It doesn't need a comma!

[aidenfire]

So, a lot of people on my flist have been complaining about the GoF poster's comma issues. I looked at it, and thought,

The text reads:

"Difficult times lie ahead Harry"

When I first saw it, it was on a link from a flister who'd complained about the comma-lack. I thought the structure was a little awkward, and there shouldn't be quote marks, but other than that, there was no place to put a comma. I read it as a simple statement of fact--a rephrase might have been "Harry's going to be in some tough shit soon"--and I couldn't figure out why everyone was making a comma kerfluffle. I didn't want to say anything and look dumb, but really, I didn't see it. Then, I realized that, because of the quotation marks, people were reading it as someone talking TO Harry. Their rephrase might have been "Harry, you're going to have to deal with some tough shit soon." In that case, it definitely would have needed a comma. And true, the quote marks are pretty bad form. But I think that was the mistake, not the comma. I don't think the poster-makers are actually quoting a different character. I think it's akin to "Something Wicked This Way Comes" from PoA. They just messed up on the quote marks. So, let's hit them over the head about that, ok?



Ahh, my grammar rant for the day.

ETA: Hmm, I just watched the trailor, so yeah, we can just ignore that completly. Whoops! I guess I should have kept my mouth shut and not looked dumb like I did at the beginning.

Comments

[ashkitty.livejournal.com]

I don't really understand how it would not be talking to Harry? Perhaps if it said "Difficult times lie ahead for Harry"...out of curiosity, then, where are you putting the accent on or something? How are you saying it? I'm not getting it.

[aidenfire]

Umm, pretty flat, with very little inflection. Argh, I'm not sure how to describe it. Umm, think that there is a road? With a sign saying difficult times? And Harry's walking down it? No, that doesn't work. It's the times that are lying ahead, if that helps. Umm. Let me know if that still doesn't clear things up and I'll phonepost

[ashkitty.livejournal.com]

I'm not catching it, really, at all. Sorry.

[lazy-daze.livejournal.com]

Even if it is not directly to Harry, which I personally diagree with :>, the structure is hella clumsy and weird. It *really* needs an of or for if that's what it's saying, and missing that out's almost as bad as the comma if it is directed at Harry. In ANY case, someone at WB needs a thwapping :P

[aidenfire]

Yes, definitely a thwapping! Geez. No matter which way, it's just BAD.

And, apparently I was wrong and it is from a character--have you seen the trailor?

[heartofslash.livejournal.com]

A comma is absolutely essential between the 'ahead' and the 'Harry". It is a remark being directed at Harry, the comma is required to separate to whom the remark is bieng addressed from the remark.

If a character says it, it requires the quotation marks as well. If it isn't a direct quote from the movie (or at least the script) and is a comment from, oh I don't know who, I suppose it could be the ad company, then the quotation marks would not be required.

If that's the case, it's one of the most dumb-ass tag lines I've ever seen. I hope it's a direct quote.

[aidenfire]

Well, I watched the trailor, and yeah, it is from a character. Whoops! *feels dumb*

[silver-osiris.livejournal.com]

Oh god that pissed me off so much when I saw it. I was like it's a comma people...COME ON. It's not that hard to add.

[aidenfire]

I know. Geeeeeeez.

[tastes-of-ink.livejournal.com]

They're speech marks. Dumbledore says it to him in the trailer. And generally, in speech, if the person who is being addressed is mentioned, like Harry, then there is usually a comma before the name, because the sentence can work with or without it, like
"Difficult times lie ahead,"
or
"Difficult times lie ahead, Harry"
since 'Harry' can be taken out of the sentence and it would still make sense, the name is like an afterthought to the sentence.

If any of that made sense. But I didn't totally spaz out when I saw there was no comma. Meh.

[aidenfire]

Yeah, I figured that out after I watched the trailor. Whoops. *feels REAL fucking dumb*

[pufftmg.livejournal.com]

heh. seriously, that's too funny.

Not you trying to defend their cock-up but the initial cock-up itself.

What is that; the first rule for grammar? silly poster designers.

[aidenfire]

Hah, yeah.