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From: Chris Croughton <chris@keristor.net>
Newsgroups: alt.languages.english
Subject: Re: comma setting in this sentence correct?
Date: Sun, 26 Mar 2006 14:48:10 +0100
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On Sun, 26 Mar 2006 11:38:18 +1100, cguttman
<4everclever4@web.de> wrote:
> Hello,
>
> would it be correct to write:
>
> --
> In the light of these basic system characteristics, building agent
> systems that collaborate as well as humans do, proves to be a
> difficult problem.
> --
>
> Are the commas set correctly?
The first comma is correct, as it delimits an initial phrase which can
be removed without altering the meaning of the second.
The second part is a complete phrase, if we remove the first part we
would get the incorrect:
> Building agent systems that collaborate as well as humans do, proves
> to be a difficult problem.
Thus the second comma is not needed and should be removed:
> In the light of these basic system characteristics, building agent
> systems that collaborate as well as humans do proves to be a
> difficult problem.
One could also parenthesise (with () or with commas) as follows:
> In the light of these basic system characteristics, building agent
> systems that collaborate, as well as humans do, proves to be a
> difficult problem.
or
> In the light of these basic system characteristics, building agent
> systems that collaborate (as well as humans do) proves to be a
> difficult problem.
However that sets off "as well as humans do" as a qualifier, with an
implication that humans aren't very good at it and the agent systems
can't be expected to do any better, which may not be what you mean.
Chris C
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