Search results for 'tag:Commas tag:American English' matching tags 'Commas' and 'American English'

Re: The question mark/comma/quotation mark debacle

RayH — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:30:19 GMT

Please note that American English likes to place the final punctuation mark inside a title or quotation, even though it doesn't form part of it.
The British regard this practice as illogical.
AmE: He's always wanted to read "Moby Dick," "Oliver Twist" and "The Great Gatsby."

BrE: He's always wanted to read "Moby Dick", "Oliver Twist" and "The Great Gatsby".

Here is the link to the site this came from if you want to check it yourself. The relevant section is near the bottom of the screen under the heading "quotation marks".

HTH

http://www.davidappleyard.com/english/punctuation.htm

Re: Quotations, commas, and capitalization

Grammar Geek — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 21:07:29 GMT

Sorry - I had a very small window and got mixed up. Yes, I meant Option 1.

I don't know where this idea about the colon being American English came from. I never use a colon to introduce a simple quote.

Re: Punctuation inside the quotation marks

Anonymous — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 05:51:16 GMT

Commas and periods go inside the quotation marks only in American English. I'm American, so they look great that way; but I'm not sure it would be helpful to teach this in Europe. I normally just tell my students how the British do it.

Re: Comma after i.e. and/or eg.?

milky — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 00:15:39 GMT

JaCKo__007 wrote:

A coma question!

I've found that American based writers use commas after 'i.e.', but what of it in British English and does it then apply to eg. as well?

Does a comma go after i.e. or e.g.?

Both abbreviations i.e. and e.g. are preceded by a mark of punctuation, usually a comma. In American English, both are generally followed by a comma, though not in British English, and are not italicized. E.g. may also be followed by a colon, depending on the construction. In British English, the term is often written as eg with the periods omitted.

Re: Usage of a comma before 'and' (Guest: Tharabg)

Grammar Geek — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 13:29:42 GMT

Hello Anon.

Please see the post above yours, which mentions the serial (sometimes called Oxford) comma. It is optional, but consistency is key. It's not correct to say that American English always puts it there - see the AP Stylebook, for example.

Re: Usage of a comma before 'and' (Guest: Tharabg)

Anonymous — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 10:42:37 GMT

Actually in American English comma is put against the last items. e.g. sales, customer support, and quality. Britishers dont put the comma.

Re: (comma) that/which [American English]

Yoong Liat — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 11:09:34 GMT

So "that flows eastward from Tibet to the China Sea." is non-restrictive.
Yes, it is non-restrictive, but 'which' should be used, not 'that'.

Re: (comma) that/which [American English]

Teo — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 10:56:49 GMT

I am very familiar with Chinese geography. The Chang Jiang is the longest river in China.

So "that flows eastward from Tibet to the China Sea." is non-restrictive.

Re: (comma) that/which [American English]

Yoong Liat — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 10:47:16 GMT

Hi Amy

The longest river in China, that flows eastward from Tibet to the China Sea. It is also called the Yangtze.

On second thoughts, if "that flows ... China Sea" is a non-restrictive clause, then 'which' should be used. The reason is the word before 'that' should not have a comma in similar sentences like the one in question.

Best wishes

Re: (comma) that/which [American English]

Yoong Liat — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 06:05:39 GMT

Thanks, Amy, you're right. I didn't notice the non-restrictive part of the sentence. I also agree that the sentence is awkward.

Best wishes