Comma on vacation …

Wayne, from Blaine, Minnesota, USA, writes:

AP headline needs a comma

Headline reads:  “Analysis: Summer vacation is over Obama”

Yahoo’s edition has the comma missing: (click here to view)

And so does the version on the AP’s site: (click here to view)

Do YOU know where the comma should go? Please comment.

Read Full Post »

Comma affects effect …

This tweet (from Twitter) needs a comma … where would you place it?

@EONpr: “Grammar Gossip pop quiz for pr scribes and copywriters from the Business Wire blog”

(click here for the story)

Without Comma Clout, it sounds as if the pop quiz is ONLY for those from the Business Wire blog.

With Comma Clout, the Business Wire blog pop quiz is for all PR scribes and copyrighters.

Be sure to enjoy the quiz!

Shameless plug for our sister site, Grammar Police a.k.a. GrammarCops: See the post Special effects (and affects) …

Read Full Post »

Where’s the comma?

A loyal reader sent us this photo and asks:

“Where’s the comma? Look at the caption of this picture. Must have been quite a press conference.”

 

Photo source: LIFE Magazine, Robert McNamara: Life and Times

Read Full Post »

Correct, yourself …

On Twitter today, we saw this interesting profile:

“I find and mock punctuation errors on my blog, Apostrophe Catastrophes.”

 

(click here to see the blog)

We love their site … and, we refer to it frequently.

We would like to take this opportunity to recommend some comma clout for their Twitter profile.

As is: “I find and mock punctuation errors on my blog, Apostrophe Catastrophes.” This sounds as if they correct only their own blog errors …

With comma clout: “I find and mock punctuation errors, on my blog, Apostrophe Catastrophes.”

Even better: “I find punctuation errors and mock them on my blog, Apostrophe Catastrophes.”

Read Full Post »

Comma clout, in email …

We are always looking for comma clout … we crave instances in which the comma is required, supported, and even touted.

Today, we found another such situation in an article about business writing in email. (click here to read the entire post)

Here are a few excerpts we wish to emphasize:

“1.  Use a comma after “Hi” or “Hello” in your greeting. Omitting the comma after the initial greeting in an e-mail (such as “Hi Calmetta”) is so commonplace that it may eventually become standard usage. Until that happens, though, leaving out the comma can send the message right off the bat that the writer does not understand punctuation rules. And that’s the wrong message to send when you’re not sure whether a boss or potential employer is a stickler on writing rules.”

Here is the general guideline: Use commas to set off the name of a person written to in a direct address. (Example: Hi, John.) Note that this greeting is different from “Dear John,” which is often used in writing letters. “Dear John” doesn’t require a comma because “dear” is an adjective – adding a single-word description to the name of the person you are addressing. However, both “Dear John” and “Hi, John” require punctuation after John to set off the name at the beginning of a letter or e-mail. For “Dear John,” use a comma; after “Hi, John,” use either a period or a dash.

And …

“4. Avoid too-casual closings. Ending messages with a standard sign-off such as “See ya” or “Later” can add a touch of your personality when communicating with friends, but play it safer in business e-mails. Opt for a standard complimentary closing such as “Sincerely,” “Respectfully” or “Thanks in advance.” And remember to use a comma after the closing before adding your name on the next line.”

Thanks to Calmetta Coleman of culpwrit.

Read Full Post »

Mommie, Dearest?

Not to make light of a serious subject; however, we believe this headline needs some comma consideration.

A wikiHow article has this title:

“How to Deal With a Genuinely Stupid, Mean Mother As a Teen”

 

(click here to see the real Web site)

It is not clear, from the title, who’s the teen.

As is: “How to Deal With a Genuinely Stupid, Mean Mother As a Teen”

With Comma Clout: “How to Deal With a Genuinely Stupid, Mean Mother, As a Teen”

Even better: “How to, As a Teen, Deal With a Genuinely Stupid, Mean Mother”

Read Full Post »

Cause, of death?

We saw this headline on the People’s Pharmacy Web site:

“Generic Drug Recall Linked to Deaths”

(click here to see the real Web site)

We believe that a comma could clear up any confusion about whether the drug or the recall was linked to deaths.

As is: “Generic Drug Recall Linked to Deaths”

With Comma Clout: “Generic Drug Recall(ed), Linked to Deaths”

Read Full Post »

Oh, Oprah!

Oh dear. This Oprah.com headline is in desperate need of a comma!

“How to Talk to Your Kids About Sex with Dr. Laura Berman”

(click here to see the real Web site)

As is: “How to Talk to Your Kids About Sex with Dr. Laura Berman”

With Comma Clout: “How to talk to Your Kids About Sex, with Dr. Laura Berman”

Read Full Post »

Schooling, at home?

We think this omission was a product of Ads by Google …

“Learn how to read and write English at-home with Penn Foster”

(the Web site does not seem to sport this error)

(click here to see the real Web site)

As is: “Learn how to read and write English at-home with Penn Foster” (At this time, we have no comment about the misused hyphen in this ad.)

With Comma Clout: “Learn how to read and write English at home, with Penn Foster”

Read Full Post »