Business & Technical Writing/punctuation question

Advertisement

Expert: Alice J. Bogert - 9/23/2008


Question
Dear Alice -- my boss is comma crazy.  In fact some of the other attorneys in our firm actually call him "the commakazie" (wrong sp., I know) behind his back for all the needless redrafts he does.  Can you tell me if the second comma in the following sentence is necessary?  I believe that it is not.  Thank you.  Maureen Hughes

"Additionally, we have obtained records from Bellevue Hospital Center, pursuant to an authorization provided by plaintiff’s counsel."

Answer
Dear Maureen,

The grammar rule says to use a comma before and/or after words or phrases that are NOT essential to the main idea of the sentence.  In other words, if you use a comma before and/or after a phrase, you should be able to remove the phrase and still have the sentence make sense.

In the example you gave, it could go either way depending on how you interpret the phrase following "Hospital Center."  If it's important to note on what authority medical records were obtained, the comma would not be used as that phrase would be essential to the sentence.  If it's not important to note on what authority records were obtained, then using a comma is correct.

Personally, I would rewrite that sentence to read, "Records from Bellevue Hospital Center were obtained through an authorization provided by plaintiff's counsel."

Workplace annoyances take their toll.  Remind yourself that the job is not your life; it's a stepping stone to retirement.  Give it your best, but don't take it too seriously.  

Take care.  I wish you well.

Alice J. Bogert

Business & Technical Writing

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Alice J. Bogert

Expertise

I have taught English grammar to elementary school, high school, and college students for several years in addition to private tutoring for students struggling with writing assignments. I also teach adult writing classes for business professionals in the private sector as well as for various government agencies. I have edited manuscripts and other writings submitted by various authors for publication to magazines and journals

Experience

I have studied English grammar for many years. While employed as a federal probation officer, I wrote hundreds of pre-sentence reports to assist federal judges in making fair and appropriate sentencing decisions. I've written short stories and poetry for publication, and I've helped write policy and procedure manuals for various government offices.

Organizations
National Association of Retired Federal Employees Writers Guild of America Professional Women's Assoc.

Publications
"Journal of Juvenile and Family Courts," 1978. "International Library of Poetry," 2003.

Education/Credentials
I have an M.A, Degree in Sociology, and I minored in English.

Awards and Honors
I received three meritorious quality step awards for excellence during my career as a federal probation officer. I was also a nominee for National Probation Officer of the Year in 1986. I am listed in the 1998 edition of "Who's Who in Professions."

Past/Present Clients
California County and State government Federal government Various School Districts Los Rio Community College District Readers' Digest

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.