Korean Job Discussion Forums

[raewon]

Commas aren't my forte, could someone please confirm that the folllowing commas are indeed correct?

1. This is my friend, Tom.
2. Please meet my friend, Tom
3. My best friend, Sujin, will take part in the marathon race.
4. Sujin, my partner, sings very well.

Thank you.

[iammac2002]

No, I changed my mind again, it's all right. All of it is right. No, it's all left. No, I don't know, do you know?

[lifeinkorea]

I, think, it's, fine, too.

[raewon]

Thanks for the replies. But can anyone really confirm if they are indeed correct or not.

[schwa]

3 & 4 are indisputably correct.

1 & 2 are arguable, maybe more a question of style than grammar. Personally, I would toss those commas as they create possible ambiguity:

This is my friend, Tom. Is the friend's name Tom or is he being introduced to Tom? This is my friend Tom can only be read one way.

[raewon]

Thank you schwa. That clears things up for me.

[Dodgy Al]

http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/commas.asp

[martypants]

Commas should be used if you would say same the sentence with a slight pause.

"Meet my friend Tom." That would be no pause and would be asking Tom to meet your friend.

"Meet my friend, Tom." Would have a pause and would be asking a 3rd party to meet your friend whose name is Tom.

[MattAwesome]

[Tiberious aka Sparkles]

[Tiberious aka Sparkles]

[martypants]

#3 and #4 are correct as originally written.

I am NEVER wrong, unless it was that one time back in band camp...

[buildbyflying]

If you look at Strunk and White's Elements of Style you'll note that grammar has changed significantly in what 80 years?
Stating hard and fast rules are pointless. Teach language evolution!