Opinions on commas

[Colophon]

Just trying to gauge opinion here: where would you put commas in this sentence?

A few years ago the subject barely interested me but in common with many people my age I have now seen the light.

So as not to influence subsequent posters, please put your answer in spoiler tags.

Thanks.

[Annie-Xmas]

Just trying to gauge opinion here: where would you put commas in this sentence?

A few years ago the subject barely interested me but in common with many people my age I have now seen the light.

So as not to influence subsequent posters, please put your answer in spoiler tags.

Thanks.

A few years ago, the subject barely interested me; but, in common with many people my age, I have now seen the light

[lobotomyboy63]

A few years ago the subject barely interested me, but in common with many people my age I have now seen the light.

I wrote it this way because I know I'm overly fond of commas and try to economize...so just one.

I'm not sure why you don't say "but like many people...." The phrase "in common with" seems awkward.

[cowgirl]

A few years ago the subject barely interested me, but in common with many people my age, I have now seen the light.

Also, I considered putting another one after "A few years ago," but it made the sentence sound too choppy.

[Autolycus]

A few years ago the subject barely interested me, but, in common with many people my age, I have now seen the light.

[Onomatopoeia]

I'd punctuate almost exactly as Annie-Xmas has, omitting the semicolon.

[Frylock]

A few years ago the subject barely interested me. But in common with many people my age, I have now seen the light.



With maybe another one after

ago

Sorry, I know you didn't ask for periods, but it really seems like a run-on without breaking it up. I think maybe some people would use a semi-colon but I've never gotten the hang of them myself. Never use 'em.

[Giles]

A few years ago, the subject barely interested me; but, in common with many people my age, I have now seen the light.

ETA:
I see I share Annie-Xmas's views on the subject.

[Yllaria]

I'd punctuate almost exactly as Annie-Xmas has, omitting the semicolon.
I'd replace the semicolon with a comma.

[Leaffan]

A few years ago the subject barely interested me, but in common with many people my age, I have now seen the light.

[Baron Greenback]

A few years ago the subject barely interested me but, in common with many people my age, I have now seen the light.

I can't make up my mind whether there could be a semi-colon prior to "but", or indeed whether "but" could be replaced by a semi-colon.

[Annie-Xmas]

To rewrite the sentence so it reads better (IMHO/YMMV):

The subject barely interested me a few years ago. However, like many people my age, I have now seen the light

[Onomatopoeia]

BrainGlutton, where are you? C'mon and weigh in.

[Onomatopoeia]

To rewrite the sentence so it reads better (IMHO/YMMV):

The subject barely interested me a few years ago. However, like many people my age, I have now seen the lightPerfect.

[Annie-Xmas]

Perfect.

Thank you. Even I believe I am a natural writer. I hate reading sloppy writing.

[Ximenean]

I'm with Struan. I'd say that if you have a comma after "age" you must have one before "in".

[Justin Credible]

A few years ago the subject barely interested me, but in common with many people my age, I have now seen the light.

A case could be made for putting a comma after "ago", but to me that makes the sentence too choppy. Also, I debated on whether or not I should even put the one after "age". I decided to, obviously.

[KneadToKnow]

A few years ago, the subject barely interested me, but, in common with many people my age, I have now seen the light.
FWIW, I would re-write that sentence before bothering with the commas.

[Švejk]

Two commas: A few years ago, the subject barely interested me, but in common with many people my age I have now seen the light.

[Absolute]

"A few years ago the subject barely interested me, but in common with many people my age, I have now seen the light."

I might use:

"A few years ago, the subject barely interested me, but in common with many people my age, I have now seen the light."

if I wished to emphasize the "a few years ago", rather than blast right past it as yo would without the comma.

[Colophon]

I should have specifically stated that I didn't want the sentence recast. I know it's not an elegant sentence, but that's what was said and I wanted opinions on how to punctuate it.

For what it's worth, I agree with Yllaria, and (almost) Annie-Xmas.

I always wrestle with weather to put a comma before "but" when it is immediately followed by a parenthetical clause. If you don't put one in, the sentence feels as though it is broken up in the wrong place (even though it isn't), but if you do then you end up with commas sitting either side of the "but", which also looks awkward.

So, using a simpler sentence, would you prefer:

I used to do X but, since Y happened, I do Z.

or

I used to do X, but, since Y happened, I do Z.


I also see the following construction used a lot:

I used to do X, but since Y happened, I do Z.

but I think that is just wrong....

[pravnik]

A, few, years, ago, the, subject, barely, interested, me, but, in, common, with, many, people, my, age, I, have, now, seen, the, light.

I, like, commas!

[Colophon]

Pravnik, were you taught by my primary-school teacher who told the class that commas were simply "pauses for breath"? :rolleyes:

[pepperlandgirl]

A few years ago, the subject barely interested me, but, in common with many people my age, I have now seen the light.

[Risha]

As requested, I haven't looked at anything but the OP.

A few years ago, the subject barely interested me, but in common with many people my age, I have now seen the light.

Then again, I tend to overuse pause-type punctuation. If I were writing the sentence myself from scratch, I'd probably say:

A few years ago, the subject barely interested me - but in common with many people my age, I have now seen the light.

[Dolores Reborn]

A few years ago, the subject barely interested me, but in common with many people my age I have now seen the light.

[pravnik]

Pravnik, were you taught by my primary-school teacher who told the class that commas were simply "pauses for breath"? :rolleyes:Forget, that, and, help, me, find, my, inhaler!

[Tom Tildrum]

FWIW, Strunk and White (http://www.tcnj.edu/~penny/cmsc485/strunk_summary.html) (one of the most widely-known writing style guides in the US), definitely calls for a comma before "but." See Rule 4: "Place a comma before a conjunction introducing an independent clause."

Arguably, commas after "but" and "age" are called for by Rule 3: "Enclose parenthetic expressions between commas."

[Q.E.D.]

No commas.

[twickster]

A few years ago the subject barely interested me, but in common with many people my age I have now seen the light.

I love commas, but enough is enough.

[twickster]

To rewrite the sentence so it reads better (IMHO/YMMV):

The subject barely interested me a few years ago. However, like many people my age, I have now seen the light
Except I don't care for "however" starting a sentence. :p

[Frylock]

Except I don't care for "however" starting a sentence. :p

You're joking, but I'm serious. "But" is better in this case.

-FrL-

[kelly5078]

A few years ago the subject barely interested me, but, in common with many people my age, I have now seen the light.

[Colophon]

Enough with the spoilerage.

To the people that wouldn't put a comma after the "but", does it not seem wrong to you to have a comma after the parenthetic fragment ("in common with many people my age") but not before it? It does to me -- and, Tom Tildrum's link backs up my feeling.

You could take out the parenthetic fragment and the sentence would still make sense:

A few years ago, the subject barely interested me, but, in common with many people my age, I have now seen the light.

whereas if you took out the part enclosed by the commas in this version:

A few years ago, the subject barely interested me, but in common with many people my age, I have now seen the light.

it wouldn't.

[Lama Pacos]

Here's where I, as a heavy user, would add commas, but I'd note that with this sentence I'd actually give it the seal of approval even with zero commas (though the most important one, IMO, occurs between the clauses after 'me':

A few years ago, the subject barely interested me, but, in common with many people my age, I have now seen the light.

[BlueKangaroo]

Without reading anything, here's mine.

I would rewrite it as one sentence as follows:

A few years ago, the subject barely interested me; but, in common with many people my age, I have now seen the light.

However, if someone asked me to edit this sentence in general, I’d probably change it more thoroughly, as to me it's awkward no matter how I do it.

A few years ago, the subject barely interested me. However, like many people my age, I have now seen the light.

[Cat Fight]

A few years ago the subject barely interested me, but, in common with many people my age, I have now seen the light.

[Risha]

You could take out the parenthetic fragment and the sentence would still make sense:

A few years ago, the subject barely interested me, but, in common with many people my age, I have now seen the light.

whereas if you took out the part enclosed by the commas in this version:

A few years ago, the subject barely interested me, but in common with many people my age, I have now seen the light.

it wouldn't. :confused: I'm not a grammar maven by any means. And I'm sure that the cite is correct. But I'm not sure why you're saying the second example doesn't make sense.

I may be slightly influenced by my urge to rephrase the sentence to use either a dash or a semicolon. But everything after the second comma can easily stand alone as its own sentence.

[ZenBeam]

To the people that wouldn't put a comma after the "but", does it not seem wrong to you to have a comma after the parenthetic fragment ("in common with many people my age") but not before it?I put in commas where I want a slight pause. With the comma after the "but", I read it with a pause both before and after the word, and it "sounds" too choppy to me. Thus, I'd leave it out.

[Boyo Jim]

This is how William Shatner, the inventor of "pause acting" (according to Kevin Pollak) would punctuate:

A few, years, ago, the subject, barely, interested me, but, in common, with many people, my age, I, have, now, seen, the light.

[Frylock]

This is how William Shatner, the inventor of "pause acting" (according to Kevin Pollak) would punctuate:

A few, years, ago, the subject, barely, interested me, but, in common, with many people, my age, I, have, now, seen, the light.

Not quite.

A few, years, ago, the subject, barely, interested me, but in, common, with many people, my age, I, have, now, seen, the light.

-FrL-

[lizardling]

A few years ago, the subject barely interested me, but in common with many people my age, I have now seen the light.

[Hilarity N. Suze]

Just trying to gauge opinion here: where would you put commas in this sentence?

A few years ago the subject barely interested me but, in common with many people my age, I have now seen the light.

That's where I'd put them. Today. I will usually hold off putting in a comma unless something absolutely, positively needs one, and your sentence would be understandable without one, but commas would make it easier to read.

[Ximenean]

:confused: I'm not a grammar maven by any means. And I'm sure that the cite is correct. But I'm not sure why you're saying the second example doesn't make sense.

I may be slightly influenced by my urge to rephrase the sentence to use either a dash or a semicolon. But everything after the second comma can easily stand alone as its own sentence.
Colophon is saying that if you remove the part highlighted in red, the parenthetic part, you end up with the incorrect

A few years ago, the subject barely interested me I have now seen the light.

in the second case.

[jjimm]

A few years ago the subject barely interested me, but, in common with many people my age, I have now seen the light.

[gigi]

A few years ago the subject barely interested me, but in common with many people my age I have now seen the light.
ETA: I'm honored to say the same thing as twickster!

[tds1273]

To me, it depends on how much you want to emphasize the importance of the fact that 'many people your age' are interested in the subject.

I think the comma after 'me' and after 'age' have to be there, BUT, and this is important part, it depends on how much weight you actually want to put into the parenthetic part.

A comma after 'ago' just seems awkward and unnecessary.

[amarinth]

A few years ago the subject barely interested me, but, in common with many people my age, I have now seen the light.
If it were for something that really, really, really mattered, I'd look it up. But for less formal writing, that's how the commas feel they should be placed.

ETA: I agree with Frylock's final spoiler.

[pulykamell]

Here's where I, as a heavy user, would add commas, but I'd note that with this sentence I'd actually give it the seal of approval even with zero commas (though the most important one, IMO, occurs between the clauses after 'me':

A few years ago, the subject barely interested me, but, in common with many people my age, I have now seen the light.

At a minimum, I would put a comma between the "me" and the "but." Two long independent clauses not separated by a comma drive me nuts. Is it really acceptable to omit that comma? If proofreading, I would definitely insert that comma.

The other two I could live without. My stylistic tastes tend to be somewhere between open and closed punctuation. I don't like the heavy comma and semi-colon use of yore, but I also don't like complete minimalism. In the sentence above, my instinct would actually be to punctuate it with the four commas. I would be most likely to omit the first comma, if any.

[Sternvogel]

Just trying to gauge opinion here: where would you put commas in this sentence?

You didn't specifically ask about other punctuation, but I felt compelled to insert a semicolon. Thus, the edited sentence reads:

"A few years ago, the subject barely interested me; but, in common with many people my age, I have now seen the light."

[Sternvogel]

So, using a simpler sentence, would you prefer:

I used to do X but, since Y happened, I do Z.

or

I used to do X, but, since Y happened, I do Z.

I substituted some more specific clauses, and came up with this:
"I used to drive to work, but since the price of gas went over $4 a gallon, I now walk."

If I had to pick one of the two choices you deem more acceptable than that, I'd go with the second one. "I used to drive but, now I walk" just looks wrong to me.

[Yorikke]

A few years ago the subject barely interested me, but, in common with many people my age, I have now seen the light.

Joe

[Mojo Pin]

A few years ago the subject barely interested me, but in common with many people my age, I have now seen the light.
I only have that second comma there because I feel like I need to stop the awkward flow of "but in common with." I could do with or without it if you changed "in common with" with "like."

[twickster]

You're joking, but I'm serious. "But" is better in this case.

-FrL-
I like "But" at the start of a sentence even less than I like "However."