comma with 'on one hand...on the other': responsibility on one hand,

[bobthebob]

I have a sentence and I'm not sure if it's missing any commas (where the parenthesys are):

"The responsibility of individual actors on one hand(,) and their interests on the other(,) are the causes of conflicts and various compromises."

 

[Nucleara]

That sentence is all correct, I think.
I don't feel it's odd in every part of it.

 

[bobthebob]

That sentence is all correct, I think.

So no commas needed anywhere?

I don't feel it's odd in every part of it.

That's very reassuring, thanks.

Now that I look at it again... could I leave out a "the" right there:
"The responsibility of individual actors on one hand(,) and their interests on the other(,) are the causes of conflicts and various compromises." ?

 

[Nucleara]

So no commas needed anywhere?

Yes, as I think.

Now that I look at it again... could I leave out a "the" right there:
"The responsibility of individual actors on one hand(,) and their interests on the other(,) are the causes of conflicts and various compromises." ?

It sounds a bit odd to me addin 'the' right there.
I'm not sure, though, but I wouldn't add 'the'.

 

[Tiggie7384]

Hi bobthebob,

There is a rule that often says a comma should not come after the word "and", however, there are exceptions to the rule.

I would write your sentence like this:

"The responsibility of individual actors on one hand and their interests on the other are the causes of conflicts and various compromises."

Unfortunately, I am unable to tell you if it is 100% correct, but if I were going to use commas, that is how I would have done it.

Here is a link that you might helpful: http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/commas.asp


With the word "the", if you remove it it changes the meaning of the sentence. In my opinion using the word "the" tells us that these are the two causes, removing it says there may be other causes not listed.

 

[panjandrum]

No commas, OK.
One comma, not OK. I don't understand what function a single comma could have.

Stripping out some unnecessary words.
The responsibility of individual actors and their interests are the causes of conflicts and various compromises.

If you really want to include the bits about hands:
The responsibility of individual actors on one hand and their interests on the other are the causes of conflicts and various compromises.

Two commas, perhaps OK?
The responsibility of individual actors on one hand, and their interests on the other, are the causes of conflicts and various compromises.
But it seems odd to split the subject of the sentence in this way.

 

[e2efour]

It is normal to set off phrases like on the one hand.
So we can either have no commas at all OR

.......actors, on the one hand, and their interests, on the other, are............

No other pattern of commas is possible!

 

[bobthebob]

No commas, OK.

That makes sense to me, too. Just wanted to make sure. Need the hand parts, as well.
I was asking this, because for example in this sentence (which follows the first one) I was told by some native speakers there has to be a comma after "circumstances":

"In such circumstances, science can be neglected and its working can be limited or tainted with unscientific approaches and values."

Now I'm not even so sure anymore. But googling shows that it mostly is used like that. And reading the text with a short pause there feels right. Please let me know if you think it's wrong.

With the word "the", if you remove it it changes the meaning of the sentence. In my opinion using the word "the" tells us that these are the two causes, removing it says there may be other causes not listed.

Indeed. That's settled.

 

[bluegiraffe]

"In such circumstances, science can be neglected and its working can be limited or tainted with unscientific approaches and values."

This comma is needed.

And I'm continuing my one-giraffe campaign to make students realise that Google is not a valid English-learning tool!

 

[bobthebob]

Thanks to everybody!

on the one hand.

Interesting. I just read a thread about it. I'll use "the" then, as it looks more appropriate for formal writing.

 

[e2efour]

The comma is unnecessary in phrases like in some circumstances, although I would not object to one being used.

You have to ask yourself is there any possibility of misunderstanding the sentence without a comma. Clearly the answer is no.

However, [note the comma!] commas are conventionally used with certain phrases (e.g. generally speaking, in the light of these circumstances, in the light of this, against this background). In these circumstances is a borderline case.

Pausing when reading is not a reliable guide for deciding where to put a comma. You can read the sentence equally well by pausing or not pausing after circumstances.

 

[panjandrum]

It is normal to set off phrases like on the one hand.
So we can either have no commas at all OR

.......actors, on the one hand, and their interests, on the other, are............

No other pattern of commas is possible!

I was tempted by four commas
But having been charged with excessive use of commas from time to time, I decided to duck that possibility - this time. Perhaps if I understood the sentence better I might be more comma-enthusiastic.

...
I was asking this, because for example in this sentence (which follows the first one) I was told by some native speakers there has to be a comma after "circumstances":

"In such circumstances, science can be neglected and its working can be limited or tainted with unscientific approaches and values."
...

You will find several punctuation guides in the sticky thread at the top of this forum. At least one of them will tell you that an introductory thingy like this should be set apart from the rest of the sentence with a comma - and that if the introductory thingy is short then the comma is optional.
http://www.informatics.sussex.ac.uk...ation/node13.html#SECTION00044000000000000000