problem with punctuation

IP: *.neoplus.adsl.tpnet.pl 06.11.03, 16:49
I’m sure that it would help me to get rid of my foreign accent, or at least
make it less noticeable, and make me more fluent in speaking.

is the second comma necesarry? should the phrase "or at least make it less
noticeable" be treated as the additional information...???

I'm confused... HELP!!!
    • tynski Re: problem with punctuation 08.11.03, 18:53
      If you take out "or at least make it less noticeable", "I'm sure that it would
      help me to get rid of my foreign accent and make me more fluent in speaking"
      stands on its own. This test shows that the two commas make sense.

      There is no new subject in "and make me more fluent in speaking" and therefore
      you don't have to put the second comma before "and make me...". If you don't
      put the second comma there, the first comma should also go unless you want to
      change the sense of the sentence. It seems you could get away without any
      commas at all.

      OTOH, your sentence is long enough to have the two commas double as "breathing"
      commas. I would keep them as is.
    • Gość: nico Re: problem with punctuation IP: *.york.ac.uk / *.york.ac.uk 11.11.03, 14:20
      Hello,

      there's no need for a comma before a conjunction (and, or) but if it helps to
      break up the sentence then put it in. I don't think it's a particularly
      strict rule. If I'm not sure I usually read the sentence out loud and see how
      it sounds.

      nico.

      I d e a l - S t a n d a r d

      www.idealstandard.org.uk
      • zegar4 Re: problem with punctuation 14.11.03, 02:55
        That's a helpful piece of advice.(tc)
    • Gość: IP: *.neoplus.adsl Re: problem with punctuation IP: *.3web.net 13.11.03, 16:07
    • Gość: loczki Re: problem with punctuation IP: *.3web.net 13.11.03, 16:10
      u don't need no punctuation. u need something, though. hmmmm... what would
      that be?
      • zegar4 Re: problem with punctuation 14.11.03, 02:50
        Gość portalu: loczki napisał(a):

        > u don't need no punctuation. u need something, though. hmmmm... what would
        > that be?

        If you want to be taken seriously, rectify your spelling.
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