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My critique group, which includes other grammar people besides me, has 'battled' more than once over whether a comma is necessary after the word yes or no in certain uses.
We agree that it belongs in sentences like these:
"Yes, you did tell me you were running late."
"No, you never mentioned you were running late."
We disagree on whether it belongs in sentences like these--in dialogue, if that affects your answer/opinion:
"You're late."
"I told you I was running late."
"No[,] you didn't."
"Yes[,] I did."
"No[,] you didn't!"
"Yes[,] I did!"
"Did too!"
"Did not!"
The include-a-comma camp (a pleasant group with a liking for tea in bone china cups and white gloves) reasons that how the sentence is delivered should not and does not affect whether the comma belongs there.
The no comma crowd (a rowdy bunch with many piercings and a disregard for rules) says that if the speaker would not pause even slightly, the addition of the comma changes the delivery, if not the meaning.
What do you think?
Maryn, who runs with the wrong crowd
We agree that it belongs in sentences like these:
"Yes, you did tell me you were running late."
"No, you never mentioned you were running late."
We disagree on whether it belongs in sentences like these--in dialogue, if that affects your answer/opinion:
"You're late."
"I told you I was running late."
"No[,] you didn't."
"Yes[,] I did."
"No[,] you didn't!"
"Yes[,] I did!"
"Did too!"
"Did not!"
The include-a-comma camp (a pleasant group with a liking for tea in bone china cups and white gloves) reasons that how the sentence is delivered should not and does not affect whether the comma belongs there.
The no comma crowd (a rowdy bunch with many piercings and a disregard for rules) says that if the speaker would not pause even slightly, the addition of the comma changes the delivery, if not the meaning.
What do you think?
Maryn, who runs with the wrong crowd