An oft-neglected comma
In this representative sentence from a police story you can see one more example of how a comma can indicate a subtle shift in meaning.
As written: During the chase up Interstate 97, police said the man waved a handgun out of the window of the car.
As edited: During the chase up Interstate 97, police said, the man waved a handgun out of the window of the car.
Without the second comma, the sentence indicates that the police gave this account during the chase. With it, the sentence incates that the police account was given later.
Comments
More importantly, it makes clear that the part about the chase is part of what the police said.
Posted by: Cheap Jim | December 16, 2011 1:22 PM
Huzzah for this comma and the clear explanation. The Gentle Reader may recall my relationship with a proponentess of dropping the serial comma. I am girding my loins to talk to her parents regarding our future together, so a mixed relationship CAN work!
Posted by: MichiganCityDDS | December 18, 2011 9:17 AM