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Comma needed or can I skip it?

English translation: no comma needed


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GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:Comma needed or can I skip it?
English translation:no comma needed
Entered by: Veronika McLaren
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12:44 Sep 20, 2011
English to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature
English term or phrase: Comma needed or can I skip it?
This sentence (not exactly a complete sentence) appears in fast-moving scene in a book:

Or so I thought.

Looking over grammar books, I see that it is recommended not to use commas to excess, but is that better as "Or, so I thought" with a comma after "Or"?

Thank you.
Joyce A
Thailand
Local time: 09:09
no comma needed
Explanation:
The meaning is clear enough.
Selected response from:

Veronika McLaren
Local time: 22:09
Grading comment
Thank you, Veronika!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +17no comma needed
Veronika McLaren


  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +17
comma needed or can i skip it?
no comma needed


Explanation:
The meaning is clear enough.

Veronika McLaren
Local time: 22:09
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 12
Grading comment
Thank you, Veronika!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Liz Broomfield
2 mins
  -> Thank you, Liz
agree  Jack Doughty: In some cases there's a difference in use of commas between US and UK English, but here I think it's unnecessary in either form of the language.
3 mins
  -> Thank you, Jack
agree  Mark Nathan: Absolutely, Jack.
5 mins
  -> Thank you, Mark
agree  Stephanie Ezrol
5 mins
  -> Thank you, Stephanie
agree  Therrien: Can use one, if you really wanted to, but I'm more used to seeing it the way the writer has it (without comma).
9 mins
  -> Thank you, Therrien
agree  Sheila Wilson: Required only if you really want the reader to stop so there is added suspense (imagine frowns, question marks over the head, the ticking clock...) // Right. It certainly depends on the surrounding text. Still, it really isn't a grammar thing.
9 mins
  -> good point - but asker specified "fast moving"...
agree  LaraBarnett
10 mins
  -> Thank you, Lara
agree  Sarah Jane Webb: with Sheila W.
12 mins
  -> Thank you, Sarah
agree  amarpaul: and I think Sheila has explained very well the only reason one might need to add a comma.
31 mins
  -> Right - thank you, amarpaul!
agree  Carol Gullidge: A comma would slow it down, although it would have the added advantage of creating suspense. It really depends on what effect you're trying to achieve here
48 mins
  -> Exactly - thanks, Carol
agree  Inge Dijkstra: Very good explanation by Sheila! And Jack: thanks for pointing out this difference!
53 mins
  -> Indeed, thanks to Jack and Inge!
agree  Charles Davis
1 hr
  -> Thank you, Charles
agree  Nic B: only use a common to had a pause after "Or", if it's a fast moving scene as you indicate, there's no need.
1 hr
  -> Thank you, Nic
agree  eski
4 hrs
  -> Thank you, Eski
agree  Ashutosh Mitra
19 hrs
  -> Thank you, Ashutosh
agree  Rachel Fell
21 hrs
  -> Thank you, Rachel
agree  Thuy-PTT
1 day20 hrs
  -> Thank you, Thuy-PTT
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Changes made by editors
Sep 25, 2011 - Changes made by Veronika McLaren:
Created KOG entryKudoZ term => KOG term


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