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February 09, 2008

A Horse Is a Horse, Of Course, Of Course

Of course there are phrases that need to be set off by commas. However, "of course" isn’t necessarily one of them (out of neglect or habit writers often add the comma no matter what).

If you intend "of course" to mean “by the way” or “as a matter of fact,” use a comma, as when Rudyard Kipling said “words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind.”

Skip the comma if you intend "of course" to act as an emphatic. “Of course I’ve played outdoor games,” Oscar Wilde told a friend. “I once played dominoes in an open-air cafe in Paris!”


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  • When I started to send out a weekly writing tip to my Chicago colleagues at Edelman (the world's largest privately owned PR firm), little did I know how quickly the list of those receiving it would grow. But word spread, as word is wont to do, and for the past three years about 1,500 of my 2,400 colleagues worldwide have been receiving it. The tips, which are about grammar, usage and style, have a dual purpose – to remind my colleagues in public relations of the power of the written word (I’m lucky to work for a company that not only prizes, but expects, expert communications skills), and, more generally, to support and perpetuate clear, concise, creative, honest, lively, stylish, compelling writing everywhere. With “Word Wise,” I hope you’ll challenge me, challenge other readers, make suggestions, argue minutiae, add commentary, exchange ideas, and help all of us become the best writers we can be.