Shared Element

Margie Wakeman WellsThe Comma 1 Comment

When two subjects and verbs joined by a coordinate conjunction share the sameĀ  object — now, that sounds like an English teacher, doesn’t it? — there is no comma before the conjunction.

…We looked at and we immediately noticed the abandoned car.

Here it is with the object of prepositions:

…She talked to and she enlisted the aid of her brother.

And this is an interesting variation on this rule [from a question on FB]:

…It’s going to be and it comes down to — and it’s a scary thing when you are appointed a judge — what I think.

Happy punctuating!

Margie

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