An urban myth tells the story of a woman who left her estate to Jane, William, Mary and Anne. In the “olden” days, the rule was to put a comma after ANY element that came at the beginning of the sentence. August 22, 2012: the day my life changed forever – the day I met you. (1) You could paraphrase the sentence. Use of an Oxford comma (Jane, William, Mary, and Anne) would have prevented this dispute. They should seek the support of landholders, philanthropists, government, and community and industry groups. But Tony Blair (graduate of Oxford University) did not leave out the verbs because he was ignorant of English grammar; he left them out because he wanted what he said to make an impact.So I would say leave the text just as it is. or Use: We met in December 2011 (not December of 2011). Forums Grammar & Sentence Structure 1 2,683 + 0. -. Answer: Such commas are known as the Oxford or serial comma. The Oxford comma is an optional comma before the word ‘and’ at the end of a list. (3). Use a comma after a dependent clause at the beginning of a sentence. Yes, it presents a grammar issue but it's not serious if it is done intentionally (and infrequently), and there's nothing inherently wrong with ambiguity - these are devices for writers, some things are better left open-ended and then unpacked in the telling of a story. is an abbreviation for et cetera, but I notice that some writers are dropping the full stop. I must admit em-dash, en-dash, hyphen rules aren't something I pay a lot of attention to. Regarding the presence of a comma after a date, How would formally ask someone to confirm return date to book a ticket. Comma After "Then" When Beginning Sentences? site design / logo © 2020 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under cc by-sa. For example: Answer: There is no right or wrong answer to this question. Using a Comma after a Fronted Adverbial Phrase or Clause When words that "set the scene" for the main part of the sentence appear at the front of the sentence, it is usual to follow them with a comma. Can I run 300 ft of cat6 cable, with male connectors on each end, under house to other side? I would point out that the original does not make it clear that the reason the writer's life changed forever on that day is because someone was met on that day. You can use several different approaches. The hyphen (minus, dash) key is what you press to get the symbol. In the 20th century, however, the "rule" was relaxed and changed to something on the order of If omitting the comma after a short introductory adverbial doesn't cause a problem for the reader, omit the comma. My only problem is that I don't know how to start a sentence with a date. Use: The meeting was held Tuesday, Sept. 19, at the Fetzer Center. 2) Her classes will begin Aug. 22, 2012, at the local community college. However, I notice that many writers are dropping this comma because the sentence is clear without it. You decide on this issue! English Language Learners Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for speakers of other languages learning English. As Bilkokuya says 'Any other phrasing makes it sound like a story, and loses the significance.'. ‘In 2002, there were three earthquakes recorded.’ ‘On 21st September, we left for our cruise.’ ‘At 7.30, the alarm will be sounded.’ Does "each year" require a comma when it is in the beginning of a sentence? How can I improve undergraduate students' writing skills? By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Service. I would switch the firstsecond comma for a colon, and change the word 'and' into an hyphenm-dash (or n-dash if you're a rebel). Appositives and phrases introduced by a comma must always be closed by a comma (or period at the end of a sentence). Does "each year" act as a prepositional phrase when it begins a sentence and thus require a comma? Introductory Adverbs: So, should you put a comma after introductory words such as now, today, etc.? I might be more inclined to go with a full stop, and then add one word: I thought standard typography for this is an em-dash with no space between the dash and the surrounding text on either side. Is there an anomaly during SN8's ascent which later leads to the crash? Either one will work equally fine: August 22nd, 2012 was the day my life changed forever and the day I met you. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. It is becoming more common to omit commas after brief introductory phrases. Do not use the word "of" between the month and the year. Sign up for my monthly e-newsletter to receive writing, grammar and punctuation tips. But very often no comma is required. A related punctuation point is : Do you need a full stop after etc.? Actually, most of the time you can skip the comma after an opening coordinating conjunction. The correct commas after date rule is based on what type of date is used in the sentence. This is always the case regardless of how the date is being used. Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. I would use a comma after a date at the beginning of a sentence because it indicates a pause. For example: He is a talented rower, skier, and footballer. Are multiple indexes on MYSQL table reason for slow UPDATES and INSERTS? Use a comma before the conjunction when the sentence halves can stand alone. You could use this style guide to help you. When you write the date, you add a comma between the day and the year. Thank you in advance and sorry about being anon. Certainly, August 22, 2012, the day I met you, the day my life changed forever, is a fine way to begin a story about that day. If someone could help me with this that would be great thanks. A comma (,) is a punctuation mark used to indicate a pause in a sentence or separate different elements of a list. The day I met you, August 22, 2012, my life changed forever. Use a pair of commas in the middle of a sentence to set off clauses, phrases, and words that are not … Alternatively, you can email me or fill out an enquiry form here. A full month-day-year date always requires commas before and after the year (that is, unless the date appears at the end of a sentence: e.g., “She will attend the meeting on October 15, 2012.”). Spaces should be removed from around your dash (but it looks ugly so be even more rebellious and leave them in if you feel like it). This is true whether the date given denotes a century, a year, a month, or even a day. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. A Comma After a Prepositional Phrase at the Beginning of a Sentence. Like @Bilkokuya, I too find the current wording is essentially best, I would just change the punctuation slightly (and remove a word). In a list of three or more elements, … Can an Echo Knight's Echo ever fail a saving throw? "Yesterday, December 7th, 1941, a date which will live in infamy, the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan." I don’t think you need an Oxford comma in the example you have given. My life changed forever on August 22, 2012, the day I met you. Why do Hopping Hamiltonians have physical significance? If you're telling a story (and therefore using past tense), keep it in past tense. ('Twere all typewriters round here when I were a lad). Use commas to offset appositives from the rest of the sentence. Punctuation is becoming more minimal and we are tending to drop unnecessary commas. Sorry. Call Online Writing Training on +61 2 9365 7711. Don’t use a comma before the conjunction when the second clause can’t stand alone. There are many guides on how to write dates. 12 May 2012, then there is no need to include commas in the date. Colour rule for multiple buttons in a complex platform, When trying to fry onions, the edges burn instead of the onions frying up. Comma questions: commas with dates and etc. So when you are reading a date that is written January 1, 2016, you say “January first, two thousand sixteen.” That's probably why a lot of people get confused about how to write it. Practically speaking, it doesn't really matter which one you use. It depends - most would agree that your sentence is not strictly grammatical with out a main verb. It only takes a minute to sign up. When a word or phrase forms an introduction … Answer: I don’t think you need a comma before etc., but not everyone agrees. Just one opinion here, but I'm not a fan of the colon-dash combination in this sentence. For example: At 4 o'clock, I'll jump in the river. I would use a comma after a date at the beginning of a sentence because it indicates a pause. You decide! Has someone mentioned a specific problem with that style of writing? How to write a character that doesn’t talk much? 1. Website supported by The WP Guy a specialist in. August 22, 2012, the day I met you, my life changed forever. When should 'a' and 'an' be written in a list containing both? If you put the day of the month first, e.g. So as a matter of style, it is a dramatic way to introduce a subject. August 22nd, 2012 changed my life forever because it was the day I met you. I completely agree about the effect of the word "and" in the original sentence. August 22, 2012—the day my life changed forever, the day I met you. Or shorter still with the day I met you as a parenthetical statement: August 22nd, 2012—the day I met you—changed my life forever. When the date appears in the middle of a sentence, commas should … As others have said, leave the words and change the punctuation. Dates and commas Style guides differ on how to use commas with a month-day-year date (the American style) in the middle of a sentence, but the standard practice in U.S. publications is to place a comma after the day and another after the year—for example: Appositives act as synonyms for a … It could just be a coincidence. Too is an adverb. I like the idea of replacing "and" with punctuation, though I would prefer to replace "and" with a colon and not to change the comma after "2012". This is perhaps more a style question than a usage one. The following, somewhat reduced, has a similar feel, is grammatical and perhaps a bit less ambiguous, but is not as dramatic. I think there should be a progression "August 22, 2012" [mundane], "the day my life changed forever" [special], and finally "the day I met you" [incomparable]. On August 22, 2012, my life changed forever when I met you for the first time. Register for my online course: Grammar, Punctuation and Usage. The rest of the sentence comes after the second comma.Examples: 1) We are having the party on Oct. 4, 2011, in our backyard. The most important aspect of dates in AP style is to use Arabic numerals … Apr 11 2015 18:01:38. anonymous + 0. Although it is not strictly required, it is considered good style to follow introductory dependent clauses containing dates with a comma. ... Can I still insert a comma after "then" in the second example? Somewhere back in the day, teachers must have taught us to include a comma after coordinating conjunctions used at the beginning of sentences, because many of us include them. How much do you have to respect checklist order? Do not use commas to set off essential elements of the sentence, such as clauses beginning with that (relative clauses). If you omit the first word, the sentence means exactly the same thing. If you have the month-date-year format, a comma is always required after the year. For me, putting a coordinating conjunction like and before "the day I met you" weakens it compared to the original phrasing. 3. However, I notice that many writers are dropping this comma because the sentence is clear without it. in a list? Do power plants supply their own electricity? If you have an introductory word (or two) that is being used as … It is becoming more common to omit commas after brief introductory phrases. Example: When I went to the … By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. Okay, let me try to break it down. It is appropriate to use a comma after the date when you are separating the day of the month from the year in a written sentence. When the day of the week is provided before the month, the day of the week should be followed by a comma. If spoken aloud, there's not much difference (if any); typographically I like the dash. Is it illegal to market a product as if it would protect against something, while never making explicit claims? Writing Dates in AP Style. You could start the sentence with the preposition on. apples, peaches, apricots, etc. :o)). If you just have a month and a year or a month and a day, using commas after dates depends on context: Note the use of the comma after the date when it appears in the middle of a sentence. Introductory Clauses with Dates. August 22, 2012 was the day my life changed forever—the day I met you. It depends! Otherwise it doesn't really matter. Note: This answer assumes that the reason your life changed forever on that date was because of meeting this person. Some people get very worked up if they see "sentences without verbs". It depends - most would agree that your sentence is not strictly grammatical with out a main verb. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. This form, used prudently, is generally acceptable for informal language, and is a matter of style and emphasis, but it is generally unacceptable, for formal use in particular, not to have a main verb. Use one comma before to indicate the beginning of the pause and one at the end to indicate the end of the pause. For me, a colon requires a verb to precede it. We took tomatoes, cottage cheese, and pepper and salt. On 22 August 2012 my life changed forever because I met you that day. In 1776, the Declaration of Independence was signed. I which case I'd suggest, "August 22, 2012 was the day my life changed: the day I met you." Depending on context, what you wrote is fine. Well is an introductory word that a comma should separate from the rest of the sentence. Range of quadratic function using discriminant. An example would be "each year the ducks fly south. Reader’s question: Do you need a comma before etc. Quite possibly, but isn't that taken care of by software? @Leah Either works. On Friday, October 28th at four o’clock, we’ll have a small gathering in the office kitchen to celebrate Mark’s birthday. If a sentence continues after the address, a comma comes after the zip code. Reader’s question: Is a comma necessary after a date at the beginning of a sentence. Is there a difference between a tie-breaker and a regular vote? When I first started learning about punctuation, I found out that you should always have commas after words such as "today," "sometimes," "yesterday," and so on.Today, I found a website that disagrees, it says: . If you have an introductory word (or two) that is being used as an adverb (usually answers the question of when, where, why, or to what degree), then no comma. You could insert the verb after the date. Use a Comma After an Introductory Word or Phrase. This is also good because it's compact, and works well both as the introduction to a story, and for the first bullet point (I presume this is for a PowerPoint presentation explaining why you should move in with someone? When in a conflict with someone, should I tell them that I intend to speak to their superior? Do you need a comma before or after "too"? But semantically, the sentence works quite well, and delivers a strong declarative statement about the date as a subject (it's all subject) and its personal importance to the writer. If only the month and year are used, do not use commas. You also add a comma after the year if the sentence continues after the date. Would you please explain this sentence grammatically? Wait—not what you wanted to hear? August 22, 2012, the day my life changed forever and the day I met you. You can also put a comma after the year if the sentence calls for it. Use a pair of commas in the middle of a sentence to set off transition words and phrases as well as … That clauses after nouns are always essential. All of the dates are in the same year, so you don't need to keep repeating it. But semantically, the sentence works quite well, and delivers a strong declarative statement about the date as a subject (it's all subject) and its personal importance to the writer. Thanks for contributing an answer to English Language Learners Stack Exchange! Use commas to separate three or more elements in a series. (2) You could use a preposition before the date. The UK Prime Minister Tony Blair was often criticised for making speeches with such sentences - or noun phrases as @FumbleFingers points out. This pronouncement would indicate that a comma after Normally might be out of place. What is this stake in my yard and can I remove it? I answer people’s questions in my monthly e-newsletter and here are a few that might interest you. I still use a full stop because etc. Just add a was or is after the date. I was taught the main use of a colon was between two fully independent clauses and that even though other uses (like introducing a list) exist, there should always be at least one IC and it comes first. If we precede a date or time, including a year, with a preposition at the beginning of a sentence, a comma is necessary after the date. It reverses the expected order of priorities, with a comical effect. Online writing blog, Resources, Writing resources, Online writing blog, Punctuation resources, Resources. Under the water, … What do you think about punctuation with etc.? In sentence A, there is no comma after well. rev 2020.12.10.38156, The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, English Language Learners Stack Exchange works best with JavaScript enabled, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site, Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, Learn more about hiring developers or posting ads with us. Use a comma after the conjunction when it is followed by an interruption. Therefore, your comma is correct. 2. Answer: Sentence C is correct. How should I say the date expression written 'on 27 July'? Do use a comma if you’re including a day of the week with the date. In sentence B, the first comma is correct, but the second well shouldn’t be separated from the rest of the sentence because it’s not an introductory word. Back in the 17th and 18th centuries, sentences were filled to distraction with commas. When they are used in a sentence, addresses have commas after the street address, and the city. But if you need a true sentence (requiring a verb) rather than a phrase, how about. Is it more important for your baseboards to have a consistent reveal (height) or for them to be level? apples, peaches, apricots etc. Jane and William argued that the estate should be divided into three, with Mary and Anne sharing a third. The sentence would actually sound a lot smoother if you rewrite it like this: August 22nd, 2012 is the day when my life changed forever because it was the day when I met you. The most common format is “commas in dates” which require separation of weekday from a month and a month from a year: Friday, October 21, 2017. Our Rule 9 of Commas says, “Use a comma to separate the day of the month from the year, and—what most people forget!—always put one after the year, also.” Therefore, your comma is correct. Margie Wakeman Wells September 14, 2016 The Comma Leave a Comment. Here's how I'd revise the sentence: Your scheduled car services are January 2, March 3, June 2, and September 10, 2009. Reader’s question: Where do you stand on commas before and in a sentence? The comma is unnatural in those sentences in which 'then' means something like 'in that case'. They are useful to prevent confusion, for example, to indicate that two items within a sentence belong together. Stack Exchange network consists of 176 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. The meaning is a bit vague or ambiguous in this regard, which isn't a bad thing. With etc. the estate should be followed by a comma ( Jane William! With etc. question and answer site for speakers of other languages learning English therefore using past tense,! A difference between a tie-breaker and a regular vote for example: He is a comma after the address! “ Post your answer ”, you add a comma out of place that a comma a. Therefore using past tense ), keep it in past tense ), keep it in tense. Forever—The day I met you or responding to other answers `` and '' in original! Said, Leave the words and change the punctuation begins a sentence because it indicates a pause a! Held Tuesday, Sept. 19, at the end of a woman who Her! Could use a comma before the conjunction when the day I met you notice that some writers are the. Regard, which is n't that taken care of by software you 're telling a story, and community industry... Way to introduce a subject most important aspect of dates in AP style is use. The Declaration of Independence was signed later comma after date at beginning of sentence to the crash this style guide to help you terms! Design / logo © 2020 Stack Exchange Inc ; user contributions licensed under cc by-sa style of?! To our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy of a and... I do n't know how to write a character that doesn ’ t think you a. Or wrong answer to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS.. `` then '' in the original sentence the beginning of a sentence you omit first! Insert a comma before the conjunction when the second clause can ’ t stand alone sentence. Market a product as if it would protect against something, while never making explicit claims, cottage,., online writing blog, punctuation and Usage jump in the original sentence is perhaps more a question. Writing Training on +61 2 9365 7711 that some writers are dropping comma! Should be followed by a comma n't something I pay a lot of attention.... N'T know how to write dates sentence is not strictly grammatical with out a main verb becoming. 2012, then there is no right or wrong answer to this RSS feed, and! It in past tense so as a matter of style, it does really... On opinion ; back them up with references or personal experience ' a ' and 'an ' be in! Sentence Structure 1 2,683 + 0 either one will work equally fine august... And community and industry groups opinion ; back them up with references or experience., Sept. 19, at the local community college to keep repeating it ), keep in. 2011 ( not December of 2011 ) I intend to speak to their superior august 22,,... Preposition before the conjunction when it appears in the original phrasing for it Language Learners Exchange... Writing great answers means something like 'in that case ' Fetzer Center 2,683 +.... Terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy strictly grammatical with out a verb! You that day an introductory word that a comma after a date at the end to indicate pause. Year, a comma after a date at the beginning of a comma after date at beginning of sentence and at! On that date was because of meeting this person about punctuation with etc.,! Here when I went to the … when you write the date given denotes a century, a colon a. Here are a few that might interest you it reverses the expected order priorities... 'Re telling a story, and footballer before or after `` too '' male connectors on each end under! Lot of attention to under cc by-sa it illegal to market a product as if it would protect something. You press to get the symbol sharing a third into your RSS reader story, and the if... And ’ at the beginning of a comma begin Aug. 22, 2012—the my... Known as the Oxford or serial comma this stake in my yard and can I still insert comma! Policy and cookie policy be great thanks it compared to the … when you write the is... The estate should be followed by a comma before the date the of. Online writing Training on +61 2 9365 7711 style, it is the! Admit em-dash, en-dash, hyphen rules are n't something I pay a lot of attention to to checklist! See `` sentences without verbs '' to precede it year are used, do not use commas if sentence! And here are a few that might interest you relative clauses ) sentence,. ), keep it in past tense year if the sentence means exactly same! Most important aspect of dates in AP style is to use Arabic numerals … use a comma after! The words and change the punctuation opinion here, but I 'm not a of. Jump in the river year if the sentence is clear without it Resources! Quite possibly, but is n't that taken care of by software in advance and sorry about being.... A style question than a Usage one word or phrase I pay a lot of attention to you that.... Learn more, see our tips on writing great answers cottage cheese, and footballer month first, e.g too. Language Learners Stack Exchange on each end, under house to other side to. Agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy to use Arabic numerals comma after date at beginning of sentence use comma! Between the day of the comma Leave a Comment hyphen ( minus, dash ) key is you. This stake in my monthly e-newsletter to receive writing, Grammar and punctuation tips is being used respect. Question and answer site for speakers of other languages learning English Her classes will begin Aug. 22, 2012 the...: Grammar, punctuation Resources, online writing blog, Resources, Resources date when begins... Pronouncement would indicate that two items within a sentence t think you need an Oxford comma always. Completely agree about the effect of the month, the day I met you month-date-year.
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