Commas, too.

[NotWise]

I was taught in grade school that when I ended a sentence with "too" or "also," it was separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma, as in "I have a question, too." I think the same thing goes for a few other words, like "either," for instance.

Is that still proper comma usage?

 

[Kumquatqueen]

I'd argue that with a comma, it's saying you have a question as well as something else (like a comment or opinion?)
Without a comma, you'd be comparing yourself to someone else - they have a question, you have a question too - but a comma wouldn't be wrong there, especially in speech.

So generally it wouldn't be incorrect. It does sound a bit childish and American to my ear - the standards I grew up with tended to reduce comma usage.

 

[LexxRuthless]

I use Word 2003, and it shows the comma is optional when I type in your example "I have a question, too." Not to say that version of that word processor is an expert that I'd lean on, but in this case, it was what I would have said. I figured I'd crunch it through that program first just to double check. I understand newer versions of Word often suggest commas in places where you definitely DON'T need them. When ending a sentence with a separatable phrase like "as well" or even something more elaborate like "if you don't mind" I would typically use a comma. With a single word, "too" or "also" for instance, I usually sound it out in my head to figure out if I would pause there when saying it out loud.

 

[lexdepenny]

2003! Hat off!

I regularly regret that I didn’t hang on to Word 2003, from the time before some clever little so-and-so at MS decided to add the bells and whistles that can be so annoying. Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should…
I also had some things I wrote using 2003 that I can no longer open, which is deeply frustrating.

I know, grumpy old man…

 

[oggbashan]

Every time I use Grammarly, it suggests many more commas than I would normally use. I tend to ignore about a half.

 

[MrPixel]

I do both. My rule of thumb is replicating the speech pattern if it's dialog. For narrative, it depends on what my thought-to-speech engine indicates. Too.

 

[comegently]

I do both. My rule of thumb is replicating the speech pattern if it's dialog. For narrative, it depends on what my thought-to-speech engine indicates. Too.

Yes I think the same.

There's a difference between "I have a question, too" and "I have a question too" depending on which word is stressed.

If the stress is on "I" then I'd omit the comma.

If the stress is on "question" or "too" then I'd include the comma.

 

[ElectricBlue]

I'd err on the side of the comma, too.

I'd also err on the side of the comma.

Someone will explain a subtlety of slightly different meanings, I'm sure, but I don't see one in these alternatives.

 

[KeithD]

It's optional now. It's true, as Ogg suggests, that publishing generally favors commas wherever it makes the wording crystal clear for the reading, but even publishing is becoming more relaxed about the need for commas.

 

[SimonDoom]

According to the Chicago Manual of Style, section 6.52, no comma is needed. It gives this example:

I had my cake and ate it too.

Same thing with "either."

 

[Comshaw]

I was taught in grade school that when I ended a sentence with "too" or "also," it was separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma, as in "I have a question, too." I think the same thing goes for a few other words, like "either," for instance.

Is that still proper comma usage?

I am no expert and never claimed to be. Over the years though, I've adopted a couple of rules I've learned for my use of commas. That said, please take this as I intend it, only as my opinion on your question.

If it is needed to clarify a passage, IE:
It's time to eat, Sarah.
It's time to eat Sarah.
(As a dirty old man, I prefer to imagine the second instance. )

Or as a teacher once told me, "If you would briefly pause while speaking the passage, a comma probably should be used."

There are other rules that many will insist should be applied, like the useless and completely unneeded Oxford comma. But I digress.

I'd use a comma in your example because, when spoken, for me, it calls for a brief pause.

My 2 pence worth.

Comshaw

 

[gordo12]

I was taught in grade school that when I ended a sentence with "too" or "also," it was separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma, as in "I have a question, too." I think the same thing goes for a few other words, like "either," for instance.

Is that still proper comma usage?

Grammarly was indifferent as to whether you did or didn't. I ran too and either through.

 

[Lifestyle66]

I was taught in grade school that when I ended a sentence with "too" or "also," it was separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma, as in "I have a question, too." I think the same thing goes for a few other words, like "either," for instance.

Is that still proper comma usage?

I was taught the same about comma use preceding "too" at the end of a sentence. It's one of the few things I remember from English classes, as those were not my strong suit.

I merely write as I think, then using MS Word 365, I look for all of the blue and red warnings to reconsider those points. Doing so until I remove all of the warnings and suggestions gives me some kind of authoritative review of my grammar.

 

[TxRad]

I use word 2k. All the word programs from Microshaft are meant for business and so are their grammar programs. They don't know a thing about fiction, which is different from their norm. So take anything it tells you with a bucket of salt and a bottle of assburn.

 

[stickygirl]

I've always assumed that 'too' at the end of a sentence is a weaker interruptive implication compared to a mid sentence appearance. If it's an adverbial connector then that's entirely different

Most of the time on Lit I'm simply relieved to see it spelled 'too' and not 'to'.

 

[NotWise]

Thank, folks. I think I'll just use it as I see fit.

 

[nylonpunkie]

I regularly regret that I didn’t hang on to Word 2003, from the time before some clever little so-and-so at MS decided to add the bells and whistles that can be so annoying. Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should…
I also had some things I wrote using 2003 that I can no longer open, which is deeply frustrating.

I know, grumpy old man…

I think you maybe can ~ if you open a modern MS Word you can go into the options/settings and tell it to 'trust' or 'unblock' an older document.

You could also try the WORDPAD program to open older dox?

 

[nylonpunkie]

I use word 2k. All the word programs from Microshaft are meant for business and so are their grammar programs. They don't know a thing about fiction, which is different from their norm. So take anything it tells you with a bucket of salt and a bottle of assburn.

I agree, I'd never use MS Word to write a story. Mine would have red, blue, green underlining all over it. I don't need some Californian nerd designing a program that tells me how to write.

 

[BarracudaSwordfish]

I use Word and I ignore the grammar checker.

But I can't ignore the English lady who does the Read Aloud thing.

OK she might get some colloquialisms wrong, but fuck, does she sound hot?

Oh, and she helps my editing too, honestly.

 

[Comshaw]

I agree, I'd never use MS Word to write a story. Mine would have red, blue, green underlining all over it. I don't need some Californian nerd designing a program that tells me how to write.

Sorry, not "Californian" it's Washingtonian". MS is based in Seattle. I don't want any of those damned down coast yahoo's Californicating the place then already are.


Comshaw

 

[TadOverdon]

I might drop it if the sentence were dialogue. To some degree, I punctuate dialogue as I "hear" it. Does the speaker pause there, or not?

 

[TadOverdon]

Every time I use Grammarly, it suggests many more commas than I would normally use. I tend to ignore about a half.

Same here. I've come to appreciate Grammarly calling my attention to comma use, though. Sometimes I read the sentence through and decide it would be clearer with some of G.'s commas than without.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

I regularly regret that I didn’t hang on to Word 2003, from the time before some clever little so-and-so at MS decided to add the bells and whistles that can be so annoying. Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should…
I also had some things I wrote using 2003 that I can no longer open, which is deeply frustrating.

I know, grumpy old man…

Have you tried Open Office or Libre Office? They shouldn't have any problem opening a Word 2003 document.

I also have found that grammarly really doesn't likes to put commas in places that I would have a stop during speech. I have also found it doesn't like someone who talk and uses words like "really", "As a matter of fact", etc. It also doesn't always want a comma after Of course.

 

[SimonDoom]

I was curious about this one and did more research, and I have yet to find a contemporary authority that recommends "too" in this case. Chicago Manual of Style, which is reasonably authoritative for American fiction, does not. Grammarly does not. My Word 365 editor does not. Benjamin Dreyer, Random House's copyediting chief, in his book Dreyer's English, says to go with whatever sounds better to you. That seems right to me too.

I find the editing tools I use often tell me to insert more commas than I do in my first draft. For instance, I often omit commas in short sentences with two independent clauses joined by "and."

Like

I went to the store and I bought a donut.

If I'm going for a "rushed" feel, I don't want the comma slowing things down.

Most grammar books say one should join the clauses with a comma before "and." But there's some leeway in very short sentences. I go both ways on this one.

 

[NotWise]

Most grammar books say one should join the clauses with a comma before "and." But there's some leeway in very short sentences. I go both ways on this one.

I have at least one instance like that in the story I'm working on now. I might delete it in editing if it comes to my attention again. It's more common for me to forget about the comma between independent clauses.