Punctuation rules

[Patti Barden]

I am doing a family history with lots of dates in the narrative (She was
married March 2, 1865 in Comanche County, Texas). My old grammar book says
"The comma is used to set off a definite place, month or year."

I seem to read a lot of books where this rule is not used for dates (Bill
was born 1872 and died 1900). Is the old comma rule I cite still used in
modern writing?
Thanks for your thoughts.
Patti

 

[Bonnie Keithley]

Regarding using a comma in dates: Place a comma between the date and year
and then another comma between the year and the rest of the text in the
sentence. In your example below, you missed the comma after 1865. "She was
married March 2, 1865, in Comanche County, Texas."

If there had been more text after "Texas," then you would have needed a
comma after Texas also.

"She was Married March 2, 1865, in Comanche Country, Texas, and she lived
there for six more years."

Let me know if that helps -------------- Bonnie

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

And in the second example you cite, no commas are necessary because the year
stands alone. Years with specific dates and states accompanying cities are
treated like appositives.

 

[TF]

Patti

In the UK, we normally write that date as '2 March 1865' and would not use a
comma. In the US, you have a different tradition with writing (and speaking)
dates. The rules of using commas are quite complex but one rule for commas I
use that overrides all others is to use commas sparingly.



: I am doing a family history with lots of dates in the narrative (She was
: married March 2, 1865 in Comanche County, Texas). My old grammar book says
: "The comma is used to set off a definite place, month or year."
:
: I seem to read a lot of books where this rule is not used for dates (Bill
: was born 1872 and died 1900). Is the old comma rule I cite still used in
: modern writing?
: Thanks for your thoughts.
: Patti
:
:

 

[Patti Barden]

Thanks Terry, I am in UK but writing this for a US audience so trying to be
correct. Patti

 

[Patti Barden]

Thanks very much Suzanne,
Patti

And in the second example you cite, no commas are necessary because the year
stands alone. Years with specific dates and states accompanying cities are
treated like appositives.

 

[Patti Barden]

Thanks very much Bonnie. Fully agree.
Patti

Regarding using a comma in dates: Place a comma between the date and year
and then another comma between the year and the rest of the text in the
sentence. In your example below, you missed the comma after 1865. "She was
married March 2, 1865, in Comanche County, Texas."

If there had been more text after "Texas," then you would have needed a
comma after Texas also.

"She was Married March 2, 1865, in Comanche Country, Texas, and she lived
there for six more years."

Let me know if that helps -------------- Bonnie

 

[TF]

Patti

That really complicates life!

Good Luck: Terry

: Thanks Terry, I am in UK but writing this for a US audience so trying to
be
: correct. Patti
:
: "TF" <terryfarrell%40%6d%73%6e%2ecom> wrote in message
: : > Patti
: >
: > In the UK, we normally write that date as '2 March 1865' and would not
use
: a
: > comma. In the US, you have a different tradition with writing (and
: speaking)
: > dates. The rules of using commas are quite complex but one rule for
commas
: I
: > use that overrides all others is to use commas sparingly.
: >
: > --
: > Terry Farrell - Word MVP
:
: >
: > : > : I am doing a family history with lots of dates in the narrative (She
was
: > : married March 2, 1865 in Comanche County, Texas). My old grammar book
: says
: > : "The comma is used to set off a definite place, month or year."
: > :
: > : I seem to read a lot of books where this rule is not used for dates
: (Bill
: > : was born 1872 and died 1900). Is the old comma rule I cite still used
: in
: > : modern writing?
: > : Thanks for your thoughts.
: > : Patti
: > :
: > :
: >
: >
:
: