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softly aloud
m
Jan 24, 2022 11:06
2 yrs ago
28 viewers *
English term

commas with whereas and if

Non-PRO English Other Other punctuation, use of comma
Should I use commas in this sentence?

Whereas if we look at the bottom of the chart we've got utilities and consumer staples.
Responses
5 +3 yes
4 No
Change log

Jan 24, 2022 11:10: writeaway changed "Field (write-in)" from "trading" to "punctuation, use of comma"

Jan 24, 2022 11:26: writeaway changed "Field" from "Bus/Financial" to "Other"

Responses

+3
4 mins
Selected

yes

Whereas, if we look at the bottom of the chart, we've got utilities and consumer staples.

commas to mark out the subclause

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Note added at 21 mins (2022-01-24 11:28:16 GMT)
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it is really BASIC punctuation

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Note added at 14 days (2022-02-07 12:26:24 GMT) Post-grading
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In legal texts "whereas" is not usualy followed by a comma but the entire clause is kept intact.
However, this is not legal and the basic rules of punctuation apply.
HERE "whereas" means "On the other hand" and this would be followed by a comma because there would be a pause after it, hence my inclination for distinguishing the subclause by commas. I think it's clearer that way
Peer comment(s):
agree AllegroTrans : yes but this is not a translation question and shoudn't be in this forum // whilst the comma is preferable I don't see it as wrong to omit it
8 mins
yes, I know. I fully agree and have made that point on countless occasions myself. At least it's non-pro this time unlike all the so-called "pro" grammar questions that slip by:-( //I would see it as wrong
agree Mark Robertson
43 mins
Thanks:-)
agree Tina Vonhof (X) : Are grammar/punctuation questions not part of translation? If not, should we then have "Grudoz" for those, sometimes tricky, problems?
4 hrs
Thanks Tina. A lot of grammar questions asked here are proofreading rather than translation in my view. Clear sign native translators/prooofreaders are needed
neutral philgoddard : I don't think your first comma is necessary. It doesn't make the sentence easier to read, whereas (!) the second one does. // I will - I think your confidence is unjustified, and you haven't given references :-)
13 hrs
I disagree but post away
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
1 day 5 hrs

No

A good way to decide whether a comma is needed is to read it aloud. If you pause at that point, you need one. You wouldn't pause after "whereas", but you would after "chart".

A comma after "if" would be quite wrong.

We've actually had this question before, but with "whereas" in the legal sense, meaning "since", rather than "on the other hand", which is the meaning here. However, the principle is the same.
http://www.proz.com/kudoz/english/linguistics/687152-an-auto...

We use a comma before whereas, but not after.
http://speakspeak.com/resources/english-grammar-rules/conjun...


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Note added at 1 day 5 hrs (2022-01-25 16:54:43 GMT)
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Whereas if we look at the bottom of the chart, we've got utilities and consumer staples.
Peer comment(s):
neutral Yvonne Gallagher : yes, there IS a pause after "whereas" just as there would be after "on the other hand"
5 hrs
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