Jan 24, 2022 11:06
2 yrs ago
28 viewers *
English term
commas with whereas and if
Non-PRO
English
Other
Other
punctuation, use of comma
Should I use commas in this sentence?
Whereas if we look at the bottom of the chart we've got utilities and consumer staples.
Whereas if we look at the bottom of the chart we've got utilities and consumer staples.
Responses
5 +3 | yes | Yvonne Gallagher |
4 | No | philgoddard |
Responses
+3
4 mins
Selected
yes
Whereas, if we look at the bottom of the chart, we've got utilities and consumer staples.
commas to mark out the subclause
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Note added at 21 mins (2022-01-24 11:28:16 GMT)
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it is really BASIC punctuation
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Note added at 14 days (2022-02-07 12:26:24 GMT) Post-grading
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In legal texts "whereas" is not usualy followed by a comma but the entire clause is kept intact.
However, this is not legal and the basic rules of punctuation apply.
HERE "whereas" means "On the other hand" and this would be followed by a comma because there would be a pause after it, hence my inclination for distinguishing the subclause by commas. I think it's clearer that way
commas to mark out the subclause
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Note added at 21 mins (2022-01-24 11:28:16 GMT)
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it is really BASIC punctuation
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 14 days (2022-02-07 12:26:24 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------
In legal texts "whereas" is not usualy followed by a comma but the entire clause is kept intact.
However, this is not legal and the basic rules of punctuation apply.
HERE "whereas" means "On the other hand" and this would be followed by a comma because there would be a pause after it, hence my inclination for distinguishing the subclause by commas. I think it's clearer that way
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
1 day 5 hrs
No
A good way to decide whether a comma is needed is to read it aloud. If you pause at that point, you need one. You wouldn't pause after "whereas", but you would after "chart".
A comma after "if" would be quite wrong.
We've actually had this question before, but with "whereas" in the legal sense, meaning "since", rather than "on the other hand", which is the meaning here. However, the principle is the same.
http://www.proz.com/kudoz/english/linguistics/687152-an-auto...
We use a comma before whereas, but not after.
http://speakspeak.com/resources/english-grammar-rules/conjun...
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Note added at 1 day 5 hrs (2022-01-25 16:54:43 GMT)
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Whereas if we look at the bottom of the chart, we've got utilities and consumer staples.
A comma after "if" would be quite wrong.
We've actually had this question before, but with "whereas" in the legal sense, meaning "since", rather than "on the other hand", which is the meaning here. However, the principle is the same.
http://www.proz.com/kudoz/english/linguistics/687152-an-auto...
We use a comma before whereas, but not after.
http://speakspeak.com/resources/english-grammar-rules/conjun...
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Note added at 1 day 5 hrs (2022-01-25 16:54:43 GMT)
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Whereas if we look at the bottom of the chart, we've got utilities and consumer staples.
Peer comment(s):
neutral |
Yvonne Gallagher
: yes, there IS a pause after "whereas" just as there would be after "on the other hand"
5 hrs
|
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