1. lilli

    lilli New Member

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    Correct comma placement?

    Discussion in 'Word Mechanics' started by lilli, May 12, 2008.

    Can someone please help me with correct comma placement in this phrase, appearing as a bullet point to our Season Pass Perk list?

    Bring a Buddy FREE on operating Mondays (with the exception of Mon Aug 18th and Mon Sept 1st)

    I thought it should be:

    Bring a Buddy FREE on operating Mondays (with the exception of Mon, Aug 18th, and Mon, Sept 1st)

    And someone else thought it should be:

    Bring a Buddy FREE on operating Mondays (with the exception of Mon, Aug 18th and Mon, Sept 1st)

    HELP!!!
     
  2. Cogito

    Cogito Former Mod, Retired Supporter Contributor

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    For a list of two items, you should omit the comma. However, you have two exceptions, not one:
    or you could simply say:
     
  3. lilli

    lilli New Member

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    Thank you so much for a prompt response (even though I was incorrect!).

    I was familiar with the month date, year, comma placement for mid-sentence, and thought it would work here, too.
     
  4. NaCl

    NaCl Contributor Contributor

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    I have found this comma instruction summary from Purdue University to be very helpful. Item #9 addresses commas in dates.

    http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_comma.html

    That said, why would you bother to repeat "Mon" before each date? Its redundant and unnecessary...almost unprofessional. Your opening statement already says that the events are on "Mondays".

    Instead of this:

    "Bring a Buddy FREE on operating Mondays (with the exception of Mon, Aug 18th and Mon, Sept 1st)"

    Try this:

    "Bring a buddy FREE on operating Mondays (with the exception of Aug 18th and Sep 1st)"

    .....NaCl
     
  5. mammamaia

    mammamaia nit-picker-in-chief Contributor

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    yup!... what salty said...
     
  6. Wintermute

    Wintermute Banned

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    I second NaCi.
     
  7. mammamaia

    mammamaia nit-picker-in-chief Contributor

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    oh, is it 'naci' and not 'nacl'?... sorry, naci/nacl, if i mistakenly assumed it was the chemical shorthand for sodium chloride [salt]...
     
  8. NaCl

    NaCl Contributor Contributor

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    You are correct mammamaia. My real last name is "Sault" so I abandoned all writer creativity and took the lazy way out...Na Cl...sodium chloride. LOL!

    ps You'd be amazed how many people forgot basic high school chemistry.
     
  9. Cogito

    Cogito Former Mod, Retired Supporter Contributor

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    Sea, you were right! :)
     
  10. NaCl

    NaCl Contributor Contributor

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    Thank God my last name wasn't Sugar...I'd be: "C12H22O11"

    And nobody'd have a clue!
     
  11. Cogito

    Cogito Former Mod, Retired Supporter Contributor

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    Ummmm...

    Former chemist here :)
     
  12. NaCl

    NaCl Contributor Contributor

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    That's bad Cog..."Sea" as in sea-salt? LOL
     
  13. Cogito

    Cogito Former Mod, Retired Supporter Contributor

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    Oh they get worse. Ask anyone who has been here a while.

    But some things would be rude to assail you with, so I shan't.
     

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