comma with absolute construction: A striking figure, she commands...

[angel heart1]

Hi,

Please, why is there a comma after "off-court" in this sentence?

" A tall, striking figure on- and off-court, Summitt commands respect wherever she goes."

Taken from http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/quizzes/comma_quiz.htm

 

[Miss Julie]

It is not a typo. "A tall, striking figure on- and off-court," is an introductory phrase, and that is why the comma is there.

 

[Chasint]

The reason is that the example you give inverts the normal word order. The comma is used to indicate the parenthetical nature of the first clause.

Example:

Bilbo, a hobbit, had hairy toes. == Bilbo (a hobbit) had hairy toes. (Normal word order)

A hobbit, Bilbo had hairy toes. == (A hobbit) Bilbo had hairy toes. (Inverted word order)


The meanings of the phrases above are identical. The unusual word order is a literary device and would not be used in normal speech.

So:

Summitt (A tall, striking figure on- and off-court) commands respect wherever she goes. = (A tall, striking figure on- and off-court) Summitt commands respect wherever she goes.


I hope this helps.