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Victo Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
I Loathe Unnecessary Commas
I loathe, absolutely detest unnecessary commas when they don't add to clarity and decelerate sentence flow. Do you agree with all my examples below, esp. per BrE style? I think the Brits would omit the commas below after the cities and countries. I ignore the advice of American style guides on this issue.
1. The Lancashire, England rock band will debut at Rafferty's Pub this weekend.
(I say no comma after 'England'.)
2. the Tulsa, Oklahoma native
(I say no comma after 'Oklahoma'.)
3. Paris, France is a great vacation spot. (I say no comma after 'France'.)
4. We moved to Lansing, Michigan in 1998.
(I say no comma after 'Michigan'.)
5. in a Watertown, Massachusetts neighborhood
(Same. No comma after 'Massachusetts'.)
1. The Lancashire, England rock band will debut at Rafferty's Pub this weekend.
(I say no comma after 'England'.)
2. the Tulsa, Oklahoma native
(I say no comma after 'Oklahoma'.)
3. Paris, France is a great vacation spot. (I say no comma after 'France'.)
4. We moved to Lansing, Michigan in 1998.
(I say no comma after 'Michigan'.)
5. in a Watertown, Massachusetts neighborhood
(Same. No comma after 'Massachusetts'.)
Top answer
I think that either two commas or brackets are necessary. The rock band do not come from Lancashire England, they come from Lancashire, England/Lancashire, in England/Lancashire (England). The need for some sort of bracketing punctuation becomes essential with longer names.
- I think that either two commas or brackets are necessary.
- The rock band do not come from Lancashire England, they come from Lancashire, England/Lancashire, in England/Lancashire (England).
- The need for some sort of bracketing punctuation becomes essential with longer names.
- org/wiki/West_Sussex England .
- People unfamiliar with the town and county mentioned would have no idea of how to read it.
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24 Answers
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I think that either two commas or brackets are necessary.
The rock band do not come from Lancashire England, they come from Lancashire, England/Lancashire, in England/Lancashire (England).
The need for some sort of bracketing punctuation becomes essential with longer names. He comes from http://en.wi
The rock band do not come from Lancashire England, they come from Lancashire, England/Lancashire, in England/Lancashire (England).
The need for some sort of bracketing punctuation becomes essential with longer names. He comes from http://en.wi
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Thanks, but I bet Mr Micawber or Aspara Gus will agree with me on all examples (I think). Commas, to me in this instance, are more of a bane than a boon.
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One good example of your approach generating confusion, ripped from the headlines:
Fertilizer Plant Explodes in West Texas, Injuring Hundreds
Fertilizer Plant Explodes in West, Texas, Injuring Hundreds
The comma is undeniably necessary here to prevent confusion, which is true for many municipalities worldwide. Punctuating with commas relieves the confusion
Fertilizer Plant Explodes in West Texas, Injuring Hundreds
Fertilizer Plant Explodes in West, Texas, Injuring Hundreds
The comma is undeniably necessary here to prevent confusion, which is true for many municipalities worldwide. Punctuating with commas relieves the confusion
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I believe that the exclusion of the commas after state and country in my examples does not create even an infinitesimal degree of ambiguity.
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victoI believe that the exclusion of the commas after state and country in my examples does not create even an infinitesimal degree of ambiguity.You are entitled to your opinion, but I do not agree.
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e: I reread your post and saw you were talking specifically about commas following the last place descriptor.
The problem with these is that you can create a sort of "mental hiccup" for the reader, who might mentally separate the clauses in a way that doesn't make any sense.
For example, when I first read "The Lancashire, England rock band...", I mentally read the sentence as "(T
The problem with these is that you can create a sort of "mental hiccup" for the reader, who might mentally separate the clauses in a way that doesn't make any sense.
For example, when I first read "The Lancashire, England rock band...", I mentally read the sentence as "(T
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Some people have, perhaps justifiably, criticized me for excessive, reckless use of commas, however, I maintain, in defiance of popular opinion, that the world contains an enormous, dare I say it, inexhaustible, supply of commas, and I intend, nevertheless, to continue to fling them, in generous handfuls, at my prose.
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I do see what you're saying. For example, in the sentence, Paris, France is a great vacation spot,
it could be interpreted that you're telling somebody named "Paris" that the country of France is a great vacation spot. This is why a forum like this is great!
it could be interpreted that you're telling somebody named "Paris" that the country of France is a great vacation spot. This is why a forum like this is great!
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victoI do see what you're saying. For example, in the sentence, Paris, France is a great vacation spot,it could be interpreted that you're telling somebody named "Paris" that the country of France is a great vacation spot.Is this from the person who wrote, "I believe that the exclusion of the commas after state and country in my examples does not create even
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