# Opinions on commas **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 27, 2008, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-commas/450802 "2008-05-27T20:20:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2008, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-commas/450802/1 "2008-05-27T20:20:19Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2008, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-commas/450802/2 "2008-05-27T20:22:00Z")
[QUOTE=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. [/QUOTE] A few years ago, the subject barely interested me; but, in common with many people my age, I have now seen the light ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2008, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-commas/450802/3 "2008-05-27T20:27:13Z")
[SPOILER]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. [/SPOILER] ---
**Author:** ![cowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2008, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-commas/450802/4 "2008-05-27T20:29:59Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2008, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-commas/450802/5 "2008-05-27T20:32:03Z")
A few years ago the subject barely interested me, but, in common with many people my age, I have now seen the light. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2008, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-commas/450802/6 "2008-05-27T20:33:22Z")
I’d punctuate almost exactly as **Annie-Xmas** has, omitting the semicolon. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2008, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-commas/450802/7 "2008-05-27T20:34:19Z")
[spoiler]A few years ago the subject barely interested me. But in common with many people my age, I have now seen the light. [/spoiler] 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. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2008, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-commas/450802/8 "2008-05-27T20:35:42Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2008, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-commas/450802/9 "2008-05-27T20:36:11Z")
[QUOTE=Onomatopoeia] I’d punctuate almost exactly as **Annie-Xmas** has, omitting the semicolon. [/QUOTE] I’d replace the semicolon with a comma. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2008, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-commas/450802/10 "2008-05-27T20:37:48Z")
A few years ago the subject barely interested me, but in common with many people my age, I have now seen the light. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2008, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-commas/450802/11 "2008-05-27T20:39:39Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2008, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-commas/450802/12 "2008-05-27T20:43:24Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2008, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-commas/450802/13 "2008-05-27T20:43:43Z")
**BrainGlutton** , where are you? C’mon and weigh in. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2008, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-commas/450802/14 "2008-05-27T20:44:44Z")
[QUOTE=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 [/QUOTE] Perfect. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2008, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-commas/450802/15 "2008-05-27T20:54:15Z")
[QUOTE=Onomatopoeia] Perfect. [/QUOTE] Thank you. Even I believe I am a natural writer. I hate reading sloppy writing. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2008, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-commas/450802/16 "2008-05-27T20:55:47Z")
I’m with **Struan**. I’d say that if you have a comma after “age” you must have one before “in”. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Credible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@Justin\_Credible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Credible)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2008, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-commas/450802/17 "2008-05-27T20:58:08Z")
[SPOILER]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.[/SPOILER] ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2008, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-commas/450802/18 "2008-05-27T20:59:29Z")
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. ---
**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:** [May 27, 2008, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-commas/450802/19 "2008-05-27T21:04:31Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2008, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-commas/450802/20 "2008-05-27T21:05:18Z")
[spoiler] “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.[/spoiler] [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-commas/450802.md?page=2)