# is this sentence gramatically correct? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 28, 2012, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-sentence-gramatically-correct/636173 "2012-09-28T18:59:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2012, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-sentence-gramatically-correct/636173/21 "2012-09-29T14:30:18Z")
As a rule of thumb, a semicolon can be used anywhere you could use an end-of-sentence period, and a dash can be used anywhere you could use a comma. They’ll have different feels to them, but the same grammatical function. There are also some places where you can use a semicolon in place of a comma, but this isn’t one of them. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2012, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-sentence-gramatically-correct/636173/22 "2012-09-29T14:57:01Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > A letter of recommendation is not a conversation. True, and I’m sure some lean towards formal and perfunctory. I just had the feeling this letter was in a more conversational style and was following that route. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2012, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-sentence-gramatically-correct/636173/23 "2012-09-29T16:18:02Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > As a rule of thumb, a semicolon can be used anywhere you could use an end-of-sentence period, and a dash can be used anywhere you could use a comma. They’ll have different feels to them, but the same grammatical function. > > There are also some places where you can use a semicolon in place of a comma, but this isn’t one of them. A dash most certainly cannot be used anywhere you can use a comma. It can, in principle, be used anywhere where you might use a bracketing comma, but that is only one of [several functions of the comma](http://www.informatics.sussex.ac.uk/department/docs/punctuation/node14.html#SECTION00045000000000000000). Furthermore, there are other ways of bracketing, such as parentheses. I would say that the rule of thumb for the dash is _do not use a dash unless there is some other, less obtrusive, alternative_ (which there nearly always is). A dash makes a very strong interruption in a sentence, and that is very rarely desirable. It seems to me that the semicolon in the OP’s original sentence is serving a sort of hybrid function between a bracketing comma and a gapping comma, replacing the implicit words “which are”; either way, the most appropriate replacement is a comma. The only circumstances I can think of where you can use either a semicolon or a comma are when they are being used to separate items in lists, and, even then, the best choice is usually fairly clear. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2012, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-sentence-gramatically-correct/636173/24 "2012-09-30T16:37:02Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > I don’t see the “of course” as weakening anything. It’s a conversational idiom, here used to introduce something that should be taken for granted but couldn’t hurt to mention anyway – “well of course he’s [wonderful], otherwise I wouldn’t be writing this!” > > For the OP, replace the semicolon with a comma (a dash or colon is just _wrong_ there) and it’s fine. > > **“Of course, he is punctual, conscientious, and resourceful, all qualities that I am sure you will appreciate.”** Excellent. I agree that this is the most effective phrasing, and I agree that the “Of course, …” is an acceptable way to minimize slightly the importance of the general quality. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2012, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-sentence-gramatically-correct/636173/25 "2012-09-30T19:09:14Z")
To remain more faithful to the words you chose, you could rephrase it like this: **"Of course, [Name] being punctual, conscientious, and resourceful, are all qualities that I am sure you will appreciate."** ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-sentence-gramatically-correct/636173/26 "2012-10-01T00:31:47Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > To remain more faithful to the words you chose, you could rephrase it like this: > > **“Of course, [Name] being punctual, conscientious, and resourceful, are all qualities that I am sure you will appreciate.”** To be excruciatingly correct, the gerund would take the possessive. Also I would omit the last comma since this is now one complete thought. (Another comma could also be omitted if you prefer to avoid commas before “and” in a list.) **“Of course, [Name]'s being punctual, conscientious, and resourceful are all qualities that I am sure you will appreciate.”** ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-sentence-gramatically-correct/636173/27 "2012-10-01T01:17:06Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > To be excruciatingly correct, the gerund would take the possessive. Also I would omit the last comma since this is now one complete thought. (Another comma could also be omitted if you prefer to avoid commas before “and” in a list.) > > **“Of course, [Name]'s being punctual, conscientious, and resourceful are all qualities that I am sure you will appreciate.”** I left the last comma in as a matter of taste or clarity, but you’re right. I totally forgot about adding the possessive probably because I was substituting the proper name with brackets. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-sentence-gramatically-correct/636173/28 "2012-10-01T01:25:03Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > To be excruciatingly correct, the gerund would take the possessive. Also I would omit the last comma since this is now one complete thought. (Another comma could also be omitted if you prefer to avoid commas before “and” in a list.) > > **“Of course, [Name]'s being punctual, conscientious, and resourceful are all qualities that I am sure you will appreciate.”** This is incorrect. The adjectives in the uncorrected sentence refers to a single Mr. X, who is be-ing. He performs this verb, and is still a singular noun; it is the “be-ing of Mr. X,” which is used as a reminder that we’re talking about about him alone, and to stand by for the concluding verb or verbal clause: Mr. X, being Jewish, is particularly sensitive to anti-Semitism. My FiFi, being a poodle, doesn’t shed. Max, being a fish, swims. The italicized clause in **cmyk** ’s Of course, _[Name]'s being punctual, conscientious, and resourceful_ are all qualities that I am sure you will appreciate." is a large description of [Name], and takes the singular. Moreover, in this case, even with the singular, the following description doesn’t follow: Of course, [Name]'s being punctual, conscientious, and resourceful, is a quality … [(Name) is a “quality?”]. So, a possible formulation is Of course, [Name]'s being punctual, conscientious, and resourceful, shows that he is a perfect candidate. I wouldn’t do this though; it kind of buries these qualities. The sentence would be great if the previous paragraph or two described Mr. X’s arriving at a seminar on time despite the Professor’s consistent lateness, that he did something else that showed he was conscientious and resourceful. If you have room, kick back and write about an incident in which Mr. X excelled, and then drive it home with the corrected sentence and whichever adjectives that are evident. Don’t forget you can “be creative” with the anecdote, planning ahead for the adjectives you want–usually the ones that the school/job to which you are sending the letter prefer.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-sentence-gramatically-correct/636173/29 "2012-10-01T01:28:30Z")
Mah grammar! She’s gettin’ all scrambled! ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-sentence-gramatically-correct/636173/30 "2012-10-01T01:54:18Z")
Your grammy? ---
**Author:** ![Svejk\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Svejk\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svejk_1)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-sentence-gramatically-correct/636173/31 "2012-10-01T02:03:58Z")
Punctuation is not grammar. None of this thread so far has dealt with grammar. > [@Derleth](#): > > Frankly, I’ve never seen what most of William James’ work adds to the Universe; his novels should be trimmed to comply with the classic grammatical rule, handed down from On High by White and His Prophet Strunk, “Omit!” That’s not a ‘grammatical rule’. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-sentence-gramatically-correct/636173/32 "2012-10-01T03:15:57Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > However, I would probably just prune it down. This is just my opinion: > > He is punctual, conscientious, and resourceful. > > I do not see how “Of course” adds anything to the sentence, and only the reader knows what qualities they appreciate. I also don’t like the “of course” at all. “As his past employer (or whatever you were to him), I appreciated his punctuality, conscientiousness, and resourcefulness.” ---
**Author:** ![Aquadementia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aquadementia/32/555_2.png) [@Aquadementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquadementia)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-sentence-gramatically-correct/636173/33 "2012-10-01T03:33:43Z")
Of course Beauregard is as punctual as Phileas Fogg, as conscientious as Lisa Simpson and as resourceful as MacGyver himself. I’m sure you will appreciate all these qualities. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-sentence-gramatically-correct/636173/34 "2012-10-01T03:34:34Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > Your grammy? Fell right in this’a’here woodchipper, she done. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-sentence-gramatically-correct/636173/35 "2012-10-01T06:51:40Z")
She probably had an eye like Ma’s, like Hamlet’s father. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-sentence-gramatically-correct/636173/36 "2012-10-01T07:44:44Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > This is incorrect. The adjectives in the uncorrected sentence refers to a single Mr. X, who is be-ing. He performs this verb, and is still a singular noun; it is the “be-ing of Mr. X,” which is used as a reminder that we’re talking about about him alone, and to stand by for the concluding verb or verbal clause: > > Mr. X, being Jewish, is particularly sensitive to anti-Semitism. > My FiFi, being a poodle, doesn’t shed. > Max, being a fish, swims. > > The italicized clause in **cmyk** ’s > Of course, _[Name]'s being punctual, conscientious, and resourceful_ are all qualities that I am sure you will appreciate." > is a large description of [Name], and takes the singular. Moreover, in this case, even with the singular, the following description doesn’t follow: > > Of course, [Name]'s being punctual, conscientious, and resourceful, is a quality … [(Name) is a “quality?”]. I disagree; that strikes me as a sort of overliteralism. It’s common for parallel structures to be omitted: “Tom’s jacket, shirt, and slacks were covered in blood,” instead of “Tom’s jacket, his shirt, and his slacks were covered in blood.” Likewise, you can say “Lord Vader’s being punctual, conscientious, and resourceful are qualities that I am sure you will appreciate,” instead of “Lord Vader’s being punctual, his being conscientious, and his being resourceful are qualities I am sure you will appreciate.” ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-sentence-gramatically-correct/636173/37 "2012-10-01T17:08:02Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > A comma is fine here too, but there’s nothing wrong about a dash, which according to the _Chicago Manual of Style_ “sets off an amplifying or explanatory element.” Thank you. I don’t know where people are getting this idea that a dash would be wrong. And it looks rather bad to use a comma there as it’s so close to the commas being used to separate a list and thus creates confusion. Punctuation marks exist to give clarity. They do not necessarily signify pauses or interruptions. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-sentence-gramatically-correct/636173/38 "2012-10-01T17:15:11Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Thank you. I don’t know where people are getting this idea that a dash would be wrong. I agree. I think an em dash would look fine there where the semicolon is, and would be my preferred punctuation choice were I not to rewrite the sentence. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-sentence-gramatically-correct/636173/39 "2012-10-01T18:01:21Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Thank you. I don’t know where people are getting this idea that a dash would be wrong. And it looks rather bad to use a comma there as it’s so close to the commas being used to separate a list and thus creates confusion. > > Punctuation marks exist to give clarity. They do not necessarily signify pauses or interruptions. A dash most definitely does mark a strong pause or interruption in a sentence. It might not constitute a violation of the letter of the laws of punctuation (as the semicolon did) if it were put in place of the semicolon in the original sentence, but it violates their spirit even more than the semicolon did. Stylistically, using a dash there would be just awful. > [@](#): > > [The dash has only one use: a **pair** of dashes separates a strong interruption from the rest of the sentence. (A strong interruption is one which violently disrupts the flow of the sentence.) Again, note that word `pair’: in principle, at least, dashes come in pairs, though sometimes one of them is not written…If the strong interruption comes at the end of the sentence, then of course only one dash is used… > … > Use the dash carefully: overuse of dashes will give your writing a breathless and disjointed appearance. And don’t use a dash for any purpose other than setting off a strong interruption…](http://www.informatics.sussex.ac.uk/department/docs/punctuation/node25.html#SECTION00072000000000000000) Just about every punctuation guide I have ever seen gives similar advice not to overuse dashes, and notes that they mark very strong interruptions (stronger than parentheses, stronger, indeed, than a semicolon) in the flow of the thought. There is absolutely no justification for introducing such a “violent” interruption into the OP’s sentence. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-sentence-gramatically-correct/636173/40 "2012-10-01T18:06:24Z")
Of course, he is punctual, conscientious, and resourceful — all qualities that I am sure you will appreciate. That looks fine and hardly violent, if a tad self-conscious which is not the fault of the dash but rather the sentence. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-sentence-gramatically-correct/636173.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-sentence-gramatically-correct/636173.md?page=3)