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+--- Thread: Lost in Tom Swifties and punctuation (Question about commas) (/showthread.php?tid=275120)
Lost in Tom Swifties and punctuation (Question about commas) - Todd's keyboard - 02-25-2023
"Hello, my name is Todd's keyboard, and I'm addicted to Tom Swifties," Todd's kb said, PUNctually.
However, I waffle back and forth about using a comma (or not) before the final adverb.
“We finally made it to June 1st,” noted Tom, dismayed.
In the above, should there be a comma before dismayed? Or not?
Am a bit embarrassed 1) that this is so important, and 2) that I can't decide.
"Thanks," wrote Todd's keyboard (with or without pause)
Re: Lost in Tom Swifties and punctuation (Question about commas) - wurm - 02-25-2023
I think it works best with the comma before dismayed. but what the hell do I know.
Re: Lost in Tom Swifties and punctuation (Question about commas) - Dennis S - 02-25-2023
I like the comma.
Re: Lost in Tom Swifties and punctuation (Question about commas) - Tiangou - 02-25-2023
You're shortening an independent phrase that could be a second sentence.
Where you're joining independent sentences or phrases with a conjunction -- even when the conjunction is implied -- you should use a comma.
You could write it this way:
"We finally made it to June 1st," noted Tom. Tom was dismayed.
Or this way:
"We finally made it to June 1st," noted Tom, and Tom was dismayed.
Or you could write it this way:
“We finally made it to June 1st,” noted Tom, dismayed.
Or you might construct it so that the adjective becomes a dependent part of the sentence and does not require a comma to set it off in this fashion:
“We finally made it to June 1st,” noted a dismayed Tom.
Re: Lost in Tom Swifties and punctuation (Question about commas) - Todd's keyboard - 02-25-2023
LOL
Well, of course, everyone likes the comma. Is it grammatically correct?
"Part of me thinks it is, part of me thinks it isn't," Tom said of two minds (while being Frank).
T's dropped-the-toothpaste-and-was-Crestfallen keyboard
Re: Lost in Tom Swifties and punctuation (Question about commas) - August West - 02-25-2023
I'm a descriptive grammarian and suffer no dismay, here.
Re: Lost in Tom Swifties and punctuation (Question about commas) - gadje - 02-25-2023
Just one comma? how do you plan to enter the Three Comma Club?
Re: Lost in Tom Swifties and punctuation (Question about commas) - Janit - 02-25-2023
PUNctually is a real adverb, and doesn't need a comma before it.
Dismayed is not an adverb in the example sentence, and that's why it needs the comma. You could use "noted a dismayed Tom" or "noted Tom with dismay."
Whether these two variants are true Tom Swifties is a matter for discussion.
Look at "The Joy of Tom Swifties" for examples:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/tom-swifties-puns-that-turn-adverbs-into-punchlines
Re: Lost in Tom Swifties and punctuation (Question about commas) - RAMd®d - 02-26-2023
Janit's answer sounds proper, though I wouldn't know correct from incorrect.
I use a lot of commas, to the dismay of some MRFers, apparently.
But they help emphasize words or thoughts in my sentences and establish a certain cadence of my speech.
In reading, some may give too much emphasis to the comma as though there were times ascribed to them.
Maybe I should use one or more depending on their function in a sentence.
If I'm honest, I've only clicked on this thread to read Todd's keyboard's sign-off.
Proper grammar is more by guess and by golly for me.
But that probably goes without saying.
Re: Lost in Tom Swifties and punctuation (Question about commas) - Speedy - 02-26-2023
You can never have too many commas, or too few.