jgraney8 wrote: ↑23 Dec 2018, 19:38
Scott wrote: ↑23 Dec 2018, 09:51
Is the following grammatically correct
I would give it 3.5 if possible because it is better than merely good.
Or does it require being written as follows to be grammatically correct:
I would give it 3.5, if possible, because it is better than merely good.
When answering, please provide an explanation. Preferably name what source you are using or what expertise you have. This is because in the International Grammar Forum and at OnlineBookClub.org in general we don't stick to a specific style guide, so if you are checking a specific style guide or checking at a blog/website that uses a specific style guide, the answers there may not apply here.
The short phrase, if possible, would need commas because it is a parenthetical expression. A parenthetical expression is one that is not necessary to the sentence but may add a comment or remark. My source to explain this comma use is Grammar Once and For All
http://www.grammar-once-and-for-all.com ... pressions/. My background includes nearly 30 years teaching writing and grammar to second language students.
As for not using a specific style guide, that causes problems sometimes for reviewers because editors seem to use different style guides making some grammatical corrections appear arbitrary.
I. Question: Is it grammatically correct to enclose nonrestrictive or parenthetical elements with commas?
Answer: Yes. I agree with
@jgraney8 .
II. Question: Is it grammatically required to enclose the phrase
if possible in
sample sentence 2 with commas?
Answer: Normally, yes. There may be exceptions, though,
depending on certain factors.
1. The comma use is
correct if the phrase is really meant to be
nonrestrictive or parenthetical.
References:
https://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/ ... esource/6/
https://theeditorsblog.net/2012/09/17/r ... ed-commas/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comma
2. The commas are
not required if the phrase is
restrictive or essential to the whole sentence's thought.
References:
Same as above.
3. The commas
may be omitted if the interruption caused by the phrase is "slight." As it's often difficult to determine if a word, phrase or clause is restrictive enough to allow comma omission, Strunk came up with this alternative provided that both (and not just one of the) commas are omitted.
Reference:
https://www.bartleby.com/141/strunk.html
III. Question: Is the phrase
if possible really nonrestrictive or parenthetical that would require enclosing commas?
Answer: It normally is, but there could be exceptions depending on the sentence writer's viewpoint.
1. For example, in
sample sentence 2, the use of comma seems to acknowledge that it is possible (at least up to a certain degree) to give a 3.5 rating. Thus, the phrase is
nonrestrictive or
parenthetical if that is true. However, whereas 3.5 ratings could be possible outside the OBC, OBC reviewers currently don't have that option.
2. Giving 3.5 stars is not really possible within OnlineBookClub.org (OBC) at present. Thus, a reviewer may consider the phrase
restrictive or
essential (and not nonrestrictive or parenthetical) to emphasise that the statement's meaning is only true if a 3.5 rating is possible. Of course, there are different ways that
sample sentence 1 could be reworded to sound better and become clearer; however, it may be grammatically correct as it is (i.e. without the commas).
References:
review-team/guidelines.php
https://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/ ... esource/6/
https://theeditorsblog.net/2012/09/17/r ... ed-commas/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comma
IV. Question: As an OBC reviewer, will I choose
sample sentence 1 or
sample sentence 2?
Answer: I'd opt for
sample sentence 2 for my reviews.
I'd normally choose to use the commas because:
-I tend to be risk-averse;
-We currently don't have a single style guide here (yet); and,
-It's hard to predict what reference an editor or reader will be using, so it's better to stick to
safer conventions.
However, this doesn't mean that
sample sentence 1 is always wrong.
V. Question: Should an OBC editor penalise the reviewer who will choose
sample sentence 1?
Answer: No.
I think it shouldn't be in the
"Spelling and Grammar" metric of the Editor Scorecard in this case. (Your non-use of commas for
in general in your sentence is not wrong either, I believe.) However, it may or may not be discussed in the
"Editor's Subjective Rating" portion if the use of more widely accepted conventions need to be encouraged.
VI. Question: What is my
"expertise"?
Answer: About my background, I've got no prior intention of mentioning them here. However, as it is being
considered in this thread, I'm inclined to do so now.
Although I worked with English as a Second Language (ESL) and Literacy educators like
@jgraney8 for more than three years, I am not one of (but have great respect for) them. Nonetheless, I have numerous years of writing and editing exposures that started from winning a poetry-writing contest in my elementary years and becoming our high school student paper's English Literary Editor. I was my alma mater's first Department of Languages Plaque awardee and first female Journalism Award recipient for my stint as our official publication's Editor-in-Chief (EIC). I have been the EIC of at least one workplace publication as well as written and edited for various others. I was one of ten Best in Revalida awardees among a graduating class of more than 300 for my MBA's on-the-spot comprehensive examination's mini-thesis and its subsequent defense.
I was born in the Philippines where American English conventions are more likely to be used. I've lived here in Australia for more than eight years now, so British English is no longer foreign to me either.
I wouldn't claim that my writing is always flawless; I even deliberately wrote with less regard to conventions when I started blogging more than two years ago. However, I could also be nitpicky if required to do so (but lenient, if not) and especially if I've got enough luxury of time.
I believe in collaborative effort, so I am curious to know what others think, too.
"Life has many different chapters for us. One bad chapter doesn't mean it's the end of the book."-Unknown
"To err is human; to forgive, divine."-Alexander Pope
"Put GOD first; He'll bless your efforts with success."-Proverbs