Commas are NOT for pauses.

[Oracle Of Delphi]

I agree with the overuse of commas and admit to being one who must edit her writing for that particular problem. Also, I would like to point out that semicolons should only be used to separate separate, complete thoughts, not clauses. You cannot put a semicolon only for an emphasized pause; the semicolon must be inserted between two grammatically complete parts as I just did here. My honors english teachers were always ranting about semicolon abuse. "It is not an exaggerated comma!" they say. If it is not a complete sentence behind your semicolon, don't put it there. If you are going to list things behind it, use a full colon.  

[limp dick]

Ezra Pound

limp d**k

Syntax?

The only definition I learned for syntax was the job of a designated word. (e.g. predicate nominitive for a noun that is a complement that restates the subject or direct object for a noun that is recieving the action)

Uh.. nope.

Quote:

a. the study of the rules for the formation of grammatical sentences in a language.
b. the study of the patterns of formation of sentences and phrases from words.
c. the rules or patterns so studied: English syntax.
d. a presentation of these: a syntax of English.
e. an instance of these: the syntax of a sentence.

Ahh. I see.
I haven't learned that yet.
Perhaps I should brush up on my grammar.  

[Captain No]

When I look at lyrics for songs, the people who submitted those lyrics put a comma when there is a pause in the song itself. That's incorrect, right?  

[DarkElf27]

Triste

Commas are overused.

Quite the contrary; I find that most people seem to be afraid of using the comma.

The comma has a great deal of uses. Since this guild is partly about "Olde English," I'd point out that the primary historical use for a comma is to indicate a pause. Also, in general, if you put a comma where you would pause when reading aloud, it's usually grammatically correct.

And yes, I do put commas where I would pause. Dear god, I'm a heretic. rolleyes

Sorry, I feel strongly about commas.  

[Natilly]

Don't commas connect only certain words? The words: or, for, nor, and, so, but, and yet.

 

[Oracle Of Delphi]

DarkElf27

Triste

Commas are overused.

Quite the contrary; I find that most people seem to be afraid of using the comma.

The comma has a great deal of uses. Since this guild is partly about "Olde English," I'd point out that the primary historical use for a comma is to indicate a pause. Also, in general, if you put a comma where you would pause when reading aloud, it's usually grammatically correct.

And yes, I do put commas where I would pause. Dear god, I'm a heretic. rolleyes

Sorry, I feel strongly about commas.

Generally, I would agree with this. We as literate people know the appropriate time to pause within a sentence. Many people, however, want to insert a pause everywhere. But yes, for most of us here inserting a comma at a natural pause would be correct. Again, it is a problem of people trying to put in too many commas.

And as for the lyrics, the commas are because songs are not the same as a sentence. The syntax is not always completed as it is basically poetry. Also, because of the tune it is not always immediately obvious just reading lyrics where the pause in the end of a line or tune is, thus the author inserts commas to alert readers to a musical pause.  

[The Man who was Thursday]

Oracle Of Delphi

Also, I would like to point out that semicolons should only be used to separate separate, complete thoughts, not clauses.

You just contradicted yourself. A clause is a complete thought. A semicolon separates two independent clauses.

DarkElf27

Triste

Commas are overused.

Quite the contrary; I find that most people seem to be afraid of using the comma.

The comma has a great deal of uses. Since this guild is partly about "Olde English," I'd point out that the primary historical use for a comma is to indicate a pause. Also, in general, if you put a comma where you would pause when reading aloud, it's usually grammatically correct.

And yes, I do put commas where I would pause. Dear god, I'm a heretic. rolleyes

Sorry, I feel strongly about commas.

Oh, for the love of God.

OLD ENGLISH IS NOT "OLDE ENGLISH". Old English = Anglo-Saxon. OE and Modern English have HARDLY ANYTHING TO DO WITH EACH OTHER. Some common verbs have lasted, but not much.

And this guild largely supports the grammar that is presently considered "proper" by prescriptive grammarians. In this grammar, commas are used as I have listed in my first post. How you say something has s**t to do with how it's written.