Macmillan Holdings, LLC. Grammar Girl, Grammar Girl's, QDnow, and Quick and Dirty Tips are all trademarks of Macmillan Holdings, LLC. Can you start a sentence “As a copy editor, ...”? Leslie Cook grammar I understand that the "as" phrase serves as a modifier, but "as" is still a preposition. Why would you put a comma after the introductory phrase if it has only one preposition? http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/as-like-at-beginning.aspx?commentid=16161#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/as-like-at-beginning.aspx?commentid=16161#Comments Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:25:57 GMT Andy grammar "This is a very common error that I, as a copy editor, see." I'd go with that too Maria... http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/as-like-at-beginning.aspx?commentid=14681#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/as-like-at-beginning.aspx?commentid=14681#Comments Sun, 09 Nov 2008 17:43:02 GMT aardvark grammar Hi RPMason, "As a copy editor" cannot be a non-restrictive clause because it is a phrase. A clause has a subject and a predicate. Ms. Trenga is correct when she writes, I as a copy editor see many..." Now, I as an aarvark do find grammar to be so challenging. http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/as-like-at-beginning.aspx?commentid=14357#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/as-like-at-beginning.aspx?commentid=14357#Comments Wed, 15 Oct 2008 04:38:39 GMT johnnie grammar "I have to tell you he is a decent person that you do not have to be scared [sic] as President of the United States." John McCain, October 10, 2008 (Search Youtube for "McCain Tries to Tame Flames He Earlier Fanned"). Isn't that a misplaced modifier implying that Presidents need not be afraid of Obama? If so, I think I've understood this grammar lesson. http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/as-like-at-beginning.aspx?commentid=14344#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/as-like-at-beginning.aspx?commentid=14344#Comments Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:56:05 GMT Tonia grammar As an unofficial member of the Grammar Police, I *heart* Grammar Girl and her guests! http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/as-like-at-beginning.aspx?commentid=14305#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/as-like-at-beginning.aspx?commentid=14305#Comments Fri, 10 Oct 2008 23:21:56 GMT MLRebecca grammar As a former English teacher, I really enjoy this post. ;) I am a stickler when it comes to grammar, and the misuse of "like" sends shivers down my spine. Thanks for posting! http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/as-like-at-beginning.aspx?commentid=14304#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/as-like-at-beginning.aspx?commentid=14304#Comments Fri, 10 Oct 2008 21:57:46 GMT rpmason grammar When I read the title, I read 'modifying' as a synonym for 'changing'. :-) Maria. I'd consider 'as a copyeditor' a non-restrictive clause, which should be set apart with commas. I can see an argument that it is restrictive, as in 'if I weren't a copyeditor I wouldn't see...' Kim, I like your rewrite. http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/as-like-at-beginning.aspx?commentid=14296#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/as-like-at-beginning.aspx?commentid=14296#Comments Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:01:15 GMT Maria grammar I picked up on the same point that Kim Siever did. My feeling is that in that sentence "as a copy editor" should have been inside parenthetical commas. The sentence would thus read "This is a very common error that I, as a copy editor, see". Would this be correct? http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/as-like-at-beginning.aspx?commentid=14293#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/as-like-at-beginning.aspx?commentid=14293#Comments Fri, 10 Oct 2008 12:29:21 GMT Kim Siever grammar "This is a very common error that I as a copy editor see." I thought we aren't supposed to split subjects and their direct verbs. Shouldn't this be: This is a very common error that I see as a copy editor? http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/as-like-at-beginning.aspx?commentid=14292#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/as-like-at-beginning.aspx?commentid=14292#Comments Fri, 10 Oct 2008 11:40:37 GMT Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:25:57 GMT http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/as-like-at-beginning.aspx feedback@quickanddirtytips.com (Managing Editor) feedback@quickanddirtytips.com (Webmaster) en-us