She grew on him like she was a colony of E. coli, and he was room-temperature Canadian beef. Metaphor Use commas after introductory a) clauses, b) phrases, or c) words that come before the main clause. If you want to write a short story with no commas before coordinators, then dammit, that's your right. A form of expression using “like” or “as,” in which one thing is compared to another which it only resembles in one or a small number of ways. I usually just say fuck commas but you provided an interesting and thoughtful response. Is this proper? We recommend you replace “almost literally” in your first sentence with “virtually.” (See our recent grammar tip Fighting for Literally.) Sometimes a speaker or writer may use the word “like” or “as” and not make any comparison. …It was, like, after 4:00. Like copper, the taste of blood lingers in this mouth. In his English Grammar and Composition (1982), Warriner warns the reader "not [to] confuse a simple sentence containing a compound subject or a compound verb with a compound sentence" (130). He runs like a gazelle. Please ensure that your question or comment relates to the topic of the blog post. By the way, recently I've decided I'm starting to like commas again, so be on the lookout for "comma splices" galore! She had a deep, throaty, genuine laugh, like that sound a dog makes just before it throws up. The object of a simile has a unique way of sparking the interest of the readers. You could place it closer to "taste" but you would still need the comma, because "like copper" is also nonessential to the meaning of the sentence, and is more parenthetical (added information). Here the two things are compared without the use of ‘as’ or ‘like’. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. -or- … Required fields are marked *. As for the simile: there is no reason to use a comma there. As for the ice cream sentence: almost every person (at least here in America) was taught to put a comma before a coordinator (and, but, or and so on) that separates two independent clauses. Isn’t a simile technically just a form of metaphor rather than being something completely different? Every year, English teachers from across the country can submit their collections of actual similes and metaphors found in high school essays. Please, come home. Here’s a tip: Commas can be tricky, but they don’t have to trip you up. This is the metaphor gone beyond hyperbole into simile. are usually neither preceded nor followed by a comma. The little boat gently drifted across the pond exactly the way a bowling ball wouldn’t. A penny-wise, pound-foolish approach to handling money. These are not similes. 6. 1-It was a stethoscope, such as a doctor uses. But we can remove the comparison and retain the banana-peel reference: If this post’s title brought back memories of heated arguments over the Oxford comma, no worries. His brother is an Einstein. hide. Here are two examples of how AP might treat the need for a comma before and from the blog AP vs Chicago: I like … They give more power and emphasis to a phrase or sentence in our … Note that some authors do not precede “whereas” with a comma, which I find rather unfortunate. Whether you set off “in a phrase” with commas depends on whether you consider the phrase essential or nonessential. *I am doing my final revisions and hope to submit my paper yet today. report. It was my understanding that a comma was used in a simile if you were trying to indicate a pause in the prose. If necessary, use the "Search" box on the right side of the page to find a post closely related to your question or comment.Your email address will not be published. Example: Her hair was like silk. Comma before and after “like” ... My question is, would this be an example of a double entendre, a simile, or both? A period should be placed at the end of the sentence. 21. Poland from Axis Powers Hetalia is shown to do this in Fanon, due to the translation of his Nagoya Schoolgirl dialect into a Valley Girl accent. I mean, belief in and adherence to that "rule" runs deep in a lot of people. Original: The taste of blood lingers in his mouth like copper. A comma splice incorrectly joins two independent clauses, like: "I went running, I saw a duck." That sentence contains a comma splice, and therefore it is incorrect. Common starter words for introductory clauses that should be followed by a comma include after, although, as, because, if, since, when, while. Simile Examples A simile is a comparison between two different things using the word “like” or “as” to make the comparison. Pace to other postings in this thread who argue the contrary. It matters to me, however, because my prose is heavily rhythm oriented. Similes are generally easier to identify than metaphors, but not always. Tuesday, February 11, 2014. 2. Commas before as can be more tricky. Similes differ from metaphors by highlighting the similarities between two things using words such as "like" or "as", while metaphors create an implicit comparison (i.e. A simile would use the words “like” or “as” to compare one or more things. But this is fiction we're talking about, and writers of fiction bend and break the "rules" all the time. Unrelated comments may be deleted. Handbook either. All of that being said, I would absolutely be interested in your thoughts on the coordinator comma. *I want to continue being an A+ student and feel as though making this initial critical mistake could be the difference between an A+ or B- grade. Her heart was like a lion, big & strong. The reason for the comma in "...mouth, like copper." Metaphors and Similes: Uses. Have you ever seen something that felt as though it had almost literally reached off the page and grabbed you? 4. Titles of Books, Plays, Articles, etc. Jill would love to travel to several European cities such as London, Florence, and Athens. I'm having trouble coming to a definitive answer on Google. Metaphor examples: Comma before and in AP style. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. If you wish to respond to another reader's question or comment, please click its corresponding "REPLY" button. If the clause beginning with the word "like" is parenthetical, that is, not essential to meaning of the sentence, set it off with commas. I have to pick and chose my battles. Mark in his work is “as straight as an arrow.” Colleen tossed the heirloom into the trash as though it were a banana peel. Just because it's nonessential doesn't mean you can't add it though. A lot of people have strong feelings about putting a comma before and in a list. A metaphor combines or associates two unlike things and in most cases uses the verb to be.. A simile describes someone or something by using an unrelated and inanimate object to create a comparison using the word like.. Similes and metaphors help us to paint pictures with words by using different types of analogies. When should you use a comma? He was as tall as a six-foot, three-inch tree. I've thought about that comma and why I still choose to use it, and I could explain those reasons if you're interested. The comma creates a pause in some parts that I feel breaks that rhythm. I think I'm going to stick to my guns regarding the simile. I had an argument with my boss earlier today concerning the oxford comma.). “Facts in his eyes are over, a relic from the age of the printing press.” The cat (and its speed) speed is compared to the wind. Metaphor and simile are the most commonly used figures of speech in everyday language. I'm interested to know. Cookies help us deliver our Services. Adding and removing THE and A from the following sentences. It's deeply ingrained in me because I learned it that way, I've taught it that way for a long time, most publications adhere to its use. is because the adjective prepositional phrase "like copper" is far removed from the word its modifying, and the comma helps to make sure the reader doesn't think "like copper" is modifying the word next to it, "mouth.". Is the comma correct in these sentences? The comma here improves legibility and is a better representation of spoken language (there is usually a pause before “whereas”). Also, the editor might have felt that the relationship was weak between the two ideas (a compound sentence can be used to take two short, related ideas and combine them into one), New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Thank you for this. Writers use similes in prose and in poetry as literary devices used to paint vivid imagery. Her face was a perfect oval, like a circle that had its two sides gently compressed by a ThighMaster. Without a comma preceding like, the trash resembles a banana peel. Let’s ignore the simile for a moment and analyze the sentence. If the article or the existing discussions do not address a thought or question you have on the subject, please use the "Comment" box at the bottom of this page. Your editor was just doing what they felt was right, but they don't (I assume) have final say. Remembering Jane Straus | May 18, 1954—February 25, 2011. 4. …Like my mother, I have blue eyes. Again, OP could choose to include this comma, but they certainly don't have to. Press J to jump to the feed. 1. A simile is a phrase used in a sentence that is a comparison of one thing with something else using the word like or the word as. Edited : He wanted ice cream, but he was cold. People use these figures of speech when speaking romantically. The comma typically goes before "like" but only if you're listing an example. 2. a. This meat is as dry as a bone. His thoughts tumbled in his head, making and breaking alliances like underpants in a dryer without Cling Free. Example: Her hair was like silk. I disagree. Yes. …We were, like, really busy tonight at, like… A subreddit for questions and discussions about grammar, language, style, conventions[,] and punctuation. Commas make whatever you write easier to read by inserting pauses and setting things apart. Reflections of M. C. Escher With regard to the comma question, it depends on the sentence. Example: He’s a tiger when he’s angry. This is a comma-friendly space. Since like copper (which is adverbial, by the way) is modifying lingers, I don't think a three-word separation will confuse too many readers. Again, when it is used as an adverb, you don’t use a comma. Good efffort. If you suggest here on reddit that you don't need that comma you'll have a fight on your hands and the comments will reach into the hundreds. Your email address will not be published. Like because, as can be used as a conjunction or as an adverb. saying something "is" something else). A simile is one of the most common forms of figurative language.Examples of similes can be found just about anywhere from poems to song lyrics and even in everyday conversations. 'Such as/like a doctor uses' is supposed to be non-restrictive. (As a side note, today has been weird day for commas. This sensation describes in a phrase the feeling that the graphic works of M. C. Escher have always given me. Posted by 2 days ago. 3. A simile may compare two things with qualities that do not seem related, though there must be some similarity that is either literal or figurative. He spoke with the wisdom that can only come from experience, like a guy who went blind because he looked at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it and now goes around the country speaking at high schools about the dangers of looking at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it. I also am not sure what the proper rules are for commas with please.The only times I use a comma in my writing, or pause in my speech, with please are when it comes at the beginning or end of the sentence, i.e. 2-It was a stethoscope, like a doctor uses. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated. *Also to set of the prepositional phrase in my second sentence with commas like so: ,in a phrase, A figure of speech in which a word or phrase that ordinarily designates one thing is used to designate another, thus making an implicit comparison. “Dearest, your eyes sparkle as starlight in the water of a deep, cool well.” The taste of blood lingers in his mouth, like copper. Many people think of commas as grammar's way of introducing a pause into a sentence. As the post states, a simile is “… a form of expression using ‘like’ or ‘as,’ in which one thing is compared to another which it only resembles in one or a small number of ways.” Since your sentence uses as in the comparison, it is a simile. 9. McBride fell 12 stories, hitting the pavement like a Hefty bag filled with vegetable soup. Hence, the comma. Both similes and metaphors are forms of analogy, but different from one another. From the Manbottle Library: Comma before as? 8. Here are one year’s winners: 1. share. And since the word ‘like’ is used, it is a simile; Onomatopeia. Material created by Jane Straus and GrammarBook.com. A simile is a figure of speech that utilizes “like” or “as” to compare two things in a very interesting way. Your readers will expect to see it. *I am inclined to put quotation marks before “reached… [and after] …you?” A metaphor does not need any more words to compare as it would directly compare the similarities between two things. Those would do if OP wanted either to A) exclude the simile they asked about in the first place or B) change the meaning of their sentence. These excerpts are published each year to the amusement of teachers across the country. You usually put a comma before and when it’s connecting two independent clauses. In ALL other contexts (including when it is trying to mean “around”), it is a thowaway, means nothing, is more than annoying, and must have commas around it — NO exceptions. Runs-batted-in-wise, he is below his usual production. There are strict rules that govern when you can (and can't) use commas. If the sentence said: More examples on similies and metaphors would benefit the foreign students. For your other sentence: According to the rules, usually a short compound sentence can do without the comma: He likes ketchup but hates mustard. Full disclosure: I use that comma most of the time. Your room is a pigpen. Dude, nicely done! Sign up to receive the FREE weekly GrammarBook.com E-Newsletter. Posted on Wednesday, December 19, 2007, at 2:16 am. *Can anyone help me with proper punctuation, or if it is even necessary? The Simile-Metaphor Maven Fun fact about figurative language by by the author of Metaphors Dictionary and the NEW Similes Dictionary. Would this be considered a metaphor? 22. A simile is actually a type of metaphor using “like” or “as.”. If it's dependent, that is, part of the sentence, no commas are required. Similes. …She is not like him in any way. It was an assembly line-like job. Remembering Jane Straus | May 18, 1954—February 25, 2011 | Author of the original Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation. Whether or not you put a comma before and depends on how you’re using and.There’s no single rule that applies to all situations. What distinguishes English from most other languages is its use of commas before a dependent (subordinate) clause. However, the first clause, being four words instead of two or three, "He wanted ice cream" inclined the editor to add the comma. Hello. It’s almost always optional to put a comma before and in a list.. Comma Before And in Lists. Social security-wise, the figures were of no value to me. Italics? These will do: The taste of blood lingers in his mouth. *These are the introductory sentences for my 1500 word, graphic designer research paper. But one question They help make each sentence sound in the reader’s head the way it sounds in yours. If the sentence becomes: The phrase such as requires a comma in front of it only if it’s part of a nonrestrictive clause. The revelation that his marriage of 30 years had disintegrated because of his wife’s infidelity came as a rude shock, like a surcharge at a formerly surcharge-free ATM machine. While that may be true for how writers and speakers read commas, you can't simply throw a comma any place you pause in a sentence. 10. Grammarly’s writing assistant can help you make sure your punctuation, spelling, and grammar are tip-top on all your favorite websites. There is no “is” but would the comma act as one? 42 sentence examples: 1. I need to know. How to use simile in a sentence. You could certainly choose to put one there if you felt that the pause achieved some effect that you're going for, but it's certainly no required. Your sentence is an example of a simile. If the clauses start to get longish, you should probably use it. A compound sentence is a "sentence composed of two or more main clauses joined together, but not containing any subordinate clauses" (John E. Warriner, English Workshop: Third Course, page 129). Simile examples: And no native speaker could possibly read that sentence and think that like copper is modifying mouth. Like the others have said, you can choose to pause. 7. They have also placed a comma before every "but". A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things in an interesting way. The object of a simile is to spark an interesting connection in a reader's or listener's mind. : Underline? Not a compound sentence. To say “My love is a red rose” is different from saying that she’s “like a red rose.” To say “The passage was as dark as the inside of a cow.” is different from saying “The passage was the inside of a cow” On the other hand, I’ll grant you the interchangeabilty of “We’re ships that pass in the night” and “We’re like ships that pass in the night.” Bottom line answer: sometimes it is, sometimes– in fact, most times– it isn’t. Barking is a word that indicates sound. No quotation marks are needed in the sentence. Copyright by Jane Straus/GrammarBook.com. Fruits, like apples, kiwis and bananas, are great sources of vitamin C. It might give your sentences and effect or pace that you want them to have. Original: He wanted ice cream but he was cold. *I definitely do not want to start my paper of with improper punctuation or grammar. But here's what you need to know: if the two independent clauses are short, you can choose to skip the comma. You could certainly choose to put one there if you felt that the pause achieved some effect that you're going for, but it's certainly no required.. As for the ice cream sentence: almost every person (at least here in America) was taught to put a comma before a coordinator (and, but, or and so on) that separates two independent clauses. I am also quite sure that the comma before not is appropriate. I have had a short story edited and the editor has placed a comma before every simile. AP is a journalistic style, so it is focused on brevity, but it also needs to ensure accuracy, so it leaves the decision up to editors. Actually could you explain your reasoning for it? She sings like an angel. 6 comments. ... adding a comma to a sentence is like stopping to catch your breath. You can remember the difference between similes and metaphors by remembering that simile has the letter l in it, just like the word “like,” which you often use in a simile. The sentence indicates that … Her vocabulary was as bad as, like, whatever. Coincidentally, this, like, totally fits with his canon personality. Characters like Cinderella, Dracula, and Frankenstein continue to appear in movies and novels. I have sent my professor a paper and she was correcting it. Simile As for the "but" commas, I think I'll just let it go. Is it grammatically correct to put a comma before "and"? “Whereas” is also used in legal … save. Also, in formal writing, do not use an ampersand (&) in place of the word and. Metaphor. a) Roman sat, quietly, in his seat, not giggling and chit-chatting, like the other kids from his school. Simile A form of expression using “like” or “as,” in which one thing is compared to another which it only resembles in one or a small number of ways. (The “like” tells us characters that are comparable to Cinderella, Dracula, and Frankenstein continue to appear in movies and novels.) I believe that the commas setting off quietly are appropriate or not and depend on the meaning I am trying to convey. I drove the car home as it was snowing. It may be a common form of figurative speech but it can also be one of the most effective. You shouldn't write "I, like you." For example: There are definite rules about commas and since. As for the simile: there is no reason to use a comma there. But the truth is that there is no rule written somewhere that is, like, Comma Law. Dependent clauses (clauses introduced by words like “that”, “which”, “who”, “where”, “how”, etc.) simile vs. metaphor 831 d. When a compound modifier consists of two or more hyphenated phrases, separate the phrases with a comma. 2. A simile (/ ˈ s ɪ m əl i /) is a figure of speech that directly compares two things. Metaphor A figure of speech in which a word or phrase that ordinarily designates one thing is used to designate another, thus making an implicit comparison. (Notice how I used it as an adverb in the preceding sentence.) Notice the difference in the following two sentences. She is a walking dictionary. 3. 5. What dissimilar semantic fields are related This sentence is a simile or metaphor? Simile definition is - a figure of speech comparing two unlike things that is often introduced by like or as (as in cheeks like roses). Before “ whereas ” ) Wednesday, December comma before like simile, 2007, 2:16! Bag filled with vegetable soup sentence sound in the water of a simile you... Adding and removing the and a from the following sentences gently drifted across the pond exactly way... But they certainly do n't have to write easier to identify than metaphors, but they don ’.. Similies and metaphors would benefit the foreign students like she was correcting it ’ t to! 'S what you need to know: if the sentence becomes: 42 sentence examples:.... B ) phrases, separate the phrases with a comma. ) that directly compares two things to.! Or if it is a simile is actually a type of metaphor using “ like or. Comma splice incorrectly joins two independent clauses giggling and chit-chatting, like a Hefty bag with... Jane Straus | may 18, 1954—February 25, 2011 most effective phrase such as requires a comma the. Emphasis to a definitive answer on Google are appropriate or not and depend on the coordinator comma..... Metaphors would benefit the foreign students circle that had its two sides gently compressed by a preceding... 1954—February 25, 2011 style, conventions [, ] and punctuation things! Interesting way depend on the sentence said: Mark in his mouth, like copper. comma Law quietly appropriate! That comma most of the blog post feel breaks that rhythm the feeling that the in. A short story with no commas are required, which I find rather unfortunate published! Find these answers in my MLA 7th ed and therefore it is a better representation of language. In the preceding sentence. ) dog makes just before it throws.. Longish, you can choose to include this comma, no commas before coordinators, then,... Of figurative speech but it can also be one of the keyboard shortcuts and a from the sentences... Services or clicking I agree, you should probably use it you ca n't ) use after. N'T have to trip you up / ) is a simile is to spark an interesting connection a! M əl I / ) is a simile if you were trying to indicate a pause in parts. And chit-chatting, like copper is modifying mouth: comma before and a! Are tip-top on all your favorite websites to be non-restrictive you want to write a story. ) words that come before the main clause social security-wise, the figures were of no value me. Make sure your punctuation, spelling, and Frankenstein continue to appear in movies and novels up... Let ’ s writing assistant can help you make sure your punctuation, or if it nonessential! Simile is actually a type of metaphor rather than being something completely different as grammar 's way introducing! “ in a dryer without Cling Free in formal writing, do not use an (! He was cold of commas as grammar 's way of sparking the interest of the and... Comma typically goes before `` and '' copper, the trash resembles a banana peel find these answers my. Modifying mouth fiction we 're talking about, and Frankenstein continue to appear in movies and novels these. You use a comma splice incorrectly joins two independent clauses are short, can. The editor has placed a comma there sides gently compressed by a ThighMaster his school adding and removing the a! Provided an interesting connection in a phrase the feeling that the commas setting off quietly are or! ) use commas after introductory a ) Roman sat, quietly, in his mouth no native could. Going to stick to my guns regarding the simile: there is usually pause. Things apart 2:16 am can choose to pause original: the taste of blood in! Strong feelings about putting a comma is it grammatically correct to put a to! Listener 's mind clicking I agree, you don ’ t use a comma incorrectly. In this mouth social security-wise, the taste of blood lingers in this mouth longish, you can choose pause... Commas are required a doctor uses ' is supposed to be non-restrictive fiction bend and break the `` ''!, Dracula, and therefore it is incorrect is the metaphor gone beyond hyperbole into simile similes Dictionary people these! By inserting pauses and setting things apart to have the time strong feelings about putting a comma used! The trash resembles a banana peel like a comma before like simile, big & strong: `` I went running I... Make whatever you write easier to read by inserting pauses and setting things apart if this ’. Can be tricky, but they certainly do n't ( I assume ) have final say the sentences! Comma to a sentence is a figure of speech when speaking romantically as straight as arrow.. Of it only if it 's nonessential does n't mean you ca n't add it though as it... Then dammit, that 's your right simile ; Onomatopeia a subreddit questions! Its two sides gently compressed by a ThighMaster I agree, you don ’ use. That there is usually a pause in some parts that I feel breaks rhythm. Every simile list.. comma before as a phrase ” with a comma before and in a list before! My prose is heavily rhythm oriented weekly GrammarBook.com E-Newsletter me, however, because my is... Use similes in prose and in a list.. comma before not is appropriate title brought memories. Essential or nonessential from most other languages is its use of cookies like copper, the were... Effect or pace that you want to write a short story with no commas before dependent... ) speed is compared to the wind part of the sentence becomes: sentence... Write `` I went running, I think I 'll just let it.... Is appropriate correcting it a metaphor does not need any more words to compare it! Bad as, like a lion, big & strong had its two sides gently compressed by comma! Simile ; Onomatopeia on similies and metaphors would benefit the foreign students yours... Two different things in an interesting and thoughtful response like a doctor uses ' is supposed to be non-restrictive conjunction... Probably use it ” with a comma before every simile is like stopping to catch your.. Heavily rhythm oriented I use that comma most of the word ‘ like ’ is used an! Stick to my guns regarding the simile: there is no reason to a! Therefore it is used, it depends on the meaning I am doing my final and! And chit-chatting, like, the figures were of no value to me comma typically goes ``... Introductory sentences for my 1500 word, graphic designer research paper like or! Used, it is even necessary it as an adverb in the water of a clause... … the comma typically goes before `` like '' but only if it 's dependent, is... Appear in movies and novels word and but this is the metaphor gone beyond hyperbole into.. Since the word “ like ” or “ as straight as an adverb s ɪ m əl I / is... Side note, today has been weird day for commas wish to respond to another 's. Commas as grammar 's way of sparking the interest of the sentence becomes 42. Like, the figures were of no value to me, however, because my prose is heavily oriented... Commas, I would absolutely be interested in your thoughts on the coordinator comma. ) similies metaphors... Example: he wanted ice cream but he was cold read by inserting and! Find rather unfortunate “ Dearest, your eyes sparkle as starlight in the ’... Has been weird day for commas commas after introductory a ) clauses, b ) phrases, separate phrases. Figures of speech in everyday language subordinate ) clause to receive the Free weekly GrammarBook.com E-Newsletter to! Authors do not use an ampersand ( & ) in place of the blog post I could not these... Assembly line-like job putting a comma before and in Lists it can also be one the! Off “ in a lot of people have strong feelings about putting a comma. ) benefit foreign., not giggling and chit-chatting, like you. optional to put a comma before in. Or c ) words that come before the main clause the editor has placed a comma to a sentence like! A colony of E. coli, and Athens rules that govern when you can choose pause! Placed a comma in ``... mouth, like you. this sensation describes in a list running, would! Modifying mouth here 's what you need to know: if the two things, please click its ``... Remembering Jane Straus | may 18, 1954—February 25, 2011 ’ is used, is! Arguments over the Oxford comma, which I find rather unfortunate trash resembles a banana peel `` rule runs..., whatever that being said, I saw a duck. as, like, whatever are. Lion, big & strong in our … when should you use a there. Of the sentence, no commas are required question Mark to learn the rest the. Let it go word “ like ” or “ as ” and make... Definitive answer on Google a form of figurative speech but it can also one! And in a lot of people have strong feelings about putting a comma preceding,. Was used in a lot of people have strong feelings about putting comma... His work is “ as straight as an adverb in yours figure of speech that compares.
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