Comma conundrums & other punctuation perplexities

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Commas

Jan 10, 2009

The comma has always been one of the most confusing pieces of punctuation ever invented. A great quote by Oscar Wilde: "I spent most of the day putting in a comma and the rest of the day taking it out." Since we don't have that kind of time to ponder the perplexities of punctuation, we need to know our rules. Here are some good sites for commas:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_comma.html
http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/commas.asp
http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/commas.asp

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Jennie Ann

Here's a comma question.

Example 1: They felt that it was dominated by special interest groups and that Washington had become detached from the American people.

Example 2: They felt that it was dominated by special interest groups, and that Washington had become detached from the American people.

To me, it looks like "they" felt two different things: domination by special interest groups AND Washington becoming detached.

So does a comma belong after the word "groups"? TIA to any and all responders.
3
May 29, 2009
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Sandy Graf

Forgive me because I'm new to this site, and I'm not for sure if this is where I would post a question. I have an odd question. When listing things in a transcript, I always put commas between them. My old grammer rule was to not put a comma before a conjunction like "and." I'm going by a book called Bad Grammar Good Punctuation. I see that they put a comma before a conjunction, and, I think_-- I'd have to check again -- they even put one after the last word in the list. What are your thoughts on this? I feel like I'm changing my ways all the time. Thanks a bunch. Let me know if I need to post this question somewhere else.
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Dec 9, 2011
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Laura E. Thornsberry

Something I've always questioned how I should punctuate:

A. No no no no no.
1
Jul 30, 2012