Correct Grammar

[justcarol67]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "cubfanbudwoman"
<susiequsie23 at s...> wrote:
> 
> Geoff:
> > (2) I eliminate commas preceding "and", "but" and "which". I was 
> > certainly taught the first two. 
> 
> 
> SSSusan:
> However, there are instances which do require a comma before 
> the "which".  [Note the previous sentence, where you do not need a 
> comma before the first which, but Word's grammar check would probably 
> say you do.]
> 
> Here's an example where a comma is supposed to be there:
> "There's an Exmoor pony, which is my daughter's favorite kind!"  ;-)  
> 
> Siriusly Snapey Susan


Carol responds:
Again, I'm not sure about British usage, but American usage requires a
comma before "and" and "but" in compound sentences unless the
independent clauses are very short and the "serial comma" in a list
(e.g., Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs).

Regarding "which," the usual practice is to use "which" and commas for
nonrestrictive clauses (the kind that can be removed from a sentence
without changing its meaning or making it ungrammatical and "that"
without commas for restrictive clauses (which can't be removed without
altering the meaning of the sentence).

For example: English literature, which I studied for too many years to
count, was my favorite subject.

But:

The English literature course that I took in my last year of college
was my favorite.

Carol