Which of these sentences is punctuated correctly?

[Doran]

Disclaimer: I am not the author of the sentence. It came from a course book put out by our pubic schools. I'm including two versions: one as it was printed in the book, one as modified by me. Not telling which is which. Please tell me which is correct.

 

Here are the two options:

 

1. XYZ High School Students may take courses which are offered two consecutive periods at ABC High School.

 

2. XYZ High School Students may take courses, which are offered two consective periods at ABC High School.

[Jen500]

I just think the wording is awkward.

[Scuff]

I voted with, but as I look at it more, it's without. Poorly worded sentance, though. Very confusing.

[Elisabeth in IL]

When might you tell us which is which? I chose with the comma but I really wanted to pick without. I ended up not being sure.

[Plaid Dad]

Both sentences want a preposition between "offered" and "two"; "during" seems the most logical to me. My rewrite:

 

XYZ High School Students may take courses offered during two consecutive periods at ABC High School.

 

It's still a bit clunky, but there you go.

[Kathleen in VA]

I'm a copy editor. It's #1.

 

Commas are used to set off dependent clauses. There are no dc in this sentence.

 

ETA: And, yes, it is very poor sentence.

[Caroline]

I think you don't use the comma. Microsoft Word will tell you to put a comma in, though. It thinks you need a comma when you use the word which.

[Doran]

I can't modify the sentence. I'm not copy editing this book. I am simply reading through it and found myself puzzling over what I saw. Frankly, the way the sentence was punctuated jumped out at me as wrong (still not telling which way they have it), but I thought I'd double check with the wise folk here. :D

[Kathleen in VA]

Both sentences want a preposition between "offered" and "two"; "during" seems the most logical to me. My rewrite:

 

XYZ High School Students may take courses offered during two consecutive periods at ABC High School.

 

It's still a bit clunky, but there you go.

 

That's exactly how I would have rewritten it.

[genie]

I prefer Plaid Dad's version, but if I were taking a test I would pick #1.

[Plaid Dad]

That's exactly how I would have rewritten it.

 

Where's the copy editor fist bump emoticon? :D

[Jenny in Atl]

I don't know...... They both seem odd.

 

At least they did not use any apostrophes!

[Kathleen in VA]

Where's the copy editor fist bump emoticon? :D

 

:lol::lol::lol: You'd think they'd have invented that one first considering how often folks would want to use it.

[Amy loves Bud]

:)

[nukeswife]

I concur!

 

No comma and it's a badly written sentence.

[HSMom2One]

Both sentences want a preposition between "offered" and "two"; "during" seems the most logical to me. My rewrite:

 

XYZ High School Students may take courses offered during two consecutive periods at ABC High School.

 

It's still a bit clunky, but there you go.

 

I like Plaid Dad's version much better.

 

Lucinda

[genie]

Thanks a LOT, Doran. :tongue_smilie: Since I read this thread earlier today, I've found at least three different instances where I've written a sentence almost grammatically identical to this one. And each time, guess what my first instinct was to do? Put a comma! But then I thought, NO! I said I wouldn't use a comma! I felt like such a hypocrite, so I deleted them. :lol:

[Ellie]

At least they did not use any apostrophes!

 

:iagree:We can be happy about that.

[Mom2GirlsTX]

I would vote for sentence one. I would also vote that the writers of that book get some advice here before publishing. ;)

[A.J. at J.A.]

At first I was thinking something like this would be more appropriate:

 

Sentence three, with two commas, is correct.

 

Don't know.:confused:

Angela

[Doran]

It was written with the comma:

 

XYZ High School Students may take courses, which are offered two consective periods at ABC High School.

 

 

To me, the comma seemed dramatically out of place there. It sort of jumped up and said, LOOK AT ME, like a beligerent child in a church service. And, I found myself snickering (as in, laughing when you really want to cry) at the fact that I was mentally editing a piece written and published by our local high school.

 

Sigh.

[Carol in Cal.]

That is the one with no commas.

 

But I agree with others that these are poorly written.

 

Short of rewriting, I would put in two commas for clarity, so:

 

2. XYZ High School Students may take courses, which are offered two consective periods, at ABC High School.

[Colleen]

It seems quite clear to me that the sentence doesn't require a comma. I know you well enough to know you wouldn't have put one in there, either.

 

I've looked at the student handbooks for our two local high schools and both are a copy editor's nightmare. Of course, I feel that way about a wide variety of printed material.;)

[Brindee]

Before I read the answer, I picked the right one. (Should there be a comma in that sentence?:confused: )

 

I hope you don't look too closely at MY writing! i can edit others writing better than I can write! :001_smile:

[Kathleen in VA]

Before I read the answer, I picked the right one. (Should there be a comma in that sentence?:confused: )

 

I hope you don't look too closely at MY writing! i can edit others writing better than I can write! :001_smile:

 

Brindee,

 

Would that be "other's" writing? or "others' writing?" Just kidding. :D

[Brindee]

Brindee,

 

Would that be "other's" writing? or "others' writing?" Just kidding. :D

Oh yeah. Sheesh.........I just want you to know that grammar is NOT my thing. I mean, I know basics, but we moved a lot and I have huge gaps.

 

Soooo, I'm hoping you will all love me DESPITE my poor grammar skills. :001_smile:

[Kathleen in VA]

Of course, we love you Brindee. Grammar and spelling freaks (such as myself) are really just covering for our complete inability to be flexible. It's sad really. :)

[Brindee]

Brindee,

 

Would that be "other's" writing? or "others' writing?" Just kidding. :D

Oh, and I think the answer to this is others'. Right?

[Kathleen in VA]

Yes - it is plural possessive. See, you really do know your grammar.

[EKS]

It should be:

 

XYZ High School Students may take courses that are offered during two consecutive periods at ABC High School.

 

IMHO, of course.

[melissel]

Oh, and I think the answer to this is others'. Right?

 

:lol: Yes, you're correct.

 

Doran, that's horrifying. I'm a copy editor too (though I might not seem it based on my rapidly typed, rarely proofread posts here :001_huh:), and I'd feel exactly the same way you did after reading that sentence. I'm constantly pointing that kind of stuff out to my DH. In fact, we saw a commercial last night that had "guarantee" spelled incorrectly (guarentee!!!) at the bottom of the screen in the fine print :eek: It was a huge spot too, for a major travel marketer. Sheesh.

[Brindee]

 

Yes - it is plural possessive. See, you really do know your grammar.

oo oo oo (ew sound), and listen to this teacher! The OTHER way would be singular possessive! :D Do I get an A today? :001_smile:

[RoughCollie]

Voted for without comma. Poorly written sentence, though.

[Kathleen in VA]

oo oo oo (ew sound), and listen to this teacher! The OTHER way would be singular possessive! :D Do I get an A today? :001_smile:

 

Nope. A++ Good job, Brindee! :D

[Gretchen in NJ]

Both sentences want a preposition between "offered" and "two"; "during" seems the most logical to me. My rewrite:

 

XYZ High School Students may take courses offered during two consecutive periods at ABC High School.

 

It's still a bit clunky, but there you go.

:iagree: this is the best choice. I choose #1. The comma does not make sense.

[Parrothead]

I picked #1. The second just looked wrong.

[Nestof3]

Comma-wise, it's the first. The sentence is incorrect, though, regardless of how it is punctuated.

[muffinmom]

Disclaimer: I am not the author of the sentence. It came from a course book put out by our pubic schools. I'm including two versions: one as it was printed in the book, one as modified by me. Not telling which is which. Please tell me which is correct.

 

Here are the two options:

 

1. XYZ High School Students may take courses which are offered two consecutive periods at ABC High School.

 

2. XYZ High School Students may take courses, which are offered two consective periods at ABC High School.

 

I'm also an editor. My opinion is that IT DEPENDS: is the information that follows "which" essential or not? If the courses that the students may take are ONLY the ones offered two consecutive periods blah blah...then the sentence should read this way:

 

XYZ High School Students may take courses THAT are offered two consecutive periods at ABC High School.

 

IOW, the kind of courses described is essential info (using no comma and the word "that").

 

If it's not essential, and instead just "by the way" kind of info, then the sentence should read like this (using the comma and the word "which"):

 

XYZ High School Students may take courses, which are offered two consective periods at ABC High School.

 

Either way you look at it, the sentences are poorly written, even with the corrections.

 

I'm sure you never wanted this much info. But I couldn't help myself.;)

[Brindee]

Nope. A++ Good job, Brindee! :D

:eek: Wow, thanks! I LIKE you for a teacher! Your kids are lucky! :D

 

 

Sorry to throw silliness into the picture! I WISH I was good with grammar as ya'll are! I feel privileged to be in the same thread with you gals! Thankyou for putting up with me ;)

[Ashleen]

Either is correct. I'm not sure why people are freaked by the comma. In fact, "are offered two consecutive periods" is the poorly written part of the sentence.

 

An easy way to know where a comma goes is to read a sentence aloud. Punctuation is a key that tells you how to read something. If you would pause before the word "which," then you need a comma. If you would read the whole thing in one breath, then no comma. I would read it with the pause, therefore the comma.

 

BTW, "which are offered..." is most certainly a dependent clause.

[dragons in the flower bed]

Where's the copy editor fist bump emoticon? :D

 

[sdWTMer]

Oy.

[ereks mom]

I don't understand what they're trying to say. It might be easier if I read it in context, though.