Commas
Q. Prepositional phrases beginning sentences. No longer followed by a comma? Answer »
Q. An author of an article I am copyediting asked me to restore the commas I had deleted in the following sentence: “Most of my nightmares are a process of working out a deeper objectivity about, and unity with, what God would have me do.” I do not mind the two commas in this sentence, although I prefer it without. However, I know the proofreader will object. Can you refer me to a rule I can cite to get either the author or the proofreader to back down? Answer »
Q. I have noticed in e-mails that people who want to be informal begin with “Hi Fred.” I have also seen the salutation as “Hi, Fred.” Since e-mail is an electronic letter, is it OK to simply begin with “Hi Fred,”? The other way seems a bit awkward. Answer »
Q. If you write “In the opening of Raymond Chandler’s 1940 novel Farewell, My Lovely . . . ,” ought there to be a comma after novel, as it was his only novel published that year and so what follows is a nonrestrictive appositive? Or does that seem too clunky? Answer »
Q. I write professional resumes, and I have a question about the use of a comma in a sentence with including. My proofer has begun inserting a comma prior to including followed by a list: “Managed a variety of projects, including joint, combined, and contingency exercises.” Should this comma be omitted? Answer »
Q. Is there a rule that I’ve missed somewhere that says there should always be a comma before the word “then” if “then” is at the end of a sentence? For example: It’s settled, then. Sometimes it sounds fine; other times it seems more like an obstacle to the flow of the sentence. But a rule is a rule, so if you can point me to the correct section in CMOS, I’ll stop turning up my nose at this construction. Answer »
Q. I am having a dispute with a local store regarding their return policy, worded as such: “[Retailers] will refund the purchase price of any previewed, defective or mislabeled products returned within 30 days, provided you have the original receipt.” The retailers claim that since the serial comma is not employed, “previewed” becomes a stipulation of both “defective” and “mislabeled.” Under their interpretation of the policy this is equivalent to saying “any previewed defective or previewed mislabeled products.” This is especially important to me, since I purchased a new, defective product from them. Answer »
Q. When do you use a comma before “because”? I feel that I never need to put a comma before “because” because any information after it is necessary. What are your thoughts? Answer »
Q. When I began learning English grammar from the nuns in or about 1951, I was taught to NEVER use a comma either after or before independent clauses or compound sentences. Did the rules of English grammar and punctuation change while I was in that three-week coma in 1965 or in the years that it took to regain my basic and intellectual functioning before I returned to teaching? Answer »
Q. HELP! I’m arguing with a contract lawyer over this sentence: “The vendor may use the board’s logo on its website and on documents, provided, that such use . . .” I think that the comma after “provided” is wrong, and separates two parts of a single clause. He insists that “with the use of a ‘proviso,’ the second comma is appropriate and correct punctuation.” There are many “provided that” phrases in the document in question, and he wants each of them to be “provided, that.” Am I (a) wrong to think that this comma is incorrect in English? (b) Wrong to think that legal documents are written in English? (c) Not wrong? Answer »
Q. Please, please end a debate I recently had with my European friend over a comma issue as follows: “The Catalan archaeologist, Pere de Palol, started the excavations again.” I feel that it is necessary to delete the commas before and after the name. With them, wouldn’t the sentence imply that there is only one Catalan archaeologist? The text is going to appear on a plaque in a museum. Answer »
Q. Do you perceive any difference in meaning in the following two sentences? (1) Communication patterns must be created so that parallel transmissions are possible when using the RS formula or the DL method, as shown in figure 1. (2) Communication patterns must be created so that parallel transmissions are possible when using the RS method or the DL method as shown in figure 1. Answer »
Q. Is it correct or incorrect to put a comma before the “and” in the following sentence: “The Department of Justice has taken on the role of coordinating agencies’ activities, and has undertaken several new initiatives related to dealing with criminals.” I think it’s correct because the second clause—although not an independent clause, strictly speaking—is so long (and the subject is implied). The comma seems to help the reader get through the sentence. Many thanks. Answer »
Q. When I encounter a restrictive clause with multiple elements, do I put a comma at the end of the last element? For example: The woman who was blonde, green-eyed, and slim said hello to me. Or is it: The woman who was blonde, green-eyed, and slim, said hello to me. Answer »
Q. Is the following the correct way to punctuate the date? Answer »
Q. What is the proper comma usage in describing a series of nouns with a single adjective? For example, “This spring’s collection emphasizes sexy lingerie, blouses, skirts, and mukluks.” I am devoted to the serial comma, but should a comma be included after the third item if I want the adjective to apply to all four items? I write for an online retailer and often find myself stumped by this little conundrum. Answer »
Q. I always use commas in serial lists. However, if I am referring to an entity that does not use the comma in its name, should I add it for consistency? Should the Columbia University School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation become the School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation? Similarly, the Chicago Manual recommends no comma before “Inc.” If I am referring to an old firm that used the comma, should I delete it? Should Louis Sherry, Inc. become Louis Sherry Inc.? Answer »
Q.I seem to be alone in my habit of including a comma in e-mail greetings that begin with a salutation (e.g., “Hi, Mom!”). Most people, perhaps inspired by the more formal “Dear Mom,” seem to think it should be without comma. What do you think? Answer »
Q. Are phrases regarding the location of something deemed restrictive or not? Must one know whether only one exists in order to insert commas? I know it is always “the White House, in Washington, D.C.” But must it also then be “Bob’s Hardware in Dallas” when I do not know if there are other places that go by the same name? If I encountered “Bob’s upstairs neighbor Bill,” and didn’t know if he lived below one person or on the second floor of a ten-story building, I would have to make it restrictive, yes? So wouldn’t the same rule apply here? I work for a weekly magazine without a research department and this question has been preying on my frazzled mind for some time—please help! Answer »
Q. I think I have a pretty clear understanding of restrictive and nonrestrictive adjective clauses, but CMOS 6.36 applies the terms “restrictive” and “nonrestrictive” to what I have been calling adverb clauses (clauses beginning with when, because, if, so that, and many more), and I’m all confused. The “comma for a pause” rule frustrates me because I have no idea whether you and I pause alike. Where can I find guidance about the meaning of “restrictive” and “nonrestrictive” in respect to adverb clauses? Answer »
Q. I totally agree with Chicago’s use of the serial comma. However, I am creating a style guide for a company that does not use the serial comma. For the sake of consistency, I am considering stating in the guide that the serial comma is not to be used at all (yikes!). My question is: Is it better to be consistent (and not use the serial comma at all) OR to add in the serial comma ONLY when it is necessary to prevent ambiguity? I wish that I could just DEMAND the use of the serial comma at all times, but alas, I am just a lowly intern. Thanks a lot for your help! Answer »
Q. Please help clarify a debate over what I see as a groundless but persistent carryover from high-school English classes: the comma-before-too “rule.” The rule goes something like this: When “too” is used in the sense of “also,” use a comma before and after “too” in the middle of a sentence and a comma before “too” at the end of a sentence. I am editing a work of fiction in which the author has rigidly applied the rule. I have just as rigidly deleted the commas. My managing editor believes that a comma is needed when “too” refers to an item in a list and has the sense of “in addition” (e.g., “I like apples and bananas, too.”), but she would omit the comma when “too” refers to the subject of the sentence (e.g., “Oh, you like apples and bananas? I like apples and bananas too.”). My managing editor’s rule helps make a useful distinction, but I am still wondering whether the comma is ever grammatically justified. Answer »
Q. What is a “restrictive” appositive? I have read paragraphs 5.29 and 6.31, but I do not understand the difference between the two types of examples, distinguishing the use of commas by this term. Please advise . . . my client wants to know the “why” behind my editorial source. Answer »
Q. In our international magazine mailings, we always include the country name; however, we would like to know the correct procedure for including “USA” after the city/state/ZIP. Is there a comma after the ZIP code or not? Your assistance would greatly reduce the amount of tension/dissension among the writers and editor and proofreader. Answer »
Q. If you say “so-and-so is vice president, finance, of such and such,” should there be a comma after “finance”? My boss and I are in disagreement. I think there should be a comma but she says no. I can’t find a specific reference to this anywhere, though. Answer »
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