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Subject:Re: To comma or not to comma From:"Bonnie Granat" <bgranat -at- editors-writers -dot- info> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Mon, 13 Oct 2003 19:01:10 -0400
----- Original Message -----
From: "Alan Bucher" <bucherino -at- yahoo -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Sent: October 13, 2003 06:54 PM
Subject: To comma or not to comma
>
> A quick question on usage. Take the phrase "high-priority overdue
> item". Should there be a comma after "high-priority"?
>
> I guess technically "high-priority" modifies "item", and not
> "overdue". But it could be taken as modifying "overdue item". Can
> someone help out with the rule on this?
>
> __________________________________
I would think that "high-priority" modifies "overdue item," meaning that this
is one overdue item that has a high priority for being made NOT overdue. In
that case, no comma. If the phrase actually means something else, then I'd use
a comma.
I've noticed recently that the comma we're talking about is less frequently
used. For example: "end-to-end service-level management." I think your example
is like that one.
___________________________
Bonnie Granat
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