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Anonymous Posted 21 years ago
Grammar

Comma usage

In the following sentence:

"Please use the drop-down menus, below, if you do not know your cost center, or click here to enter your cost center"

..are the commas surrounding the word "below" correct? If possible, I would greatly appreciate if you could point me to something on the web that discusses this.

Also, what is such a phrase ("below") called? A "restrictive clause"?

Thanks very much,
Eliezer in Chicago
  

Top answer

Hello Eliezer I wouldn't use both commas myself. I'd probably say either: "Please use the drop-down menus (below), if you do not know your cost center, or click here to enter your cost center" or (more probably): "Please use the drop-down menus below, if you do not know your cost center, or click here to enter your cost center" Other members may differ, though! MrP

— MrPedantic

  • Hello Eliezer I wouldn't use both commas myself.
  • I'd probably say either: "Please use the drop-down menus (below), if you do not know your cost center, or click here to enter your cost center" or (more probably): "Please use the drop-down menus below, if you do not know your cost center, or click here to enter your cost center" Other members may differ, though!
  • MrP
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4 Answers
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Hello Eliezer

I wouldn't use both commas myself. I'd probably say either:

"Please use the drop-down menus (below), if you do not know your cost center, or click here to enter your cost center"

or (more probably):

"Please use the drop-down menus below, if you do not know your cost center, or click here to enter your cost center"

Other membe
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I would actually prefer this:

If you know your cost center, click here. If you do not know your cost center, please use the drop-down menus below.

(But I guess that is more of a web-design decision.)
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...I would actually prefer this...
Come to think of it, so would I.

MrP
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Thank you, everyone. I did end up changing the webpage, per your suggestion.

:-)
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