Comments on: The Power of Punctuation http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/commas/the-power-of-punctuation/ The #1 Grammar & Punctuation Resource on the Internet! Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:14:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jane http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/commas/the-power-of-punctuation/#comment-7586 Jane Fri, 23 Sep 2011 22:00:05 +0000 http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=101#comment-7586 Commas are needed to offset the year whenever the full date is expressed in American format. Both the <em>Chicago Manual of Style </em>and <em>AP Stylebook </em>recommend offsetting the date in this case. <em>Chicago Manual of Style's </em>rule states, "Whenever a comma is used to set off an element (such as “1928” in the example below), a second comma is required if the phrase or sentence continues beyond the element being set off. June 5, 1928, lives on in the memories of only a handful of us. <em> AP Stylebook </em>says, "When a phrase refers to a month, day and year, set off the year with a comma: Feb. 14, 1987, is the target date." Seems that the secretary who is taking English learned the correct rule. Commas are needed to offset the year whenever the full date is expressed in American format. Both the Chicago Manual of Style and AP Stylebook recommend offsetting the date in this case. Chicago Manual of Style’s rule states, “Whenever a comma is used to set off an element (such as “1928” in the example below), a second comma is required if the phrase or sentence continues beyond the element being set off.

June 5, 1928, lives on in the memories of only a handful of us.

AP Stylebook says, “When a phrase refers to a month, day and year, set off the year with a comma: Feb. 14, 1987, is the target date.”
Seems that the secretary who is taking English learned the correct rule.

]]> By: Carmen Fructuoso http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/commas/the-power-of-punctuation/#comment-7520 Carmen Fructuoso Thu, 22 Sep 2011 17:07:20 +0000 http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=101#comment-7520 Hello, Jane. I have the same question as Christa and need to understand why a comma has to separate the date and the noun that it is specifically referring to? All the secretaries here at my work drops that comma when describing a specific article or meeting, except one secretary that is currently taking English. Did the rule change in recent years, as she has explained? News reporters seem to drop that comma as well. Hello, Jane. I have the same question as Christa and need to understand why a comma has to separate the date and the noun that it is specifically referring to? All the secretaries here at my work drops that comma when describing a specific article or meeting, except one secretary that is currently taking English. Did the rule change in recent years, as she has explained? News reporters seem to drop that comma as well.

]]> By: Jane http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/commas/the-power-of-punctuation/#comment-5712 Jane Wed, 25 May 2011 00:45:53 +0000 http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=101#comment-5712 You would not need a comma after the state in the example you gave. You would need the comma if the city and state both appeared: "Were you in Dallas, Texas, when you got out of the military?" You would use a comma to separate the day of the month from the year and after the year. I have an October 15, 1993, letter that explains... If any part of the date is omitted, leave out the comma. I have a 1993 letter that explains... You would not need a comma after the state in the example you gave. You would need the comma if the city and state both appeared: “Were you in Dallas, Texas, when you got out of the military?”

You would use a comma to separate the day of the month from the year and after the year.

I have an October 15, 1993, letter that explains…

If any part of the date is omitted, leave out the comma.

I have a 1993 letter that explains…

]]> By: Christa http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/commas/the-power-of-punctuation/#comment-4913 Christa Sat, 26 Mar 2011 19:09:10 +0000 http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=101#comment-4913 I edit court reporter transcripts and often wonder about placing commas after states and dates as in years. In the question, "Were you in Texas when you got out of the military?" should there be a comma after "Texas"? Also, in the statement, "I have an October 15, 1993 letter that explains....," should there be a comma after the year? What about if the sentence says, "I have a 1993 letter that explains...."? I edit court reporter transcripts and often wonder about placing commas after states and dates as in years. In the question, “Were you in Texas when you got out of the military?” should there be a comma after “Texas”? Also, in the statement, “I have an October 15, 1993 letter that explains….,” should there be a comma after the year? What about if the sentence says, “I have a 1993 letter that explains….”?

]]> By: Jane http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/commas/the-power-of-punctuation/#comment-5711 Jane Fri, 11 Mar 2011 00:44:01 +0000 http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=101#comment-5711 Yes, a comma can be used in this way to indicate the omission of a word or words readily understood from context (elision). Yes, a comma can be used in this way to indicate the omission of a word or words readily understood from context (elision).

]]> By: Buddy http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/commas/the-power-of-punctuation/#comment-4858 Buddy Wed, 09 Mar 2011 19:51:17 +0000 http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=101#comment-4858 Please tell me if the following is a legitimate function of the comma and, if so, if it is necessary: Brad went to his soccer game; Randy, the mall; and Mark, his friend's house. Please tell me if the following is a legitimate function of the comma and, if so, if it is necessary: Brad went to his soccer game; Randy, the mall; and Mark, his friend’s house.

]]> By: Jane http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/commas/the-power-of-punctuation/#comment-4391 Jane Sat, 02 Oct 2010 17:44:11 +0000 http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=101#comment-4391 It's just the rule. It’s just the rule.

]]> By: Jane http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/commas/the-power-of-punctuation/#comment-4388 Jane Sat, 02 Oct 2010 03:39:02 +0000 http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=101#comment-4388 Why what is placed where? Why what is placed where?

]]> By: Buddy http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/commas/the-power-of-punctuation/#comment-4387 Buddy Sat, 02 Oct 2010 02:22:40 +0000 http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=101#comment-4387 If you do not mind, could you explain why it is placed there? If you do not mind, could you explain why it is placed there?

]]> By: Jane http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/commas/the-power-of-punctuation/#comment-4385 Jane Sat, 02 Oct 2010 00:11:21 +0000 http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=101#comment-4385 Yes to both questions: I am going on vacation, too. I, too, purchased a new car from that dealer. Yes to both questions:
I am going on vacation, too.
I, too, purchased a new car from that dealer.

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