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Anonymous Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
Comma debate
In the following statement:
"Embassy of Benin in Moscow presents its compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation (Department of State Protocol), Diplomatic Missions and International Organisations accredited to the Russian Federation, and has the honour to inform all that owing to the celebration of the Assumption — a public holiday — on Friday, 15th of August 2014, the Embassy will be closed."
Would you normally place a comma after the "accredited to the Russian Federation" before the "and", or omit it entirely?
"Embassy of Benin in Moscow presents its compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation (Department of State Protocol), Diplomatic Missions and International Organisations accredited to the Russian Federation, and has the honour to inform all that owing to the celebration of the Assumption — a public holiday — on Friday, 15th of August 2014, the Embassy will be closed."
Would you normally place a comma after the "accredited to the Russian Federation" before the "and", or omit it entirely?
Top answer
I would include the comma. By the normal rules of English it should be " The Embassy of Benin in Moscow". "to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation (Department of State Protocol), Diplomatic Missions and International Organisations accredited to the Russian Federation" is quite hard to read, and the grouping potentially becomes unclear.
- I would include the comma.
- By the normal rules of English it should be " The Embassy of Benin in Moscow".
- "to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation (Department of State Protocol), Diplomatic Missions and International Organisations accredited to the Russian Federation" is quite hard to read, and the grouping potentially becomes unclear.
- If I have understood the meaning correctly, this seems better: "to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation (Department of State Protocol), and to Diplomatic Missions and International Organisations accredited to the Russian Federation".
- "15th of" looks fussy and unnecessary in writing.
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1 Answers
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I would include the comma.
By the normal rules of English it should be "The Embassy of Benin in Moscow".
"to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation (Department of State Protocol), Diplomatic Missions and International Organisations accredited to the Russian Federation" is quite hard to read, and the grouping potentially becomes unclear. If I have underst
By the normal rules of English it should be "The Embassy of Benin in Moscow".
"to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation (Department of State Protocol), Diplomatic Missions and International Organisations accredited to the Russian Federation" is quite hard to read, and the grouping potentially becomes unclear. If I have underst
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