I was surprised at how many grammar problems you discovered, however, since I haven't had much difficulty in grammar in a long time. So I took the liberty of going to two different websites to see what their rules are about putting a comma before 'but' or 'and'.
Both these websites said that a comma was necessary before 'but' or 'and', provided it was linking two independent clauses.
I looked over the places you said I needed commas again, and as far as I can tell, they are indeed all independent clauses connected by a conjunction. For example:
Leung muttered something, low and angry, but he finally slid the muzzle of the gun through the space between the bars. - This could also be written:
Leung muttered something, low and angry. He finally slid the muzzle of the gun through the space between the bars.
Hence, I believe the comma is actually necessary.
In any case, I can indeed see places where I probably made the error of choosing style over proper usage (I tend to have a lot of pauses when I put sentences together in my head), and I very much appreciate you pointing out where I just didn't make any sense. (Though I have to admit I always feel embarrassed when I miss things like making a sentence about someone's head instead of his hair. Oops.)
Thank you again! And I give you virtual hugs in return. :)
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Re: *sneaks in bearing hugs and an edit!*
30/9/08 17:01 (UTC)I was surprised at how many grammar problems you discovered, however, since I haven't had much difficulty in grammar in a long time. So I took the liberty of going to two different websites to see what their rules are about putting a comma before 'but' or 'and'.
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/commas.htm
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_commaproof.html
Both these websites said that a comma was necessary before 'but' or 'and', provided it was linking two independent clauses.
I looked over the places you said I needed commas again, and as far as I can tell, they are indeed all independent clauses connected by a conjunction. For example:
Leung muttered something, low and angry, but he finally slid the muzzle of the gun through the space between the bars. - This could also be written:
Leung muttered something, low and angry.
He finally slid the muzzle of the gun through the space between the bars.
Hence, I believe the comma is actually necessary.
In any case, I can indeed see places where I probably made the error of choosing style over proper usage (I tend to have a lot of pauses when I put sentences together in my head), and I very much appreciate you pointing out where I just didn't make any sense. (Though I have to admit I always feel embarrassed when I miss things like making a sentence about someone's head instead of his hair. Oops.)
Thank you again! And I give you virtual hugs in return. :)