Tip # 89: In proofreading
look for disruptive commas:
- Go through your paper, and
stop at each comma.
- If the comma isn't necessary
for clarity or called for by a rule, get rid of it.
- Skim your paper, stopping only
at the coordinating conjunctions: and, or, nor, but, so,
for, or, and yet.
- Check to see whether there is
an independent clause (sentence) on both sides of the
conjunction. If so, place a comma before the
conjunction. If not, do not place a comma before the
conjunction.
For example:
Disruptive comma:
They bought two pizzas, but ate only one.
Correct: They bought two pizzas but ate only one.
(Thanks to Purdue University's writing lab for this tip).
OOPS! There
was an error made in my last week's tip of the week. This
is an example of what happens when you 1) write when you are
tired, and 2) do not proofread. Thanks Roberta for finding
it and reporting this to me.
Please correct the errors made in
the following statement.
2. The next few sentences
should answer the how and what.
For example:
The new field representatives
met with their clients and competed their goals (1) get
feedback from clients, (2) answer any
questions immediately, (3) fulfill customer needs.
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