It is not entirely correct to talk about theory being one thing and practice another. It’s closer to the truth to say that theory and practice are two sides of the same coin, obverse and reverse, complementing each other in whatever we do. Which would mean that to study the theory of grammar is inevitably …
Tag Archives: Commas
Once Again, the Comma
One of the more persistent difficulties in writing is where to place a comma. Many of us were taught to put a comma where you breathe, and I am of the opinion that that well-meaning directive has caused more problems than it has solved. I say this not because the instruction is without merit, but …
Commas Cut
That, in fact, is the first thing to remember about commas: they cut, separate, detach, isolate. Their very name derives from a Greek verb, koptein, which means to cut, and the word comma originally signified a clause, what we know grammatically now as a group of words with a subject and verb, but which originally …
Commas: To Use or Not To Use
A number of months ago, in a post called Apposition, I took up the question whether commas would be necessary in a sentence like this: My brother, George, is tall. Recently, I was talking with someone who tutors middle school students, and the materials he is compelled to use on the same topic were downright …