Style Guide?

Some grammar rules (and embarrassing mistakes!) transcend the uniqueness of different regions and style guides. This new International Grammar section by OnlineBookClub.org ultimately identifies those rules thus providing a simple, flexible rule-set, respecting the differences between regions and style guides. You can feel free to ask general questions about spelling and grammar. You can also provide example sentences for other members to proofread and inform you of any grammar mistakes.

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NRoach
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Style Guide?

Post by NRoach »

My score has been suffering heavily recently due to comma usage, especially as it adds up. Obviously I want to fix this, but what I get penalised for and whether or not I get penalised at all seems to be luck of the draw with which editor looks over my reviews.

Do we have a recommended style guide to use, or at least a guide about this? Comma usage in particular varies wildly between style guides, and it would be nice to know if there was a set system I could use to eliminate the apparent randomness.

Thanks in advance!
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MrsCatInTheHat
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Post by MrsCatInTheHat »

There is not a specific style guide to follow. When in doubt, take the most conservative approach & you should be fine.
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lbhatters
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Post by lbhatters »

NRoach wrote: 27 Apr 2018, 17:49 My score has been suffering heavily recently due to comma usage, especially as it adds up. Obviously I want to fix this, but what I get penalised for and whether or not I get penalised at all seems to be luck of the draw with which editor looks over my reviews.

Do we have a recommended style guide to use, or at least a guide about this? Comma usage in particular varies wildly between style guides, and it would be nice to know if there was a set system I could use to eliminate the apparent randomness.

Thanks in advance!

I've complained about this and haven't gotten a response yet. Ten points is not right to take off about some things that are deducted such as appropriate or inappropriate comma usage that can't be proved are wrong. I installed the Grammarly app in my phone and am going to just go by the app's recommendation from now on and submit and see what happens.
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Post by PlanetHauth »

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/607/01/
http://www.thepunctuationguide.com/comma.html

Here are a couple of quick guides to commas. These are the guidelines I was taught to follow in school. Hopefully they can help you. However, as was said previously, when in doubt, be conservative.
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Post by love_b00ks »

Commas can really be tricky and you are right, the use actually varies with the style guide. What I do is to read it and use a comma where I would pause when reading.
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Dael Reader
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Post by Dael Reader »

I think an official style guide might be a good thing. I use the Chicago Manual of Style for work, so that's what I used in my review. But I lost a few points for what was considered incorrect punctuation. I and the Chicago Manual could disagree. But I know that there are some items in the manual that differ in other styles. And I am aware that there are several difference in British grammar. If there is an "International Grammar" style that is more prevalent, I would love to know what it is, so I can make my writing accurate for this forum.
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