* Finding an old thread...

[wulliam]

I know there's a thread on here somewhere about text schemes and the awkward comma between the date and the place of, say, birth. The comma being awkward because it's not needed if there's no date, and if there's no place it's also not needed, but it is needed when both are present.

Can someone point me towards that thread - I've just spend 30 minutes trying to find it.

Thanks!

[AdrianBruce]

While I can be as pedantic as the next person, this is one case where I'd suggest cutting the Gordian Knot. Why do you need the comma between date and place anyway?

If your date ends in a year, then it's not going to get mixed up with the following place name. I suppose that if you had an odd date phrase, such as "After they left England" it might confuse someone if followed by a place name, but other than that?

Nor can I see a real possiblity of confusion if the place name is "March" - although if you only had a year for the date?

Certainly I omit the comma in that place and have never been confused yet.

Anyway - it's not answering your question but might be worth thinking about.

[tatewise]

I cannot find any such thread either. Have you any idea what date it was posted?

I agree with Adrian ~ why is the comma needed at all?

[wulliam]

Thanks to you both - I've got a very clear memory of the thread, but no matter...if I ever find it again I'll remember to bookmark it next time!
Fair enough - the comma probably isn't needed!