Closed GoogleCodeExporter closed 9 years ago
It reads fine without the comma.
Original comment by brammool...@gmail.com
on 25 Jun 2011 at 11:27
It does not read fine to me and other people:
<rindolf> Hi all. http://paste.debian.net/121122/ - “In chapter 4 several
ways to make small changes were explained.” - I think there should be a comma
after the “chapter 4” - am I right?
<Elench> I'd use one, yes
<rindolf> Elench: are you talking to me?
<Elench> rindolf: yes, sorry
<rindolf> Elench: OK.
<rindolf> Elench: thanks.
<Elench> Np
Also see: http://www.google.com/search?q=%22in%20chapter%22 .
Original comment by shlomif@gmail.com
on 27 Jun 2011 at 9:43
Style guides for English generally recommend using commas for introductory
phrases of more than four or five words. Because "in chapter 4" is only three
words, it's okay to omit it. Four or five is a general rule of thumb, not an
absolute.
Your search returned many results about "Chapter X" bankruptcy (where X = 7 or
11 or 13). Perhaps a better example search is:
http://www.google.com/search?q=%22in+chapter+%2A+we%22 (more likely to be found
in prose)
It's split fairly evenly on the first couple results pages between using the
comma or not.
Other references:
Yahoo! Style Guide:
http://styleguide.yahoo.com/editing/punctuate-proficiently/commas (§ Setting
off introductory elements - uses 4+ as the rule of thumb).
The Economist Style Guide:
http://www.economist.com/research/styleGuide/index.cfm?page=805695 (comma not
necessary after a short phrase at the start)
Many more at:
http://www.google.com/search?q=style+guide+comma+introductory+phrase
Several of the top results in that search point out that short introductory
phrases often require a judgment call.
Original comment by ben...@benizi.com
on 27 Jun 2011 at 11:13
Original issue reported on code.google.com by
shlomif@gmail.com
on 25 Jun 2011 at 6:47Attachments: