In below sentence, why is there no comma between the word 'temporarily' and the word 'and'? Is it because the 2nd phrase "causing discontent..." is a continuation of the thought in the first phrase "prompting transit..."; or perhaps the 2nd phrase is caused by this first phrase?
The blizzard deposited more than a foot of snow on the train tracks, prompting the transit authority to shut down service temporarily and causing discontent among commuters who were left stranded for hours.
Comma Usage with the word AND
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Hi melanie.espeland,
This SC describes two effects of the blizzard. In this situation, parallelism is required (notice the verbs "prompting" and "causing" are parallel) but a comma is not. If there were more than two effects (3 or more), then the use of comma(s) would be required.
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This SC describes two effects of the blizzard. In this situation, parallelism is required (notice the verbs "prompting" and "causing" are parallel) but a comma is not. If there were more than two effects (3 or more), then the use of comma(s) would be required.
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Thanks Rich.
Does the reasoning have anything to do with the fact that the 2nd phrase "causing discontent" is caused by the 1st phrase "prompting transit" (i.e. they are connected and one finished thought)? Or does this have nothing to do with the comma usage?
Does the reasoning have anything to do with the fact that the 2nd phrase "causing discontent" is caused by the 1st phrase "prompting transit" (i.e. they are connected and one finished thought)? Or does this have nothing to do with the comma usage?
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Maybe you are making it more complicated than it needs to be.
As Rich said, the two effects of the blizzard form a list. You could look at it the following way, and see that no comma is necessary. The blizzard deposited snow, prompting this and causing that.
So the answer is that it does not matter that the second part of the list is maybe caused by the first.
As Rich said, the two effects of the blizzard form a list. You could look at it the following way, and see that no comma is necessary. The blizzard deposited snow, prompting this and causing that.
So the answer is that it does not matter that the second part of the list is maybe caused by the first.
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The blizzard was responsible for PROMPTING and CAUSING.melanie.espeland wrote:In below sentence, why is there no comma between the word 'temporarily' and the word 'and'? Is it because the 2nd phrase "causing discontent..." is a continuation of the thought in the first phrase "prompting transit..."; or perhaps the 2nd phrase is caused by this first phrase?
The blizzard deposited more than a foot of snow on the train tracks, prompting the transit authority to shut down service temporarily and causing discontent among commuters who were left stranded for hours.
Since only two VERBing actions are attributed to the blizzard, no comma is warranted.
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Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.
As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.
For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at [email protected].
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