Comma usage

[Ashley_Meneely]

1) She immediately returns to the bench with Gregory[,] minutes before her accident occurs.

2) I grew worried towards the end when none of Anaya's problems reached a resolution[,] before remembering this was part of a series!

3) I[,] therefore[,] rate this book a 3 out of 4.

I have been receiving a lot of points off for the use or non-use of commas. I do not know the grammatical terms, but I can usually tell when a sentence is wrong or not by looking at it. Senior year of high school, I scored a perfect 36/36 on the English portion of the ACT, so I am having a hard time understanding why my commas are being marked wrong so often. I have not scored well in my first 3 reviews, and this last one was rejected. The above remarks are all I recieved as feedback. Sentence one and two I used the commas, while sentence 3 I did not.

Can someone explain to me what is wrong with these commas?

Thank you.

[kandscreeley]

I can tell you that the third one is an interrupter which should be offset by commas. If you Google interrupters (I would add the word grammar because the interrupters are apparently a band as well), you'll find some good information. As for errors one and two, you would have to determine if it's a restrictive or non-restrictive clause. You can Google that to find the punctuation rules. However, it isn't always clear if it's restrictive or non-restrictive. Hope that helps some.

[Pauline Parnell]

Comma usage is also one of my biggest downfalls when doing reviews. I agree more feedback is required from the editors when they are scoring. If clear feedback is not given, one has to figure it out.

[Helen Akoth]

I can tell you that the third one is an interrupter which should be offset by commas. If you Google interrupters (I would add the word grammar because the interrupters are apparently a band as well), you'll find some good information. As for errors one and two, you would have to determine if it's a restrictive or non-restrictive clause. You can Google that to find the punctuation rules. However, it isn't always clear if it's restrictive or non-restrictive. Hope that helps some.

Thank you for the insights. I think I'll also benefit from researching about comma usage with interrupters, restrictive clause, and restrictive clause.

[Ntokozo Joy Ndlovu]

I have met similar feedback. There's also the issue of a comma before 'and', left me wondering if there were updated grammar rules I needed to familiarise myself with.

[kandscreeley]

I have met similar feedback. There's also the issue of a comma before 'and', left me wondering if there were updated grammar rules I needed to familiarise myself with.

For the most part, you don't need a comma before and unless what comes after could be a complete sentence.

For example:

I went to the store, and I got milk.

I went to the store and got milk.

Both correct.

[eclecticredhead]

I also have met with this issue, and I'm glad you mention it. I am sure that the editors know what they're doing and I would never second guess them or complain, however, I find myself growing disheartened. I've bought several new books on grammar and punctuation that I've been pouring over in hopes of it helping. I reread comma rules over and over, and feel that I have a firm understanding of their functions. And then, yet again, an incredibly low score because I've either included too many or not enough commas. I am growing to dread them. Perhaps I shall only write extremely short sentences. Back to the books!

[kandscreeley]

If you believe you are right, request a recheck. If they won't change it and you still believe you're right, request an admin recheck.

[Ashley_Meneely]

Thanks, you guys! I'm just going to read up more I guess!