<p>The comma questions on the ACT English test sometimes trip me up.
Are the following sentences correct as written or wrong in regards to commas? If they are wrong how do you fix the commas so the sentence is right? (my computer won't underline on posts, so the capitalized words represent the underlined 'error')</p>
<p>1) Before 1920, radio was simply a useful way to send electrical signals ashore from a
SHIP AT SEA,OR, from one "ham" operator to another.</p>
<p>2) The vast potential of the airwaves, THEREFORE, had scarcely been touched. </p>
<p>Thanks in advance to anyone who responds :)</p>
<p>For number two you’re definitely right.
For number one I’m still not sure…
I read that there should only be a comma before or if the clauses on either side of the or can stand alone, so I’m guessing you’re right on this one too…but idk for sure</p>
<p>A general rule I used when going over grammar in standardized tests is if there are two answers that both SEEM correct, the one that is linguistically simpler is usually correct. That includes not only fewer words in the answer choice, but also fewer breaks in the natural flow of the dialogue. Heck, I wouldn’t want to pause twice to fit in a mere coordinating conjunction (or) when I talk.</p>
<p>I’m agreeing with Mccormick.
But, is that really what sentence two says? Having therefore planted there just sounds so weird… I feel like they should pluck that word out of the sentence. Although, in regard to commas, it’s correct.</p>
<p>Yeah it was a question from the ACT site…I don’t know what the answer choices were, so perhaps the question was about replacing the therefore with a better word…but I was just focusing on the commas</p>