comma before 'or' [conjunction]: steal my jewelries, or my laptop

film4reel

Senior Member
Spanish
I think he was trying to steal my jewelries, or my laptop.

I think he was trying to steal my jewelries or my laptop.

I would say that in #1 "or my laptop" is unnecessary and was added as perhaps another alternative possibility. While in #2 "or my laptop" is an as likely possibility as "my jewelries".

Am I right?
 
  • Toadie

    Senior Member
    English
    To my ears, they have the same connotation. The first sentence just sounds like you were pausing to think or something.

    I'd like to see some other people's input as well.
     

    Aardvark01

    Senior Member
    British English (Midlands)
    I think he was trying to steal my jewelry, or my laptop.

    I think he was trying to steal my jewelry or my laptop.

    I would say that in #1 "or my laptop" is unnecessary and was added as perhaps another alternative possibility. While in #2 "or my laptop" is an as likely possibility as "my jewelries".

    Am I right?
    Note that 'jewlery' is an uncountable noun so does not have a plural form.

    I agree that the pause in speech after jewelry in #1 makes the addition of 'or my laptop' sound like an afterthought. However I think the same sense is conveyed in writing without it. The uncertainty can be emphasised thus:
    ...trying to steal my jewelry or maybe my laptop.
     

    Forero

    Senior Member
    Or tells us we are dealing with alternatives. The comma imitates speech, suggesting that I thought of my jewelry (non-count noun) first and then realized the laptop was also a likely possibility. Without the comma, I am saying that I have decided there are no other likely possibilities.

    Jewelry is the U.S. spelling. I seem to remember it's spelled jewellery in Canada and Great Britain.
     
    Top