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Sun 2 Feb, 2014 01:12 am
My professor tagged this sentence as needing a comma where I inserted the (*). I am not sure how to word my argument to the professor, though I definitely feel as though it is correct. Can someone help me out here?
The next group of prisoners who must be released are those who have been sentenced under the "three strikes law," a law which can punish offenders with life imprisonment(*) even if their third strike was a misdemeanor.
@shivboy89,
Works OK with or without comma, IMO.
@shivboy89,
Shiv I'd just simply delete "a law" 'cause it's redundant
@neologist,
Quote:Works OK with or without comma, IMO.
I agree with neo but I actually prefer it without.
But cut the professor some slack. These guys have a lot of marking to do.
@shivboy89,
In my experience, a comma would be more proper than no comma.
Yeah a comma makes no difference either way in that shortish sentence.
The only time I use commas is to 'break up' a longish sentence into bite-size chunks rather than let it go on and on without a pause for breath.
@DrewDad,
I like a comma somewhat better, but comma usage has noticeably changed since my strict grammar usage learning days. I like it in this case for a kind of clarity, but I'm not sure of it being mandatory. You are probably not being taught common usage, but scholarly usage.
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