Hodgepodge

Question

1. Please be advised that on May 15, 2010, about 8:30 p.m., an unknown male committed a larceny at the local food pantry. Comma after that?

2. Video review showed that, on May 15, 2010, about 8:30 p.m. ....
Can I drop the comma after that?

3. Is "at about" or "at around" redundant phrases? Shouldn't it simply be either about 4 p.m. or
around 5:30 p.m. minus the at?

4. Tomatoes, potatoes, green beans, etc., are my favorite veggies.
Comma after etc.?

5. Joe, Steve, et al., will be attending the conference.
Comma after et al.?

6. Joe et al. will be attending the conference.
No comma after et al. in this one?

Thanks.

Avangi · Accepted Answer

victo1. Please be advised that on May 15, 2010, about 8:30 p.m., an unknown male committed a larceny at the local food pantry. Comma after that? No.

2. Video review showed that, on May 15, 2010, about 8:30 p.m. ..Can I drop the comma after that? Yes.

3. Is "at about" or "at around" redundant phrases? Shouldn't it simply be either about 4 p.m. or around 5:30 p.m. minus the at? Keep the "at."

4. Tomatoes, potatoes, green beans, etc., are my favorite veggies. Comma after etc.? I would use one, although some people might not. In a series, we set off items after the first. It takes two commas to set off the last item.

5. Joe, Steve, et al., will be attending the conference. Comma after et al.? Yes.

6. Joe et al. will be attending the conference. No comma after et al. in this one? Correct.

Futurist · Answer

AvangiIn a series, we set off items after the first. It takes two commas to set off the last item.

The three style guides I own say not to add a comma after the last item in a series, which makes sense; if you add a comma, you're separating the verb from its subject. An exception to the general 'no comma rule' is when a parenthetical phrase immediately follows a series, but that is not true in this case.

Another exception to the general 'no comma rule' concerns 'etc.' and 'et al.'. Where these phrases appear at the end of a series, some add a comma, some don't. Make a choice and keep it consistent across your document.

Two of my style guides say to leave the comma after 'etc.' out. The other of my style guides says that either system is acceptable. Except where a parenthetical phrase immediately follows, I always leave the comma out. Esteemed grammarian Bryan Garner says: 'because it's more logical - and consistent with other phrases in a series - the more fastidious approach is to omit the comma.'

In short, I disagree with Avangi on numbers 4 and 5. Use no comma in both instances.

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