Don’t use commas, which are not necessary.
#1
Sorry, the title of this thread was supposed to be: "Don’t use commas which are not necessary."

Hmmm: punctuation can significantly change the meaning of a sentence.

Let’s eat, mommy.
Let’s eat mommy.

A woman without her man is nothing.
A woman: without her, man is nothing.

In conducting annual self-assessment training, providers should seek help.
In conducting annual self-assessment, training providers should seek help.

After we ate, Dad, Grandpa, and I watched a movie.
After we ate Dad, Grandpa and I watched a movie.

When I sing well, ladies feel sick.
When I sing, well ladies feel sick.

You will be required to work twenty four-hour shifts.
You will be required to work twenty-four hour shifts.

Dear John:
I want a man who knows what love is all about. You are generous, kind, thoughtful. People who are not like you admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me for other men. I yearn for you. I have no feelings whatsoever when we're apart. I can forever be happy—will you let me be yours?
Harriet

Dear John:
I want a man who knows what love is. All about you are generous, kind, thoughtful people, who are not like you. Admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me. For other men, I yearn. For you, I have no feelings whatsoever. When we're apart, I can forever be happy. Will you let me be?
Yours,
Harriet

OK, I googled all those but your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to create some examples of your own, of sentences with differing meanings with nothing but punctuation differences:
"The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool."
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#2
My all-time favourite read is 'Eats, Shoots and Leaves' by Lynne Truss. Wonderful, humorous stuff.

(But, I am a pedant and actually get a stabbing pain in my heart as I read - It's for its, or potato's for potatoes etc.)

I think people are more likely to make those kinds of errors than putting a comma incorrectly in a sentence.


Sorry, I must be blind, I missed the 'bold' mission! I will go away and see what I can do.

Pinched this from Lynne Truss's book

"No dogs please".......which we have all seen in public parks.

She points out that without a comma this statement is an out-right lie, since some dogs obviously do please.

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#3
Sorry to screw you up your asshole brother is coming to town
Sorry to screw you up: Your asshole brother is coming to town.
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#4
Is there anything I wouldn't do in a film? No full frontal nudity please.
Is there anything I wouldn't do in a film? No, full frontal nudity please!
It could be worse
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#5
the forum is all about you isn't it.

the forum is all; about you, isn't it?
the forum is. All about you isn't it?

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#6
Billy - is it me? I don't get your examples.

You think the forum stands for all, it doesn't.

You think the forum stands for all it doesn't.

.....hm, this stuff is hard!
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#7
I don't even think. Billy understand his posts.
I don't even think Billy understands his posts. Big Grin
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#8
correct mark

grannyjill, i had rather a lucid moment but it seemed to have wore off before i did that post. Big Grin

She's a shrewish queen our king, likes to dress up for breakfast.
She's a shrewish queen, our king likes to dress up for breakfast.
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#9
Aha - I get your comma placement -but, hm

If it said 'HE'S a shrewish queen our king, likes to dress up for breakfast' - this would make sense to me since queen has more than one meaning...but, your version doesn't do it for me.

........or does the sentence refer to something that I am not aware of (or should I say 'Of which I am not aware)?
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#10
He or she -- I know plenty of queens whose pronouns are rather flexible Smile
It could be worse
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#11
so do i hehe. most of em love be told "you go girl" Big Grin
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