Should I put a comma after a state before a country?
0
Example: Sacramento, CA, USA
I am certain about the comma after the city before the state but what about between the state and the country?
commas
asked Mar 7 '16 at 21:19
PfordPford
313
add a comment |
0
Example: Sacramento, CA, USA
I am certain about the comma after the city before the state but what about between the state and the country?
commas
asked Mar 7 '16 at 21:19
PfordPford
313
1
This is a question of style, and the answer may vary by context and by style manual. Are you formatting a postal address or are you referring to a location in prose? What style guide do you primarily follow?
– choster
Mar 7 '16 at 21:59
This has been approached if not answered before. The use of commas is to help us, not to cause us problems or give legalists more ammunition. And yes, rules are necessary to interpret the sort of help the poor overworked comma is giving. But which of these is easier on the eye and brain? .............................<< Sacramento, CA USA >> / << Sacramento, CA, USA >> And if you decide there is a definite answer, does that usage lead to confusion because it might be misinterpreted?
– Edwin Ashworth
Mar 7 '16 at 22:01
1
Certainly the commas would be important for readability if spelled out "Sacramento, California, United States of America".
– MetaEd♦
Mar 7 '16 at 22:10
This is for a sign
– Pford
Mar 7 '16 at 22:45
These commas are virtually identical in function to the separators in say 11 : 22 am or £3··7s··6d. Trying to justify them or otherwise is just querying useful conventions.
– Edwin Ashworth
Mar 10 '16 at 23:52
add a comment |
0
0
0
Example: Sacramento, CA, USA
I am certain about the comma after the city before the state but what about between the state and the country?
commas
asked Mar 7 '16 at 21:19
PfordPford
313
Example: Sacramento, CA, USA
I am certain about the comma after the city before the state but what about between the state and the country?
commas
commas
asked Mar 7 '16 at 21:19
PfordPford
313
asked Mar 7 '16 at 21:19
PfordPford
313
asked Mar 7 '16 at 21:19
PfordPford
313
asked Mar 7 '16 at 21:19
PfordPford
313
asked Mar 7 '16 at 21:19
PfordPford
313
313
1
This is a question of style, and the answer may vary by context and by style manual. Are you formatting a postal address or are you referring to a location in prose? What style guide do you primarily follow?
– choster
Mar 7 '16 at 21:59
This has been approached if not answered before. The use of commas is to help us, not to cause us problems or give legalists more ammunition. And yes, rules are necessary to interpret the sort of help the poor overworked comma is giving. But which of these is easier on the eye and brain? .............................<< Sacramento, CA USA >> / << Sacramento, CA, USA >> And if you decide there is a definite answer, does that usage lead to confusion because it might be misinterpreted?
– Edwin Ashworth
Mar 7 '16 at 22:01
1
Certainly the commas would be important for readability if spelled out "Sacramento, California, United States of America".
– MetaEd♦
Mar 7 '16 at 22:10
This is for a sign
– Pford
Mar 7 '16 at 22:45
These commas are virtually identical in function to the separators in say 11 : 22 am or £3··7s··6d. Trying to justify them or otherwise is just querying useful conventions.
– Edwin Ashworth
Mar 10 '16 at 23:52
add a comment |
1
This is a question of style, and the answer may vary by context and by style manual. Are you formatting a postal address or are you referring to a location in prose? What style guide do you primarily follow?
– choster
Mar 7 '16 at 21:59
This has been approached if not answered before. The use of commas is to help us, not to cause us problems or give legalists more ammunition. And yes, rules are necessary to interpret the sort of help the poor overworked comma is giving. But which of these is easier on the eye and brain? .............................<< Sacramento, CA USA >> / << Sacramento, CA, USA >> And if you decide there is a definite answer, does that usage lead to confusion because it might be misinterpreted?
– Edwin Ashworth
Mar 7 '16 at 22:01
1
Certainly the commas would be important for readability if spelled out "Sacramento, California, United States of America".
– MetaEd♦
Mar 7 '16 at 22:10
This is for a sign
– Pford
Mar 7 '16 at 22:45
These commas are virtually identical in function to the separators in say 11 : 22 am or £3··7s··6d. Trying to justify them or otherwise is just querying useful conventions.
– Edwin Ashworth
Mar 10 '16 at 23:52
1
1
This is a question of style, and the answer may vary by context and by style manual. Are you formatting a postal address or are you referring to a location in prose? What style guide do you primarily follow?
– choster
Mar 7 '16 at 21:59
This is a question of style, and the answer may vary by context and by style manual. Are you formatting a postal address or are you referring to a location in prose? What style guide do you primarily follow?
– choster
Mar 7 '16 at 21:59
This has been approached if not answered before. The use of commas is to help us, not to cause us problems or give legalists more ammunition. And yes, rules are necessary to interpret the sort of help the poor overworked comma is giving. But which of these is easier on the eye and brain? .............................<< Sacramento, CA USA >> / << Sacramento, CA, USA >> And if you decide there is a definite answer, does that usage lead to confusion because it might be misinterpreted?
– Edwin Ashworth
Mar 7 '16 at 22:01
This has been approached if not answered before. The use of commas is to help us, not to cause us problems or give legalists more ammunition. And yes, rules are necessary to interpret the sort of help the poor overworked comma is giving. But which of these is easier on the eye and brain? .............................<< Sacramento, CA USA >> / << Sacramento, CA, USA >> And if you decide there is a definite answer, does that usage lead to confusion because it might be misinterpreted?
– Edwin Ashworth
Mar 7 '16 at 22:01
1
1
Certainly the commas would be important for readability if spelled out "Sacramento, California, United States of America".
– MetaEd♦
Mar 7 '16 at 22:10
Certainly the commas would be important for readability if spelled out "Sacramento, California, United States of America".
– MetaEd♦
Mar 7 '16 at 22:10
This is for a sign
– Pford
Mar 7 '16 at 22:45
This is for a sign
– Pford
Mar 7 '16 at 22:45
These commas are virtually identical in function to the separators in say 11 : 22 am or £3··7s··6d. Trying to justify them or otherwise is just querying useful conventions.
– Edwin Ashworth
Mar 10 '16 at 23:52
These commas are virtually identical in function to the separators in say 11 : 22 am or £3··7s··6d. Trying to justify them or otherwise is just querying useful conventions.
– Edwin Ashworth
Mar 10 '16 at 23:52
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
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1
I think these commas are appropriate, as each hyper-location serves as an apposition. However, the postal service discourages punctuation, as it is just noise for their OCR machines.
edited 2 hours ago
Sir Sudo
31
answered Mar 7 '16 at 22:11
AmIAmI
3,2701617
This is not apposition, as there is not a direct re-addressing of the referent. Contrast: The bathroom, the smallest room in the house, is on the first floor. = The bathroom, [which is] the smallest room in the house, is on the first floor. // Sally, [who is] their eldest daughter, is getting married next week. /// *Sacramento, which is CA, ... Here, you need to insert the preposition 'in', showing the non-equivalence of 'Sacramento' and 'CA'. /// As stated above, readability rather than rules-of-thumb should be the guiding factor here (though it would admittedly be best not to annoy the PO)
– Edwin Ashworth
Mar 8 '16 at 0:19
Excellent point; a hyper-location is not a hypernym. Assuming a preposition [at] is too much. The hyper-location is more like a surname. The comma serves more like a hyphen, since the location name may already be compound.
– AmI
Mar 10 '16 at 23:19
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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I think these commas are appropriate, as each hyper-location serves as an apposition. However, the postal service discourages punctuation, as it is just noise for their OCR machines.
edited 2 hours ago
Sir Sudo
31
answered Mar 7 '16 at 22:11
AmIAmI
3,2701617
This is not apposition, as there is not a direct re-addressing of the referent. Contrast: The bathroom, the smallest room in the house, is on the first floor. = The bathroom, [which is] the smallest room in the house, is on the first floor. // Sally, [who is] their eldest daughter, is getting married next week. /// *Sacramento, which is CA, ... Here, you need to insert the preposition 'in', showing the non-equivalence of 'Sacramento' and 'CA'. /// As stated above, readability rather than rules-of-thumb should be the guiding factor here (though it would admittedly be best not to annoy the PO)
– Edwin Ashworth
Mar 8 '16 at 0:19
Excellent point; a hyper-location is not a hypernym. Assuming a preposition [at] is too much. The hyper-location is more like a surname. The comma serves more like a hyphen, since the location name may already be compound.
– AmI
Mar 10 '16 at 23:19
add a comment |
1
I think these commas are appropriate, as each hyper-location serves as an apposition. However, the postal service discourages punctuation, as it is just noise for their OCR machines.
edited 2 hours ago
Sir Sudo
31
answered Mar 7 '16 at 22:11
AmIAmI
3,2701617
This is not apposition, as there is not a direct re-addressing of the referent. Contrast: The bathroom, the smallest room in the house, is on the first floor. = The bathroom, [which is] the smallest room in the house, is on the first floor. // Sally, [who is] their eldest daughter, is getting married next week. /// *Sacramento, which is CA, ... Here, you need to insert the preposition 'in', showing the non-equivalence of 'Sacramento' and 'CA'. /// As stated above, readability rather than rules-of-thumb should be the guiding factor here (though it would admittedly be best not to annoy the PO)
– Edwin Ashworth
Mar 8 '16 at 0:19
Excellent point; a hyper-location is not a hypernym. Assuming a preposition [at] is too much. The hyper-location is more like a surname. The comma serves more like a hyphen, since the location name may already be compound.
– AmI
Mar 10 '16 at 23:19
add a comment |
1
1
1
I think these commas are appropriate, as each hyper-location serves as an apposition. However, the postal service discourages punctuation, as it is just noise for their OCR machines.
edited 2 hours ago
Sir Sudo
31
answered Mar 7 '16 at 22:11
AmIAmI
3,2701617
I think these commas are appropriate, as each hyper-location serves as an apposition. However, the postal service discourages punctuation, as it is just noise for their OCR machines.
edited 2 hours ago
Sir Sudo
31
answered Mar 7 '16 at 22:11
AmIAmI
3,2701617
edited 2 hours ago
Sir Sudo
31
edited 2 hours ago
Sir Sudo
31
edited 2 hours ago
Sir Sudo
31
31
answered Mar 7 '16 at 22:11
AmIAmI
3,2701617
answered Mar 7 '16 at 22:11
AmIAmI
3,2701617
answered Mar 7 '16 at 22:11
AmIAmI
3,2701617
3,2701617
This is not apposition, as there is not a direct re-addressing of the referent. Contrast: The bathroom, the smallest room in the house, is on the first floor. = The bathroom, [which is] the smallest room in the house, is on the first floor. // Sally, [who is] their eldest daughter, is getting married next week. /// *Sacramento, which is CA, ... Here, you need to insert the preposition 'in', showing the non-equivalence of 'Sacramento' and 'CA'. /// As stated above, readability rather than rules-of-thumb should be the guiding factor here (though it would admittedly be best not to annoy the PO)
– Edwin Ashworth
Mar 8 '16 at 0:19
Excellent point; a hyper-location is not a hypernym. Assuming a preposition [at] is too much. The hyper-location is more like a surname. The comma serves more like a hyphen, since the location name may already be compound.
– AmI
Mar 10 '16 at 23:19
add a comment |
This is not apposition, as there is not a direct re-addressing of the referent. Contrast: The bathroom, the smallest room in the house, is on the first floor. = The bathroom, [which is] the smallest room in the house, is on the first floor. // Sally, [who is] their eldest daughter, is getting married next week. /// *Sacramento, which is CA, ... Here, you need to insert the preposition 'in', showing the non-equivalence of 'Sacramento' and 'CA'. /// As stated above, readability rather than rules-of-thumb should be the guiding factor here (though it would admittedly be best not to annoy the PO)
– Edwin Ashworth
Mar 8 '16 at 0:19
Excellent point; a hyper-location is not a hypernym. Assuming a preposition [at] is too much. The hyper-location is more like a surname. The comma serves more like a hyphen, since the location name may already be compound.
– AmI
Mar 10 '16 at 23:19
This is not apposition, as there is not a direct re-addressing of the referent. Contrast: The bathroom, the smallest room in the house, is on the first floor. = The bathroom, [which is] the smallest room in the house, is on the first floor. // Sally, [who is] their eldest daughter, is getting married next week. /// *Sacramento, which is CA, ... Here, you need to insert the preposition 'in', showing the non-equivalence of 'Sacramento' and 'CA'. /// As stated above, readability rather than rules-of-thumb should be the guiding factor here (though it would admittedly be best not to annoy the PO)
– Edwin Ashworth
Mar 8 '16 at 0:19
This is not apposition, as there is not a direct re-addressing of the referent. Contrast: The bathroom, the smallest room in the house, is on the first floor. = The bathroom, [which is] the smallest room in the house, is on the first floor. // Sally, [who is] their eldest daughter, is getting married next week. /// *Sacramento, which is CA, ... Here, you need to insert the preposition 'in', showing the non-equivalence of 'Sacramento' and 'CA'. /// As stated above, readability rather than rules-of-thumb should be the guiding factor here (though it would admittedly be best not to annoy the PO)
– Edwin Ashworth
Mar 8 '16 at 0:19
Excellent point; a hyper-location is not a hypernym. Assuming a preposition [at] is too much. The hyper-location is more like a surname. The comma serves more like a hyphen, since the location name may already be compound.
– AmI
Mar 10 '16 at 23:19
Excellent point; a hyper-location is not a hypernym. Assuming a preposition [at] is too much. The hyper-location is more like a surname. The comma serves more like a hyphen, since the location name may already be compound.
– AmI
Mar 10 '16 at 23:19
add a comment |
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1
This is a question of style, and the answer may vary by context and by style manual. Are you formatting a postal address or are you referring to a location in prose? What style guide do you primarily follow?
– choster
Mar 7 '16 at 21:59
This has been approached if not answered before. The use of commas is to help us, not to cause us problems or give legalists more ammunition. And yes, rules are necessary to interpret the sort of help the poor overworked comma is giving. But which of these is easier on the eye and brain? .............................<< Sacramento, CA USA >> / << Sacramento, CA, USA >> And if you decide there is a definite answer, does that usage lead to confusion because it might be misinterpreted?
– Edwin Ashworth
Mar 7 '16 at 22:01
1
Certainly the commas would be important for readability if spelled out "Sacramento, California, United States of America".
– MetaEd♦
Mar 7 '16 at 22:10
This is for a sign
– Pford
Mar 7 '16 at 22:45
These commas are virtually identical in function to the separators in say 11 : 22 am or £3··7s··6d. Trying to justify them or otherwise is just querying useful conventions.
– Edwin Ashworth
Mar 10 '16 at 23:52