{"id":4755,"date":"2016-10-17T17:00:08","date_gmt":"2016-10-17T11:30:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/academy\/?p=4685"},"modified":"2018-05-22T14:40:07","modified_gmt":"2018-05-22T09:10:07","slug":"comma-usage-in-academic-writing-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/academy\/comma-usage-in-academic-writing-part-2\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Effectively Use Commas in Academic Writing (Part 2)"},"content":{"rendered":"
“I was working on the proof of one of my poems all the <\/em>morning, and took out a comma. In the afternoon I put it back again.”\u00a0<\/em><\/h6>\n
\u2013\u00a0Oscar Wilde<\/em><\/h6>\n

The previous post<\/a> consisted of a collation of the basic rules of comma usage. Continuing in that vein, we shall discuss the usage of commas with parenthetical elements.<\/p>\n

The complexity of comma usage<\/a> stems from the fact that apart from several stringent rules, comma usage can also be contextual. However, such ambiguity can be resolved with a little focus and in-depth understanding of the content being represented.<\/p>\n

Parenthetical Elements<\/h2>\n

Parenthetical elements contain information that is not essential to the independent meaning of a sentence, that is, if such information is omitted, the sentence will still make sense on its own. Parenthetical elements comprise the following: an example, an explanation or clarification, or an aside.<\/p>\n

Clauses that provide additional information essential to the comprehensive meaning of the sentence are known as restrictive clauses<\/em>. Such clauses are usually introduced by \u201cthat\u201d<\/strong> in American English.<\/p>\n

Clauses that provide additional information that can be eliminated without altering the meaning of the sentence are known as non-restrictive clauses<\/em>. Such clauses are introduced by \u201cwhich\u201d<\/strong> in American English. These clauses are either set-off by commas on either side when present in the middle of a sentence or preceded by a comma if present at the concluding part of a sentence.<\/p>\n

\"Article2_v4\"<\/p>\n

British English is less stringent regarding comma usage<\/a> with parenthetical information\u2014either which<\/em> or that<\/em> can be used to introduce both restrictive and non-restrictive elements. However, the relaying of accurate information would thus depend on the writers\u2019 correct interpretation and subsequent presentation of the content.<\/p>\n

Parenthetical elements may comprise the following types of clauses and phrases (provided the information being presented is non-restrictive).<\/p>\n

\"comma-usage-2\"<\/p>\n

Source:\u00a0https:\/\/www.aje.com\/en\/arc\/editing-tip-parenthetical-elements\/<\/a><\/em><\/h6>\n

Examples<\/h2>\n

1. An instance where incorrect comma usage may lead to conveying incorrect or ambiguous information is represented in the following sentence.<\/p>\n

The narrator describes Jude’s room, where Jude is drying Sue’s clothes beside her as she sleeps upright in a chair, wearing his suit.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Here, the incorrect set-off is conveying an implausible information that the narrator is describing Jude\u2019s room wearing his suit (when non-essential parenthetical elements are removed, the sentence should still stand on its own).<\/p>\n

2. Again, let\u2019s consider the following sentence.<\/p>\n

E.B Jones examines Communism\u2019s main characteristics, and its purpose.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

While it may seem like \u201c\u2026and its purpose\u201d is additional information and an afterthought, the accurate interpretation and representation of the sentence should be in the following manner.<\/p>\n

E.B Jones examines Communism\u2019s main characteristics and its purpose.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This means that E.B Jones is examining both the characteristics and the purpose of Communism, that is, it is a list comprising two items.<\/p>\n

For this reason, it is important to understand the content as well as the intent in-depth before representing it in writing. Express and edit responsibly!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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