Commas to separate three clauses

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tchom_fox
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Commas to separate three clauses

Post by tchom_fox »

"It is very empowering to remember that you have the power to change your life, by choosing how you respond and choosing responses that align with your vision of how you want to be."
In this sentence, there's a complete sentence that could end with "to change your life." There's two supporting clauses, one starting "by choosing" and the other starting "and choosing".
Am I right in putting a comma after "change your life"?
Should I have put another comma before the "and choosing"?
Anngladys
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Post by Anngladys »

The comma position you suggest seems to suit a conversational tone, but it might be flagged. Also, generally, a comma shouldn't appear before the word 'and'.

My take would be this - avoid long sentences. Break them apart into shorter ones. The shorter ones are easier to read and understand. Use a comma only when the second part of the sentence is adding value to the first part and the two are interdependent.
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MrsCatInTheHat
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Post by MrsCatInTheHat »

Anngladys wrote: 23 Jul 2020, 12:14 Also, generally, a comma shouldn't appear before the word 'and'.

Commas should be used before "and" when "and" connects two independent clauses.
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Diana Lowery
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Post by Diana Lowery »

"by choosing how you respond and choosing responses that align with your vision of how you want to be." These are not clauses. I think it is a long compound prepositional phrase.
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Juliet+1
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Post by Juliet+1 »

Definitely no comma. The sentence is a little awkward too. I would rewrite it as --

"It is very empowering to remember that you have the power to change your life by choosing how you respond and by selecting responses that align with your vision of how you want to be."
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