Page 160 - Perfect English Grammar: The Indispensable Guide to Excellent Writing and Speaking
P. 160
16.2.11 COMMAS AND DIALOG
Commas are used in dialog to separate what was said from the rest of the text,
both for exact quotes and for paraphrasing.
■ I told him, “Don’t touch the stove!”
■ “When all is said and done,” she said, “we will have changed the
world.”
■ When they asked Sascha for money, Jack reported, he said he was
thinking it over.
16.2.12 COMMON MISTAKES WITH COMMAS
Commas should not separate two verbs or verb phrases in a compound predicate.
■ Wrong: I sanded, and painted the dresser.
■ Right: I sanded and painted the dresser.
Commas should not separate two nouns, noun phrases, or noun clauses in a
compound subject or object.
■ Wrong: My graduate advisor, and our department chair both sent
letters.
■ Right: My graduate advisor and our department chair both sent
letters.
16.3 Question Mark
The question mark is used to end sentences that form a direct question.
■ Where have all the flowers gone?
■ What time is it?
■ Why is the sky blue?
