Trinidad Corojo

[CoventryCat86]

Actually, there are some hard and fast rules for commas, and I'd love to share them with anyone who is interested! (crickets chirping)

I thought there used to be but I keep hearing that's no longer the accepted practice. I probably keep hearing that from people who don't want to obey any rules

I say list them here for us!!

[heftysmokes]

I can give you a little condensed version...however, if you want to attend a class, I won't be teaching again for another 4 years (when the little one goes kindergarten).

I'm guessing most of you don't get through #2 (this is some dry reading!)

The biggest job a comma has is to seperate a sentence into managable elements.

1. Use commas after introductory phrases or clauses. "While I was smoking a cigar, my wife hollered at me to take out the trash."

A common mistake here is when you put a comma after the main clause and seperate the dependant clause:
"The mailman knocked on the door, while I was taking a dump." (Wrong.)
If you switched the sentence around, the comma would be necessary...
"While I was taking a dump, the mailman knocked on the door." (Right)

2. Use commas to highlight a word or phrase that isn't essential to a sentence. You're basically placing a pause before and after the word. (In this case, if it is a longer phrase, you can use a dash before and after the phrase.)

Some questions to ask whether the clause is essential:

a. If you leave out the clause, phrase, or word, does the sentence still make sense?
b. Does the clause, phrase, or word interrupt the flow of words in the original sentence?
c. If you move the element to a different position in the sentence, does the sentence still make sense?

"You're pretty good at identifying cigars. In this case, however, you're all fucked up."

3. Don't use commas to set off essential elements in a sentence.

"The lighter, that i borrowed from you, is out of butane." In this case, the commas should NOT be there because the clause "that I borrowed from you" is essential to identify which lighter. These clauses are directly following a noun and are acting adjectivally. They can also follow a verb, "He believes that the Acid Kuba Kuba is the best cigar ever." In this case the clause is acting adverbially.


Okay, my fingers are getting tired of typing so here are some more with examples.....

4. Use commas to set off 3 or more words in a series.

"I love Fuente, Padron, and Ashton cigars."

5. Use commas to seperate coordinate adjectives. Coordinate adjectives have equal status in describing the noun

"He was a stupid, pretentious idiot." (Make sure never to put in a comma after the second adjective.)

6. Use a comma near the end of a sentence to separate opposing coordinating elements.

"He was just ignorant, not stupid."

7. Use commas between the main text and a quotation.

CC wrote, "List them for us."

8. Most importantly, use commas to seperate independant clauses when they are joined by the coordinating junctions-
and
but
for
so
or
nor
yet

"Heftysmokes knows grammar, but Coventrycat called him out."

There is more I'm forgetting and I could go way in depth, but I haven't picked up a book since my boy was born!

[slcraiders]

Hey Hefty,

This is good stuff. I feel like I have learned a thing or two today.

Is #4 a hard rule? Would it be acceptable if someone were to write:

"I love Fuente, Padron and Ashton cigars."

bypassing the second comma before the "and"? My understanding was that either method was ok

Oh, and when you return to teaching, can I ship my children up to Montana? JK, man...

[nhcigarfan]

OK, Hold it right there, You're both getting docked a raisin for this education crap.

[heftysmokes]

OK, Hold it right there, You're both getting docked a raisin for this education crap.

Hey, NH, CC requested this nonsense! I shoulda flooded his inbox

SLC,
There are exceptions to most rules, especially in the English language...but they're still rules.
You're just causing a mess if you put in comma #1 and not #2...you're basically inventing a new type of cigar called the "Padron & Ashton," which would be a fantastic cigar, but is still only a dream.
Send the kids up! I'll teach them how to properly punch cut a cigar!

Allright, fuckers, that's the bell. School's out!

[CoventryCat86]

Hey, NH, CC requested this nonsense! I shoulda flooded his inbox

Try that and see what happens.

[heftysmokes]

Try that and see what happens.

That's all i get? Jeez, CC, you asked me to help with the comma problem and this is all I get in reply?

That's does it! I'm taking away your restroom privileges and if you keep it up I'm going to have to move you to the front of the class!

[nhcigarfan]

Try that and see what happens.

Meaning it's full, Hefty, if you want to PM CC you have to ask him first to make room for your message.

Freak'n premadona



Actually he just likes to keep scotty's, amanda's, and his other "fans" pm's around so he can read them and reflect.

[heftysmokes]

Meaning it's full, Hefty, if you want to PM CC you have to ask him first to make room for your message.

Freak'n premadona



Actually he just likes to keep scotty's, amanda's, and his other "fans" pm's around so he can read them and reflect.

LOL, I figured that was the case...I was just expecting a little razzing about taking the time to post all that bullshit. At least my examples were cigar related!

[badsneakers]

Man, who hit the geek button on this thread?

[slcraiders]