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Goronsky Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
Colon, comma or dash?
Should the comma below be replaced by either a colon or possibly an em dash? The first sample below could be interpreted as a direct address.
•I would like to endorse a man for whom I have tremendous respect, Steve Smith.
•Thank you for your interest in our company, Building Care Systems.
•I would like to endorse a man for whom I have tremendous respect, Steve Smith.
•Thank you for your interest in our company, Building Care Systems.
Top answer
For the first, I would use a colon. " (that is). For the second, normally a signature would follow a letter closing, and the writer would be identified in the title; but in the informal world of today, e-mails don't permit as much structure.
- For the first, I would use a colon.
- " (that is).
- For the second, normally a signature would follow a letter closing, and the writer would be identified in the title; but in the informal world of today, e-mails don't permit as much structure.
- A comma looks wrong but may be all we have.
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2 Answers
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For the first, I would use a colon. The meaning would be "i.e." (that is).
For the second, normally a signature would follow a letter closing, and the writer would be identified in the title; but in the informal world of today, e-mails don't permit as much structure. A comma looks wrong but may be all we have. ??
For the second, normally a signature would follow a letter closing, and the writer would be identified in the title; but in the informal world of today, e-mails don't permit as much structure. A comma looks wrong but may be all we have. ??
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goronskyShould the comma below be replaced by either a colon or possibly an em dash? The first sample below could be interpreted as a direct address.•I would like to endorse a man for whom I have tremendous respect, Steve Smith.Do you mean that you are addressing Steve Smith? If you are, it would be more natural for you to begin the sentence with the name.
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