Nov 6, 2012 21:18
11 yrs ago
English term
United States
Translator, transcriber, proofreader
Native in: German 
Works in: English to German, German to English
Comma or not?
English
Science
Computers: Systems, Networks
informatics
“The proof is analogous to the proof of theorem 3.2.1.8 in section 3.2.1 on page 28 because only the global balance equations (cf. (3.2.3.1) and (3.2.3.2) on page 50) … ”
Would you use a comma before "because"?
Would you use a comma before "because"?
Responses
| 3 +2 | I wouldn't |
Oliver Walter
|
| 3 +2 | Personally, I would.... |
Jack Doughty
|
Responses
+2
1 hr
Oliver Walter
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
&
English
Works in field
United Kingdom
Qualified in engineering and translation
Native in: English (Variant: British)
Works in: German to English, French to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
8
Selected
I wouldn't
In that situation, while not considering Jack's approach to be incorrect, I would probably not put a comma there because I would not include a pause there while reading the text and the meaning is clear with or without the comma. The commas in the first sentence of this reply indicate that I would pause slightly at those points while reading silently or aloud, and I would not pause before the word "because".
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
airmailrpl
: -
9 hrs
|
| agree |
Tony M
: I think the link of causality introduced by 'because' is sufficiently close for the two parts of the sentence to run on without the interruption of a comma.
10 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
+2
5 mins
Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
&
English
United Kingdom
Translator since 1953
Native in: English
Works in: Russian to English, German to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Personally, I would....
....but I don't think the sentence is wrong without it.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
John Alphonse (X)
: Stylistically confusing and unaesthetic without the comma IMO.
6 mins
|
|
Thank you.
|
|
| agree |
B D Finch
: I think that you are right: it's a matter of personal choice and either version is correct. Personally, I wouldn't use a comma.
12 hrs
|
|
Thank you.
|
Discussion
Dear John,
I want a man who knows what love is all about. You are generous, kind, thoughtful. People who are not like you admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me for other men. I yearn for you. I have no feelings whatsoever when we're apart. I can be forever happy -- will you let me be yours?
Gloria
Second version
Dear John,
I want a man who knows what love is. All about you are generous, kind, thoughtful people, who are not like you. Admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me. For other men, I yearn. For you, I have no feelings whatsoever. When we're apart, I can be forever happy. Will you let me be?
Yours,
Gloria
He said he wouldn't go for a walk, because it was raining.
He said he wouldn't go for a walk because it was raining.
In the first instance, we understand that he said it because it was raining: Because it was raining, he said he wouldn't go for a walk.
In the 2nd, we understand it is his not going for a walk that is caused by the rain: He said that because it was raining he wouldn't go for a walk.
This is a facile and fatuous example, but it is important to realize the effect a comma can have.