OnlineBookClub.org

Hey,

I'm reading a book right now, but there are so many comma errors that I'm wondering whether or not these should all be included when we hand in our review. I'm sure I missed at least one with this amount, and I'm also not sure if comma (ab)use counts as a grammar mistake that we're expected to report.

So far I've noted down the biggest errors, but I think I'd never be able to finish reading if I noted down every instance.

Sorry if this is in the wrong forum by the way, but I think my question mostly boils down to :

Do you count punctuation as grammar?
When there are many instances of the same type of mistake, do you note down every single last one of them?

Thanks!

PS : if this is the wrong forum, let me know and I'll delete this thread.

Yes, comma errors should be on the list of errors for the author. Punctuation errors are absolutely errors. You only need to list the first ten errors, so stop the notetaking when you've hit ten. You shouldn't list them in the actual review.

Yes, each instance of the same error should be recorded, and they do contribute to the 10 that you have to submit in the list to the author. Good luck! (:

Books with that many punctuation errors are really hard to concentrate on. Yes, I would include obvious misuse of commas. I do realize, though, that US conventions in punctuation are not necessarily the same as non US usage.

I try not to be too nitpicky when it comes to comma errors in books because I always like to allow for creative liberty for the author. That said, if a comma or lack thereof confuses the meaning of the sentence or makes it a run-on sentence, I will mark it. For example, in the last book I read, there was a sentence that went something like, "By the time she was through the floor was soaking wet." I marked that as an error because I had to back and read for clarity. The first time I read it like she went "through the floor."

Comma error are sometimes hard for me to spot. I still make them when I write. Perhaps if I try spotting them more, my writing will improve.

I also read a book and had difficulty listing down the missing commas. Make sure to try break your list down to commas that changes the sentence's context. Otherwise, commas are normally based on the author's preference.