Comma plus dash. Dash before "this": what is correct? Comma before dash in what cases

Section 64.1

When “meeting” inside a sentence, a comma and a dash are first placed comma, and then dash: The history of discoveries, inventions, the history of technology that makes life and work easier for people - this, in fact, is the history of culture.(M.G.); It's not water splashing, you can't fool me, it's his long oars(L.).

In most cases, each of these two punctuation marks is placed on its own basis: Alas! My casket, a silver-rimmed saber, a Dagestan dagger, a gift from a friend - everything has disappeared.(L.) - a comma closes a separate application, a dash is placed before the generalizing word after listing the homogeneous members of the sentence; His gait was careless and lazy, but I noticed that he did not wave his arms, the first sign of a certain secretiveness of character.(L.) - a comma closes the subordinate part of a complex sentence, a dash is placed before a kind of appendix to the previous words, has an attaching connotation; I replied that the flies bothered me - and we both fell silent(L.) - a comma closes the subordinate part, a dash is placed before the part of the sentence expressing the consequence.

staging dash as an additional character may depend on the context. Wed: All sorts of items were laid out on the table: books, writing materials, geographical maps, a box whose purpose no one knew - the subordinate clause of a complex sentence refers to the last homogeneous member and is thus included in the enumeration, no additional sign is required; All sorts of objects were laid out on the table: books, writing materials, geographical maps - which the owner, apparently, had not used for a long time - the dash is needed to show that the subordinate clause refers to all homogeneous members, more precisely, to the generalizing word.

Section 64.2

About the production comma and dash as a single sign in a complex sentence, see § 40, in a non-union complex sentence - § 46, in a period - section 13. See also: § 25, paragraph 10; § 26; § 32, approx. one; § 43 para. 3; § 45 para. 9; § 48 - 50.

§ 65. Question and exclamation marks

When "meeting" question and exclamation marks, first put question mark, as the main characterizing the sentence for the purpose of the statement, and then - in exclamatory, as an intonation mark: Is it really possible to talk about a loved one like that?!

§ 66. Quotation marks and other signs

Section 66.1

A period, comma, semicolon, colon, and dash are not placed before closing quotes (all of these characters can only appear after quotes): Some voted "for", others "against", but the former were in the majority; I've had enough of your "buts", I'm fed up with them; To erase all the "white spots" on the map - that's what geographers have always dreamed of.(See also § 47, 48 and 54.)

Section 66.2

Section 66.3

If there is a question or exclamation mark before the closing quotes, then a comma after the quotes is placed only as required by the context: He often set himself such a familiar question "who to be?", But he never found an answer for himself; Calling slogans appeared on the sides of combat vehicles: "For the Motherland"(gas.).

Section 66.4

If there is a question or exclamation mark before the closing quotes, then it is not repeated after the quotes: Have you read the novel "What to do?".

Different characters, if they are required by the context, are placed before and after the closing quotes:

I am reading the novel by A. I. Herzen “Who is to blame?”.

Which poem by M. Yu. Lermontov contains the words: “I love the Fatherland, but with a strange love!”?

A dot is placed after closing quotation marks if it is used before them as a sign denoting an abbreviation of a word: The ad said:

“Country furniture appeared on sale: tables, chairs, sofas, etc.”

Section 66.5

If at the beginning or at the end of the text (direct speech, quotes) there are internal and external quotes, then they should differ in pattern (“Christmas trees” and “paws”): The author of the article points out that “the golden fund of world literature includes such works of Russian classics as War and Peace.”

If there is a question mark or an exclamation mark between the inner and outer quotes, quotes of the same pattern can be used: The outstanding publicistic work of A. M. Gorky is the article “Who are you with,“ masters of culture ”?”.

Section 66.6

If a sentence or phrase enclosed in quotation marks should have ended with a comma, but the continuation of the text follows, then the comma is not placed either before or after the closing quotation marks: The verses “You know the land where everything breathes in abundance” are familiar to us from childhood; But now the time has come when the “old man obsessed with drawing” could no longer hold a brush in his hand.

However, the comma is not omitted before the opening quotes: Remember, "how good, how fresh the roses were."

§ 67. Parentheses and other signs

Section 67.1

There is no comma, semicolon, colon, or dash before the opening or closing parenthesis; all these characters are placed only after the closing bracket (except in the case specified in § 26): Ovsyanikov adhered to ancient customs not out of superstition (the soul in him was quite free), but out of habit(T.); Rudin ... so determined that he himself tells Natalya about his love (even though he does not speak out of good will, but because he is forced to this conversation); he asks her for a date(Black); He had three daughters (he even called them that on purpose): Faith Hope Love; This whole area (this was recently established by scientists) - the bottom of the sea in the past.

Section 67.2

A period, question and exclamation marks are placed before the closing bracket if they refer to words enclosed in brackets (see author's remarks in plays, plug-in constructions): Farewell, sister! (He kisses Varvara.) Farewell, Glasha! (He kisses Glasha.) Farewell, mother! (Bows.)(Sharp); And how cozy and unique I recalled quiet evenings in our winter quarters, when we used to be six men, smoking pipes, sitting in a warm wardroom (and it's cold outside, blizzard, brr!) and we scratch our tongues and laugh(Hump.).

Section 67.3

The closing bracket is followed by a punctuation mark required by the context, regardless of which character comes before the closing bracket: Not only there are no songs, where did the dream go (he also recognized insomnia!); everything is suspicious, and everything worries him(Cr.).

(For putting a full stop after the closing parenthesis, if the parenthesis refers to the author and the source of the quotation, see § 56, paragraph 1.)

Section 67.4

When “meeting” at the end of a sentence, internal and external brackets, brackets of different patterns are allowed - round and square (cf. the use of quotation marks of different patterns, § 66, paragraph 5).

Section 67.5

Remarks in transcripts of speeches and reports are enclosed in brackets; a dot is placed before the closing bracket at the end of the remark (cf. p. 2); the dot, question mark, and exclamation mark before the opening parenthesis are preserved: This concludes my post. (Applause.); Can't we overcome these difficulties? (Unrest in the hall.); I believe in the future of Russia! (Everyone gets up. Applause.).

Editorial notes are also included: Published in order of discussion. (Edition.)

§ 68. Ellipsis and other signs

Section 68.1

After a question or exclamation mark, not three dots are put (the usual type of ellipsis), but two (the third dot is under one of the named signs): How much more to live in the world? ..(TV); How did you play yesterday?(Sharp)

Section 68.2

When an ellipsis meets a comma, the latter is absorbed by an ellipsis, which indicates not only the omission of words, but also the omission of a punctuation mark: His wife ... however, they were completely pleased with each other(G.).

§ 69. Location of punctuation marks in a footnote

Section 69.1

Comma, semicolon, colon And dot are placed after the footnote sign to show that the footnote refers to a word or group of words:

…cm. below1, ...next":

Section 69.2

Question and exclamation marks, ellipsis and quotation marks are placed before the footnote sign to show that the footnote refers to the entire sentence:

…isn't it?1to eternity…*

it will be so!"Taman".

Good afternoon! Please explain how the word "snowless" is formed (prefixed or prefixed-suffixal). Since the opinions of colleagues differed, could you answer this question in more detail so that both sides could eventually reach a consensus. Many thanks.

It is impossible to give an unambiguous answer to this question. Some word-formation experts believe that words like snowless(cf., for example: insomniac, powerless, heartless, uninteresting) motivated by cognate nouns. Snowless- it is devoid of snow, the method of formation is prefixed-suffixal. This point of view was reflected in I. A. Shirshov’s Explanatory Derivative Dictionary of the Russian Language (Moscow, 2004).

According to another scientific approach, such words have a double motivation: they are formed both from nouns (in the prefix-suffix way) and from non-prefixed adjectives (in the prefix way): snowless from snow, how uninteresting and synonymous adjective uninteresting from interesting. This approach is implemented, for example, in the reference dictionary by A. N. Tikhonov and L. N. Berkovich “All the difficulties of Russian word formation” (M., 2010).

Question #269731
Dear Help Desk! I have already been tormented by people who claim that there is no form of the word “we will”. Please clarify the situation!

The answer of the reference service of the Russian language

There is such a form, although it is replaced by combinations with the word let's: let's be friends let's be friends. Here is what Russian Grammar (1980) says:

§ . Joint action forms are plural forms. hours; the urge denoted by them always refers to two or more persons: to the interlocutor (or interlocutors, a group of persons including the interlocutor) and to the speaker himself. The value will command. incl. for these forms is expressed using a postfix - those, attached: 1) in the verbs of owls. form and for verbs of unidirectional movement - to the form of 1 l. pl. h. will express. inc.: let's go, let's go, let's go, fly, let's sail; Guys! Not Moscow eh behind us? Die well under Moscow(Lerm.); BUT, however, become-ka better tea drink(Turg.); 2) in the verbs of nons. form (except for verbs of unidirectional movement) - to the particle let's connecting with the infinitive of this verb: Let's sing, Let's play; Let's, – I say, – affectionate, in blind man's buff on clearing run(Lesk.). Particle let's(those) is also used in the forms of joint action of verbs owls. type: let's(those) write; let's(those) let's play; calling me glance And cry their AND say wants: Let's let's fly away! (Pushk.). Of the possible doublet formations of the type feedLet's feed, let's playLet's let's play more common combinations with a particle let's(those).

In shapes formed with a particle let's, postfix - those usually attached to this particle, but in the open. speech, it is possible to attach a postfix to both the particle and the form of the verb at the same time: Let's write And Let's let's write; Let's, you know, | arrange carousel | on the tree study of good And evil! (Lighthouse.).

In the event that there is no postfix in the forms of joint action - those(mandatory when politely addressed), these forms: 1) coincide with the forms of bud. temp. simple (for verbs of an owl type: let's go, say goodbye, let's play) and present. temp. (for verbs of non-sov. v. unidirectional movement: let's go, run, we fly); 2) coincide with the forms of bud. temp. complex (for verbs of non-native form: we will play, we will walk); 3) are formed by a combination of particles let's with the infinitive of the verb nes. type, denoting the joint action of the speaker and the interlocutor: let's play. Forms of synergy type we will play rarely used; more common analytical form with a particle let's(those) and the infinitive of the verb nes. type: let's(those) play, let's(those) walk.

If the forms of joint action coincide with the forms of 1 l. pl. h. bud. temp. simple or bud. temp. the complex first are characterized as forms of commands. incl. based on the speech situation and intonation, correlating these forms with forms of joint action such as let's go, let's play, let's be play: (Lvov) Here now And think: understand you myself or No? blunt, besseriferous people! (Beret Ivanova behind hand). Let's go to from here, Nicholas! Father, let's go to! (Czech.). Coincidence of forms of joint action ch. owls. and nesov. kind of type let's go to, let's play, we will play with bud forms. temp. of these verbs explains the use of combinations with a particle let's(those), common for owl verbs. kind ( let's(those) let's go to And Let's let's go) and grammatically possible, but rare, for nes verbs. kind ( let's(those) we will play And Let's let's be play).

Question #260574
The host of the program of one of the TV channels corrected the interlocutor: it is necessary to say “started”, and not “started”. Is it correct?

The answer of the reference service of the Russian language

Both pronunciations are wrong, correct: started I .

The common formulation of the punctuation rule “this is always preceded by a dash” is both true and false. The fact is that in this version the rule covers only a part of the cases of the use of this word. It is understood that the “dash” sign before this word is always, without exception, necessary if we are talking about a connection between the subject and the predicate, while in other cases other algorithms and rules may apply.

Dash in original constructions

As you know, one of the main situations when it is necessary to put a dash is in sentences, the basis of which is expressed by a noun, numeral or infinitive, in which a sign is placed between the subject and the predicate:

A jigsaw is a tool that even a woman can easily master.(The sign is placed between expressed nouns.)

Late spring is the time of love, hopes and expectations.

School is a time for self-determination and personality formation.

Dash in the same constructions containing a connective

Often, unsuccessful formulations of elementary school methodologists provoke errors in sentences where the predicate is accompanied by a copula. Everywhere, younger schoolchildren are explained that “a dash is placed instead of (!) The word “this””. This wording works as a tool when placing signs in sentences without a link, but it is misleading if you need to put a sign in a sentence with this link. The fact is that from the “hint” thus formulated, it logically follows that if the dash is placed “instead of” the word, it means that when it is in the sentence, there is no need for a sign. Many schoolchildren form a persistent stereotype that leads to persistent errors: dashes are not put in sentences with a bunch.

After or single participle

In addition, the sign is erroneously placed after the participle or there are no logical reasons for such a sign, apparently, the writer is in the grip of the same stereotype, transferred from special cases to all others: “a dash is put before “this”.

Formed gradually, this decision grew stronger and stronger, and finally was accepted.

Being unattainable, this journey so absorbed his thoughts that he could not think of anything else.

Having scattered across the meadow, this herd of children released into the wild did not hear or see anything but the sun, strawberries and butterflies.

As in the case described above, a sentence with a link before a predicate, a pronounced noun, a numeral or an infinitive and a complicated adverbial turnover should be distinguished from such a construction. In such sentences, two signs are placed before the link following a single participle or turnover:

Leaving forever, mentally looking back at the past years, is a true test.(The dash is there for the same reason it is needed in the sentence " Leaving forever is a true test". A comma before a dash is needed as a closing one in a participial turnover.)

Watching children learn to live by playing and quarreling with each other and copying the behavior of their parents is not only a pleasure and an interesting activity, but also an occasion to reflect on oneself. If we reduce the sentence by excluding the adverbial and adverbial phrase from its composition, then the logic of the appearance of the dash is obvious: “ Watching children is not only a pleasure and an interesting activity, but also an occasion to think about yourself.". A comma before this sign closes the adverbial turnover, and in case of its exclusion - a subordinate clause.

So, whether a dash is placed before “this”, if it is not about, almost completely depends on what part of speech and what kind of this word is being discussed.

Punctuation

Dash

§ 164. A dash is placed between the subject and the predicate expressed by the noun in the nominative case (without a link). This rule is most often applied when the predicate defines the concept expressed by the subject, for example:

    Oak is a tree.
    Optics is a branch of physics.
    Moscow, Leningrad, Kyiv, Baku are the largest cities of the USSR.
    The elder brother is my teacher.
    My older brother is a teacher.

Note 1. If a predicate expressed by a noun in the nominative case is preceded by a negation not , then the dash is not put, for example:

    Poverty is not a vice.

Note 2. In an interrogative sentence with a main member expressed by a pronoun, a dash is not placed between the main members, for example:

    Who is your father?

§ 165. A dash is placed between the subject and the predicate if the subject is expressed in the nominative form of the noun and the predicate is in the indefinite form, or if both of them are expressed in the indefinite form, for example:

    The purpose of each person is to develop in himself everything human, common and enjoy it.

    Belinsky


    To live life is not a field to cross.

§ 166. A dash is placed before this, this is, this means, here , if the predicate, expressed by a noun in the nominative case or an indefinite form, is attached through these words to the subject, for example:

    Communism is Soviet power plus the electrification of the whole country.

    Lenin


    Poetry is the fiery gaze of a young man, seething with excess strength.

    Belinsky


    Romanticism is the first word that announced the Pushkin period; nationality is the alpha and omega of the new period.

    Belinsky

Section 167. A dash is placed before the generalizing word after the enumeration, for example:

    Hope and swimmer - the whole sea swallowed.

    Krylov


    Neither the cries of a rooster, nor the sonorous rumble of horns, nor the chirping of early swallows on the roof - nothing will call the deceased from the coffins.

    Zhukovsky

§ 168. A dash is placed before an application at the end of a sentence:

1. If you can insert it before the application without changing the meaning namely , for example:

    I don't like this tree too much - aspen.

    Turgenev


    In relations with outsiders, he demanded one thing - the preservation of decency.

    Herzen


    Paying tribute to his time, Mr. Goncharov also brought out an antidote to Oblomov - Stolz.

    Dobrolyubov

2. If the application has explanatory words and it is necessary to emphasize the shade of independence of such an application, for example:

    I had a cast-iron teapot with me - my only consolation in traveling around the Caucasus.

    Lermontov

§ 169. A dash is placed between two predicates and between two independent sentences if the second of them contains an unexpected attachment or sharp opposition to the first, for example:

    I went out, not wanting to offend him, to the terrace - and was stunned.

    Herzen


    I'm in a hurry to go there - and there is already the whole city.

    Pushkin


    I wanted to travel the whole world - and did not travel a hundredth.

    Griboyedov


    I wanted to draw - the brushes fell out of my hands. Tried to read - his eyes glided over the lines.

    Lermontov

Note 1. To enhance the shade of surprise, a dash can be placed after coordinating conjunctions linking two parts of one sentence, for example:

    Ask for a calculation on Saturday and march to the village.

    M. Gorky


    I really want to go there to meet them, but I'm afraid.

    M. Gorky

Note 2. To express surprise, any part of the sentence can be separated by a dash, for example:

    And they threw the pike into the river.

    Krylov


    And ate the poor singer - to the crumbs.

    Krylov

§ 170. A dash is placed between two sentences and between two homogeneous members of a sentence, connected without the help of unions, to express a sharp contrast, for example:

    I am a king - I am a slave, I am a worm - I am a god.

    Derzhavin


    It’s no wonder to cut off your head - it’s smart to put it on.

    Proverb


    Here they do not live - paradise.

    Krylov

§ 171. A dash is placed between sentences not connected by conjunctions if the second sentence contains a result or conclusion from what is said in the first, for example:

    Praises are tempting - how not to desire them?

    Krylov


    The sun has risen and the day has begun.

    Nekrasov

§ 172. A dash is placed between two sentences if they are connected in meaning as a subordinate clause (in the first place) with the main clause (in the second place), but there are no subordinating conjunctions, for example:

    Gruzdev called himself get in the body.
    They cut the forest - the chips fly.
    You yourself are entangled - and unravel yourself; knew how to brew porridge - know how to disentangle it; if you like to ride - love to carry sleds.

    Saltykov-Shchedrin

§ 173. A dash is placed to indicate the place where a simple sentence splits into two word groups, if this cannot be expressed with other punctuation marks or word order, for example:

    I ask you: do the workers need to be paid?

    Chekhov

Such a split is often observed when some part of the sentence is omitted (why the dash in this case is called elliptical), for example:

    Pustoroslev for faithful service - Chizhov's estate, and Chizhov - to Siberia forever.

    A. N. Tolstoy


    We sat down - in ashes, hailstones - in dust, in swords - sickles and plows.

    Zhukovsky


    Everything is obedient to me, but I am nothing.

    § 175. A dash is placed as an additional decimal point before a word that is repeated in order to connect a new sentence with it (more often a subordinate, reinforcing, supplementing or developing the main clause) or a further part of the same sentence, for example:

      I knew very well that it was my husband, not some new, unknown person, but a good person, my husband, whom I knew as myself.

      L. Tolstoy


      Now, as a judicial investigator, Ivan Ilyich felt that without exception, the most important, self-satisfied people, everything was in his hands.

      L. Tolstoy

    § 176. A dash is placed as an additional sign after a comma, which separates the main clause from the group of subordinate clauses preceding it, if it is necessary to emphasize the splitting of a single whole into two parts, for example:

      Who is to blame among them, who is right, is not for us to judge.

      Krylov


      Whether Stoltz did anything for this, what he did and how he did it, we do not know.

      Dobrolyubov

    § 177. A dash is used as an additional decimal point to indicate a transition from an increase to a decrease in a period, for example:

      Oh if it's true that in the night
      When the living rest
      And moonbeams from the sky
      Gliding on gravestones,
      Oh if it's true, what then
      Quiet graves empty,
      I call the shadow, I'm waiting for Leila:
      To me, my friend, here, here!

      Pushkin

      In the 1800s, at a time when there were no railroads or highways, no gas or stearin light, no spring sofas, no unlacquered furniture, no frustrated young men with glass, no liberal female philosophers, nor the lovely ladies-camellias, of which there are so many divorced in our time - in those naive times, when from Moscow, leaving for St. and believed in fire cutlets, Valdai bells and bagels - when tallow candles burned on long autumn evenings, illuminating family circles of twenty and thirty people, wax and spermaceti candles were inserted into candelabra at balls, when furniture was placed symmetrically, when our fathers were they were still young not only because of the absence of wrinkles and gray hair, but they shot for women and from the other corner of the room rushed to pick up accidentally and not accidentally dropped handkerchiefs, our mothers wore short waists and huge sleeves and solved family affairs by taking out tickets when the lovely camellia ladies hid from the daylight - in the naive times of the Masonic lodges, Martinists, Tugendbund, in the times of the Miloradovichs, Davydovs, Pushkins - in the provincial town of K. there was a congress of landowners, and ended nobility elections.

      L. Tolstoy

    Section 178. A dash is placed between two words to indicate spatial, temporal or quantitative limits (in this case, the dash replaces the meaning of the word "from ... to"), for example:

      Flights USSR - America.
      Manuscripts XI - XIV centuries.

    § 179. A dash is placed between two or more proper names, the totality of which is called any doctrine, scientific institution, etc., for example:

      Boyle's physical law - Mariotte.

The current rules provide for the use comma and dash as a single punctuation mark in three cases:

1) before the main part of a complex sentence, preceded by a series of homogeneous subordinate clauses, to emphasize the splitting of a single whole into two parts;

2) before a word that is repeated in order to connect with it the further part of the same sentence;

3) in a period to indicate the transition from an increase to a decrease.

However, in practice, setting the comma and dash as a single punctuation mark is not limited to these cases (some examples were given in § 40) .


1. Comma and dash often placed before a non-union connecting sentence that begins with a pronominal word is: the Russian intelligentsia grew and developed in absolutely brutal conditions - this is undeniable(M.G.); Edgar Allan Poe is considered an excellent master of form, an original artist - this is indisputable(M.G.); A cultured person is created slowly, with great difficulty, -about itconvincingly tells us the whole difficult history of ... culture(M.G.); If you find writing disgusting, boring, don't write - it will still turn out bad, false(A.T.); At such a time it is necessary to speak rudely and directly - this is smarter and more honest in front of our children.(Leon.); The wide entrance was completely empty - it seemed strange to me(Kav.); They not only do not want him to leave, but, on the contrary, would be very upset by separation from him - this is quite obvious; Some believe that in order to become a good singer, it is enough to have natural gifts - this is a fatal mistake; He was talking about some secret - it was a bad omen for me.

The same before the word here: A woman will throw herself into the pool with her head from love, - here is an actress(Sharp).


2. Comma and dash are placed between two parts of an asyndetic complex sentence, of which the second is of an interconnective nature with various additional shades of meaning (explanatory, temporary, conditional-investigative, etc.); often this part begins with pronominal words that, yes, such etc. : But let's go out into the field with you - you would soon ask me for a drink(TV); Sitanov is friendly to me, -thisI am indebted to my thick notebook in which verses are written(M.G.); The bottom board was smeared with cow dung and watered three times in the cold, -thereaftershe was like a mirror(A.T.); She was sitting nearby on a bench under a rickety wooden mushroom, - suchmade in sentry camps(Paust.); It means that it was not Rodion - that one from any abyss would have responded to her(Leon.); All the objects around were distinct and exaggeratedly real, the way it happens when you do not sleep all night.(Sh.).


3. Comma and dash are put to indicate a "break" of the original construction, to indicate, "on the one hand, the dismemberment of the sentence, and on the other hand, that the part that follows this punctuation mark makes a structural turn from the previous part under some, larger or smaller, "angle" : The room was filled with the noise of chairs being pushed back, the flame of a match flared in the corner, illuminating a hand with long fingers, some young lady clucked like a frightened chicken - Samghin was pleased with the confusion caused by his words(M.G.); Marya sat down on the grass, put Mishka's head on her knees - his head hung down, he was so thin(A.T.); At least I know that Volodya Osmukhin and Tolya Orlov remained in Krasnodon - will they sit idly by?(F.); This solidly furnished long room, paneled in oak, so calm, friendly, the room where more than half of his working life has passed - why did he forget about it ?; Something extraordinary is constantly happening to him: either he gets into a street accident, or he almost drowns in a shallow river, or he almost dies of a heart attack - which is not important; There was nothing I could do to help him—what was the point of coming? It seemed to me that I already understood everything, I know - nothing of the sort!; Be that as it may, he could not resist the temptation - who among us is without sin?

Wed also non-union complex sentences in which it is possible to set between parts colons:This feeling was joined by dreary envy, - (:) how nice it would be to have Kutuzov’s rude insolence, to say to people’s faces what you think about them(M.G.); He was about to moan, but much easier than the first time, and soon nature took its toll, - (:) the next day he went for a walk as if nothing had happened and began to go to theaters(Tyn.); Take my advice, the advice of an old friend - (:) do not go there.