huxley

when i put this ( ) it means does there go a comma.
if it's for dialog i'll put " "


1. This place has a lot of history ( ) just give it a chance.

2."You can plant whatever you'd like ( ) but first you have to remove all the rocks from it."

3."This thing whatever it is ( ) it's trying to tell me something."

4. As everyone finishes their meal(s) -- do i place a 's' for meals? I'd say no , right?

5." Not now ( ) i'm too close."

6."No time to explain ( ) just trust me."

7."But I swear ( ) I didn't know."

8."I have to make things right ( ) but how?"

9." I lost hope in my old age ( ) but now it has finally arrived."

10. and do I place a comma after the word 'here' just like with 'now' 'yes' 'well' example: "Here, wear this." or " Here, have some cake."


thanks for your help. i'd like that only people that are sure of the anwsers post a reply. thanks again.

Scratches

1. I wouldn't think so. Hyphen maybe.
2. Yep.
3. Nope - hyphen again. You need a comma before "whatever it is" though.
4. I think it should be "meals", actually.
5. Nah. End the sentence/hyphen.
6. End the sentence/hyphen.
7. Depends on the effect you want it to have.
8. Sure.
9. Sure.
10. Yes, you do.

Voila.

__________________

Never get so attached to a poem
you forget truth that lacks lyricism
and never draw so close to the heat
that you forget that you must eat
- En Gallop, Joanna Newsom

bobothegoat

On 4, if you really wanted to be correct you'd have to drop the word "their." Everyone is actually singular, so it should be "everyone finishes his [or her] meal."

edit: If you use "their" in this sense anyway, which would be how most people talk, I'm pretty sure it'd still be meal rather than meals.

huxley

thanks every one.

i have one question on the comma when names appear in dialog.

when do i use it? and when do i not use it?

is it only used when i'm addressing the person who is present?
ex:"Why are you doing that, Sam?" (he is speaking directly to Sam)

compared to when some one mentions some one rather than adressing some one.

ex: Sam leaves the room. John turns to Max."Do you think, Sam, is telling the truth?"

or is it : "Do you think Sam is telling the truth?"