Re: Comma before and after "which"?

Omrud wrote:

> Purl Gurl wrote:
> > Martin Ambuhl wrote:

(snipped)

> > > Look up 'that' vs. 'which' in a traditional style manual. You will see
> > > that your usage, although fairly common, is not traditional. I'll leave
> > > questions of right and wrong to your own judg[e]ment.

> > Usage of "that" will frequently lead to incorrect grammar.

> > "That is my sister." (incorrect)

> What? Why is is incorrect?

Your use of "what" is a classic example of lazy tongue.

Usage of "that" in reference to a person in incorrect because
doing so, is very rude. You are reducing a person to a thing.

Proper nouns and personal pronouns are to be used with personal
references, even endearment (or dislike) references to other than human.

"She is my best friend cat." (endearing and respectful)

"That is my best friend cat." (vulgar and disrepectful)


Show respect for both friends and foes.


> > "She is my sister." (correct)

> > "The one wearing cowgirl boots is my sister." (acceptable but vulgar)

> Why vulgar?

That construct is commonplace, ordinary, insulting; vulgar.
"She" is a not a "one." She is a person not a thing.

"My sister is the lady wearing cowboy boots."

> > "She, who is wearing a yellow string bikini, is my sister." (better)

> As in "better", pronounced "horrible".

Better is not enunciated horrible. However, personal subjective
opinion is often, horrible.

Comparing my "better" construct above and "best" construct below, "better"
is The Queen's Proper English, but is stuffy, snobbish, bordering on insulting
although absolute perfect and proper grammar.

My "best" is informal, humorous, wecoming and invites conversation while
reflecting a talented command of language.

> > "See the gal with a big *** wearing bozo shoes? She is my sister." (best)

> > "We can see two curves which, upon close inspection, are almost identical."

> > "We can see two curves that, upon close inspection, are almost indentical."

> > My second construct is both awkward and incorrect.

> I think this must be a US perspective. To my UK ears, neither of
> these sentences has any better claim to correctness than the other.

You do not "think" this. You believe or hold an opinion. You are not currently
thinking this; you thought that before or while writing your article.

"...must be...." indicates an immutable law. "Might be" or "perhaps is a" are sensible.

"...a US perspective...." Yours is a singular reference to plural "thing."
United States is a collective plural; very awkward.

U.S. and U.K. are lazy tongue.

"... is a perspective common amongst United States residents.

Do your ears actually belong to the United Kingdom?

"...these sentences...." signals immediate possession. You are not in
possession of _those_ sentences.

"...has any..." Third person singular present tense used in a plural past tense
context. Use plural present tense "have any" in place. Your "has any" signals
what once was but may not be now, in a singular sense.

"...to correctness...." I am curious, how do you find your
way "to" correctness? Claim _of_ correctness.


"I believe those are American perspectives. To my British ears, neither
of those sentences have better claim of correctness."


My native tongue is Choctaw. My opinion is both American English and
British English are illogical, ineffective and often vulgar. Many common
English expressions offend both my ears and my mind.

Nonetheless, mine is a subjective personal opinion and I am not so
arrogant as to promulgate my thinking, is the only right thinking.

> Where does this stuff come from? Is it from an ESL course?

Ad Hominem is an earmark of ignorance.

> > Avoid lazy words like "the," "that," "there," and classic "it."

> Avoid? English might be rather difficult if we avoid the simple
> words.

"Vocabulary is the yardstick of knowledge." - unknown author.

Simple words frequently reflect a simple mind.

Purl Gurl
.