Q. Please, please end a debate I recently had with my European friend over a comma issue as follows: “The
Catalan archaeologist, Pere de Palol, started the excavations again.” I feel that it is necessary to
delete the commas before and after the name. With them, wouldn’t the sentence imply that there is only
one Catalan archaeologist? The text is going to appear on a plaque in a museum.
A. You are right, although you must keep in mind that “only one Catalan archeologist”
applies only to the given context. For instance, if the text were about four archeologists and one of them were Catalan (out
of all the many Catalan archeologists available), the commas would be needed: “The American, Joan Smith,
excavated for three months. Six years later the Catalan archeologist, Pere de Palol, started the excavations again.”
Here, “archeologist” is a nonrestrictive (descriptive) appositive. If your sentence
is to stand alone on a plaque, however, without this sort of implied context, then “the Catalan archeologist
Pere de Palol” is a restrictive (defining) appositive, and you are right to omit the commas.
[This answer relies on the 17th edition of CMOS (2017) unless otherwise noted.]
Q. Do you perceive any difference in meaning in the following two sentences? (1) Communication patterns must be created so that
parallel transmissions are possible when using the RS formula or the DL method, as shown in figure 1. (2) Communication patterns
must be created so that parallel transmissions are possible when using the RS method or the DL method as shown in figure 1.
A. Yes, there is a difference. In sentence 1, the final phrase is nonrestrictive: the figure illustrates (incidentally) how
patterns must be created, perhaps showing only one of many ways. In sentence 2 the last bit is restrictive: patterns must
be created as shown in the figure. In your sentences, the difference is possibly very important. In other contexts the real
difference in meaning might be so slight as not to matter: (1) He chose a slip of paper, which turned out to be the winning
ticket. (2) He chose a slip of paper which turned out to be the winning ticket.
[This answer relies on the 17th edition of CMOS (2017) unless otherwise noted.]
Q. When I encounter a restrictive clause with multiple elements, do I put a comma at the end of the last element? For example:
The woman who was blonde, green-eyed, and slim said hello to me. Or is it: The woman who was blonde, green-eyed, and slim,
said hello to me.
A. Commas are like parentheses when they indicate nonrestriction, so you need two of them, but in a restrictive clause you don’t
need them at all: The woman who was blonde, green-eyed, and slim said hello. In a nonrestrictive clause, you need a pair,
whether it’s parentheses or commas: The woman (who was blonde, green-eyed, and slim) said hello. Or,
The woman, who was blonde, green-eyed, and slim, said hello.
[This answer relies on the 17th edition of CMOS (2017) unless otherwise noted.]
Q. Is it correct or incorrect to put a comma before the “and” in the following sentence: “The Department of Justice has taken on the role of coordinating agencies’ activities, and has undertaken several new initiatives related to dealing with criminals.” I think it’s correct because the second clause—although not an independent clause, strictly speaking—is so long (and the subject is implied). The comma seems to help the reader get through the sentence. Many thanks.
A. The comma isn’t necessary, but if you want to indicate a pause, add it anyway. Please see CMOS 6.16: “The comma, aside from its technical uses in scientific, bibliographical, and other contexts, indicates the smallest break in sentence structure. It usually denotes a slight pause. In formal prose, however, logical considerations come first. Effective use of the comma involves good judgment, with the goal being ease of reading.”
[This answer relies on the 17th edition of CMOS (2017) unless otherwise noted.]
Q. Is the following the correct way to punctuate the date?
Period between June 23, 2003 and March 19, 2004
A. It’s conventional to put a comma after the year. The commas are like parentheses here, so it doesn’t
make sense to have only one.
[This answer relies on the 17th edition of CMOS (2017) unless otherwise noted.]
Q. What is the proper comma usage in describing a series of nouns with a single adjective? For example, “This
spring’s collection emphasizes sexy lingerie, blouses, skirts, and mukluks.” I
am devoted to the serial comma, but should a comma be included after the third item if I want the adjective to apply to all
four items? I write for an online retailer and often find myself stumped by this little conundrum.
A. If the adjective applies to all four nouns, a serial comma is harmless. The problem arises if the adjective is meant to apply
only to some of the nouns. In that case, the comma is the least of your worries. To avoid ambiguity, you should put only the
modified nouns after the adjective: “This spring’s collection emphasizes mukluks
and sexy blouses, skirts, and lingerie.”
[This answer relies on the 17th edition of CMOS (2017) unless otherwise noted.]
Q. I always use commas in serial lists. However, if I am referring to an entity that does not use the comma in its name, should
I add it for consistency? Should the Columbia University School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation become the School
of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation? Similarly, the Chicago Manual recommends no comma before “Inc.” If I am referring to an old firm that used
the comma, should I delete it? Should Louis Sherry, Inc. become Louis Sherry Inc.?
A. There’s no harm in styling company names exactly as they do. But most of the time editors have no easy
way—and certainly not the time—to check the punctuation in every company name
or title that pops up in the text. Even at a company’s website, you will often find it punctuated one
way in a letterhead or logo and another way in the text of the web page. That’s why we have arbitrary
styling rules—we treat everyone the same way and we don’t have to pause and think
about it each time.
[This answer relies on the 17th edition of CMOS (2017) unless otherwise noted.]
Q. I seem to be alone in my habit of including a comma in email greetings that begin with a salutation (e.g., “Hi, Mom!”). Most people, perhaps inspired by the more formal “Dear Mom,” seem to think it should be without comma. What do you think?
A. You are right: in formal writing, direct address takes a comma before the person’s name. One could argue, however, that email isn’t formal, and that there’s little harm in streamlining for the sake of efficiency—and I think I can speak for moms everywhere in saying that we’ll take whatever we get in this regard.
[This answer relies on the 17th edition of CMOS (2017) unless otherwise noted.]
Q. Are phrases regarding the location of something deemed restrictive or not? Must one know whether only one exists in order
to insert commas? I know it is always “the White House, in Washington, D.C.” But
must it also then be “Bob’s Hardware in Dallas” when I do
not know if there are other places that go by the same name? If I encountered “Bob’s
upstairs neighbor Bill,” and didn’t know if he lived below one person or on the
second floor of a ten-story building, I would have to make it restrictive, yes? So wouldn’t the same
rule apply here? I work for a weekly magazine without a research department and this question has been preying on my frazzled
mind for some time—please help!
A. I must admit that this problem has never crossed my mind—probably because copy editors rarely have
the time and resources to check every fact they read and must therefore allow a certain amount of ambiguity in order to get
through the day. When the facts are unknown, I would treat the phrase as though it were restrictive, with the reasoning that
it’s cleaner and easier to omit the commas.
[This answer relies on the 17th edition of CMOS (2017) unless otherwise noted.]
Q. I totally agree with Chicago’s use of the serial comma. However, I am creating a style guide for a
company that does not use the serial comma. For the sake of consistency, I am considering stating in the guide that the serial
comma is not to be used at all (yikes!). My question is: Is it better to be consistent (and not use the serial comma at all)
OR to add in the serial comma ONLY when it is necessary to prevent ambiguity? I wish that I could just DEMAND the use of the
serial comma at all times, but alas, I am just a lowly intern. Thanks a lot for your help!
A. Well, if you don’t allow it at all, you will at times be stuck with situations like the following hypothetical
dedication page that our managing editor likes to cite: “With gratitude to my parents, Mother Teresa
and the pope.” (Maybe that example will help you change your company’s policy.)
[This answer relies on the 17th edition of CMOS (2017) unless otherwise noted.]