Correct grammar

[Christine Acker]

Hi all,

The rule, according to my American grammar handbook (published 2004), is that commas are required around a nonessential clause, or one that is not necessary for the sentence to make sense.

For example:  The business plan, which intrigued the shareholders, was quite simple.

Now, for a sentence in which commas are incorrect, a sentence with an essential clause:

The business plan which intrigued the shareholders was the simplest one.

(Both of these are in my handbook.)

As for apostrophes/possessives, the rule is, according to my handbook:

"The apostrophe alone is used with singular words ending in -s when the possessive does not add a syllable to the pronunciation of the word."

Hope this helps!  

Christine

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


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