary
b. lounge forum
 

[DaveW]

Grandma

Let's eat Grandma!

Let's eat, Grandma!

Punctuation saves lives!

[Covenanter]

We will be with our son & family in Peterchurch this weekend. I looked up the church notices:

The Wye Dore Parishes
[Tyberton, Madley, Vowchurch, Turnastone and Peterchurch]
Rogation Sunday – 3rd May 2015
A traditional celebration for all the family when we pray for a good harvest,
eat lunch together and “beat” the bounds of the parish. There will also be an
adult baptism at St Peter’s spring.

Service @11.00am
At St Peters Church, Peterchurch

At approximately 11.30 we will head out for our walk.
Please bring a packed lunch.
There will be a short walk and a longer walk for you to choose from.
There are no other services in our Church’s on this Sunday

Was that written by the local greengrocer  ?

 

 

[Jeffrey2.0]

Man's laughter

manslaughter

i don't think you will be doing 20 to life for laughing out loud.

[Potatochip]

I'll admit.  I am a fairly good speaker.  I annunciate clearly.  Went to some really good schools.  However I will admit to.  I slept a lot through punctuation and some of spelling.  I have a hard time understanding southern vernacular sometimes.  Being as I went to school in Mi. and NY.  True,  southern schools never seemed to get there share of the pie.  When it came to education funding.  But before I get uppity, lol.  I like this better:

 

Proverbs 9:10  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

 

 

Edited April 30, 2015 by Potatochip

[Alimantado]

Here's another hypothetical example:

Happy, Christian, is smelly.

Happy Christian is smelly.

[Salyan]

Oh ho... you're living dangerously...    

Edited April 30, 2015 by Salyan

[OLD fashioned preacher]

Here's another hypothetical example:

Happy, Christian, is smelly.

Happy Christian is smelly.

​I think your first should read: "Happy, Christian is smelly" with only one comma.

The second may be accurate depending on how much of life she has put off while waiting on those grandchildren.

Edited April 30, 2015 by OLD fashioned preacher

[OLD fashioned preacher]

Oh ho... you're living dangerously...    

​I think I may have fixed it for him with my post.

 

Then again .................................................. maybe not.

[Covenanter]

Here's another hypothetical example:

Happy, Christian, is smelly.

Happy Christian is smelly.

The first attempt,  with the commas,  is not a good sentence.  The second only works because H C is a forum member.