How should this sentence be punctuated??

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Anonymous

#214817 Thu, 13 Apr 06 01:42 AM

Is it correct as is? or should there be commas around the "in addition to, or rather than,..."???

If company personnel will be attending these conferences in addition to or rather than staffing the exhibit, they must register as attendees for the event and pay the appropriate conference registration fee.

Thanks in advance for the help - this one is really bothering me! Smile [:)]

Anonymous

Commas

Clive

#214838 Thu, 13 Apr 06 05:05 AM

Hi,

You could put commas where you suggest. However, I wouldn't say it is necessary. The meaning seems clear without them. In additon, a comma represents a pause in speech and I don't feel a great need to pause before and after 'or rather than'.

Best wishes, Clive

Clive

Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004

Canada

Veteran Member (22,568)

El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo

RRJohnson

#215017 Thu, 13 Apr 06 04:58 PM

I think you need the commas as you stated. However the whole sentence seems awkward to me. The "in addition to or rather than" seem to cancel each other out. It seems like you are giving instructions that all conference-attending company personnel whether they are staffing or not will register and pay the fee.

This seems clearer to me:

If company personnel will be attending these conferences, even if they are staffing the exhibit, they must register as attendees for the event and pay the appropriate conference registration fee.

Or:

Even if they are staffing the exhibit, company personnel who will be attending these conferences must register as attendees for the event and pay the appropriate conference registration fee.

RRJohnson

Joined on Fri, Apr 7 2006

San Diego

New Member (08)

Commas