Comment Re:typing is absolutely necessary (Score 2, Informative) 1065
I'll take edited quotes for $300, Alex.... my real quote (http://www.bash.org/?367896) was: Capitalization is the difference between "I had to help my uncle Jack off a horse.." and "I had to help my uncle jack off a horse.."
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"Capitalization? I always thought comma's did better job of keeping your message clear. For example: Helping your uncle, jack, off a horse."
Well, first of all, "commas" has no apostrophe. That's elementary. Second, if you're trying to use commas to signify that you are referring to an uncle named Jack, the word must indeed be capitalized as all proper nouns are.
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"Yes, but with proper punctuation that sentence is: 'Helping your uncle, Jack, off a horse.'"
Nope, not quite. :)
Visit the following websites to get a better understanding on just why it's better NOT to use commas there:
- http://www.ucalgary.ca/UofC/eduweb/grammar/course/ punctuation/3_4g.htm
- http://www.english.uiuc.edu/cws/wworkshop/grammar/ appositives.htm
- http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_a ppos.html
The first website uses the following example:
"My sister Jane studies in England."
The restrictive appositive "Jane" implies that I have one specific sister who studies in England, while my other sisters (Marta and Suzanne) study elsewhere. Therefore, "Jane" is essential to the meaning of the sentence.
Because there is an implication that the uncle in question is not the only uncle and the clarification of his name is for the sole purpose of identifying him rather than describing him, commas are best omitted.
That's why my original sentence ("I had to help my uncle Jack off a horse") is perfectly correct. I know my grammar pretty well, whether I always use it or not. :P
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"Capitalization? I always thought comma's did better job of keeping your message clear. For example: Helping your uncle, jack, off a horse."
Well, first of all, "commas" has no apostrophe. That's elementary. Second, if you're trying to use commas to signify that you are referring to an uncle named Jack, the word must indeed be capitalized as all proper nouns are.
---
"Yes, but with proper punctuation that sentence is: 'Helping your uncle, Jack, off a horse.'"
Nope, not quite.
Visit the following websites to get a better understanding on just why it's better NOT to use commas there:
- http://www.ucalgary.ca/UofC/eduweb/grammar/course
- http://www.english.uiuc.edu/cws/wworkshop/grammar
- http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_
The first website uses the following example:
"My sister Jane studies in England."
The restrictive appositive "Jane" implies that I have one specific sister who studies in England, while my other sisters (Marta and Suzanne) study elsewhere. Therefore, "Jane" is essential to the meaning of the sentence.
Because there is an implication that the uncle in question is not the only uncle and the clarification of his name is for the sole purpose of identifying him rather than describing him, commas are best omitted.
That's why my original sentence ("I had to help my uncle Jack off a horse") is perfectly correct. I know my grammar pretty well, whether I always use it or not.
