Help with comma usage?

[clickynext]

Even having been at school for more than 12 years, I still don't exactly know how to use commas properly. Which of the following sentences is correct, or are both incorrect?

'The characters Bob in Author1's "Story1," and James in Author2's "Story2" at first glance appear to be quite different, but upon close examination, their personality traits parallel each other.'

'The characters, Bob in Author1's "Story1," and James in Author2's "Story2," at first glance appear to be quite different, but upon close examination, their personality traits parallel each other.'
(notice the commas after character and Story2)

 

[GeekDrew]

lol.... I'm usually a grammar/punctuation/spelling Nazi... and be it for whatever reason, I don't have an answer there... I simply cannot remember the rules pertaining to that.

 

[FrustratedUser]

I, am, not, sure.

 

[spidey07]

I'll take a stab...

'The characters Bob in Author1's "Story1" and James in Author2's "Story2" at first glance appear to be quite different, but upon close examination their personality traits parallel each other.'

Just one separating the two clauses.

 

[Kelemvor]

Commas can be used to designate section of sentences that can be removed and still complete the sentence. They just provide extra info. So I'd do it like this:

The characters, Bob in Author1's "Story1" and James in Author2's "Story2," at first glance appear to be quite different, but upon close examination, their personality traits parallel each other.'

because the "Bob in Author.... Story2" part can be removed and still leaves a complete sentence.

 

[Nikamichi]

'The characters, Bob, in Author1's "Story1" and James, in Author2's "Story2", at first glance appear to be quite different, but upon close examination, their personality traits parallel each other.'

 

[Yossarian]

B

 

[91TTZ]

I think it's delightful to sprinkle commas throughout the sentence. The more the merrier I say.

"The characters, Bob, in Author1's "Story1", and James, in Author2's "Story2", at first glance, appear,,, to be quite different, but upon close examination,, their personality, traits parallel each, other,,.!"

 

[frodrick]

The comma rule you're talking about here is used to separate out extra information that doesn't need to be included for the sentence to make sense, but is added to give more meaning. I believe it is called a parenthetical phrase. If the information is necessary, don't use commas. If the information isn't necessary, you can use commas.

Use a comma to set off parenthetical elements. This is the most difficult rule in comma usage. A parenthetical element is ?added information,? something that can be removed from a sentence without changing the essential meaning of that sentence. Deciding what is ?added information? and what is essential is sometimes difficult.

"Robert Frost, perhaps America?s most beloved poet, died when he was 88."

edit: using the example above about robert frost, it would be incorrect to write the following: "America's most beloved poet, Robert Frost, died when he was 88." Ignoring the part where this sentence baselessly says for a fact that Robert Frost _is_ America's most beloved poet, it is incorrect because if you take out Robert Frost, the sentence makes no sense.

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: frodrick
The comma rule you're talking about here is used to separate out extra information that doesn't need to be included for the sentence to make sense, but is added to give more meaning. I believe it is called a parenthetical phrase. If the information is necessary, don't use commas. If the information isn't necessary, you can use commas.

Use a comma to set off parenthetical elements. This is the most difficult rule in comma usage. A parenthetical element is ?added information,? something that can be removed from a sentence without changing the essential meaning of that sentence. Deciding what is ?added information? and what is essential is sometimes difficult.

"Robert Frost, perhaps America?s most beloved poet, died when he was 88."

Aw man- Robert Frost just died? Noooo!

 

[Kyteland]

Originally posted by: Nikamichi
'The characters, Bob in Author1's "Story1" and James in Author2's "Story2", at first glance appear to be quite different, but upon close examination their personality traits parallel each other.'

fixed.