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Proofreading Service - Pain in the English

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Comma before “respectively”?

When using the word respectively after listing items and corresponding relations do you use a comma before it? Example: The corresponding sewer projections for the monthly and yearly flows are 18 and 200, respectively.

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That's right.

cern Jul-27-2011

5 votes   Permalink   Report Abuse

In the example you gave, it is not needed. Only use a comma if it provides clarity. The sentence is perfectly clear without the comma.

AnWulf Aug-02-2011

14 votes   Permalink   Report Abuse

I think the example is incorrect. The word ‘respectively’ is essential to the sentence’s meaning and shouldn’t be separated by a comma.

sigurd Aug-03-2011

7 votes   Permalink   Report Abuse

IMO "respectively" is not essential, but is used as a formality.

koam Aug-18-2011

5 votes   Permalink   Report Abuse

I can't believe that everyone is missing the point on this one. The comma should be a semi-colon as the separation is being used for a list. The other basic reason that a semicolon is needed is that it is a longer break and gives the reader a chance to process the info given and then to anticipate the complicated relationship implied by the term "respectively".

BrockawayBaby Aug-18-2011

3 votes   Permalink   Report Abuse

Troll or joking?

koam Aug-18-2011

48 votes   Permalink   Report Abuse

Completely serious, koam. Was there something I missed. I always was taught that semicolons are used in lists. That's what I was trying to say.

I do have some problems with my brain and face because of birth defects, andd so I don't apreciate the "troll" comment.

BrockawayBaby Aug-18-2011

5 votes   Permalink   Report Abuse

@Brock ... How would you even write that with a semicolon? No semicolon, colon, or comma needed in this example.

The only thing missing hasn't anything to do with layout of the sentence but some units would be nice ... 18 gal? 200 L?

AnWulf Aug-18-2011

5 votes   Permalink   Report Abuse

In this case, ‘respectively’ is essential (no comma) as it denotes ‘in the order already mentioned’, with 18 being the monthly sewer projection and 200 being the yearly counterpart. Without ‘respectively’, it would be unclear which projection each figure refers to or if the monthly and yearly projections both are 18 and 200.

http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/respectively

sigurd Aug-19-2011

8 votes   Permalink   Report Abuse

essential: nonsense
comma: optional

koam Aug-19-2011

5 votes   Permalink   Report Abuse

koam: assertions
sigurd: supported assertions

BrockawayBaby Aug-19-2011

5 votes   Permalink   Report Abuse

Do you really need "respectively"? It doesn't say anything that isn't already said; it's superfluous; the order is already mentioned. Delete it. Use "respectively" when it truly matters:

The corresponding sewer projections for the monthly and yearly flows are 18 and 200; they were 15 and 139, respectively, under previous projections.

GWU Aug-21-2011

15 votes   Permalink   Report Abuse

GWU: correct.

koam Aug-22-2011

3 votes   Permalink   Report Abuse

Commas are used to sort of rope off dependent clauses that, although they add to the sentence, aren't imperative to the sentence. You can remove any phrase in a sentence that is corded off by commas and the sentence should still be complete and readable. Yes, I know there are a few other ways to use commas, don't get me wrong.

When you add the comma in front of "respectively," it makes sense because the sentence can stand alone without the addition of that word.

jacque Sep-17-2011

7 votes   Permalink   Report Abuse

I was going to suggest to GWU that "respectively" is not superfluous in this case, but the earlier "corresponding" does make "respectively" a bit redundant. I would delete one or the other. It reminds me of sentences like "Also, I like pizza, as well"

porsche Sep-18-2011

8 votes   Permalink   Report Abuse

What on earth are you on about, Brock? Unless you're joking and I missed the humour. haha. There is no list there...

Jadeno Feb-06-2012

4 votes   Permalink   Report Abuse

"Troll" refers to "trolling" a method of fishing where a lure is dragged behind a boat moving thru the water to entice the fish to bite. An Internet "troll" is someone who tosses out comments with the intention of getting people to "bite" - That is saying things you don't mean just to see who will argue with you. It does (and never has) referred to a monster that lives under a bridge. There is no context of it's usage that would support that.

@Brock - I think you are trolling, which refers solely to your actions, and not your (supposed) physical appearance.

KWM Nov-23-2012

10 votes   Permalink   Report Abuse

KWM are you serious? The fishing term is TRAWLING. Trolls were mythical norse beings that were wicked and mischievous. I do hope you're being ironic.

Respectively is required to show monthly is 18 and yearly is 200. Informally you can do without it but when comparing figures I think it should be included. Anwulf was correct, only use a comma if your sentence is getting unwieldy and it's required for clarity.

Bolle Apr-19-2013

1 vote   Permalink   Report Abuse

Sorry Bolle, but you are completely incorrect. "Trawling" is fishing by dragging a net along the sea bottom. "Trolling" is fishing by moving or dragging a fishing line with hook and/or bait.

porsche Apr-22-2013

11 votes   Permalink   Report Abuse

porsche et al are of course right about trolling being a type of fishing (although I confess I had to check a dictionary, as this seems to be more of a North American usage). Hence the meaning of to search for something - "politicians trolling for votes", as well as the newer meaning that KWM explained (also given at Oxford Online).

Incidentally, there is another British meaning of "troll" as a verb- "walk, stroll", probably from Polari, a kind of cant slang, some of whose word were made famous by Kenneth Williams and Hugh Paddick on "Round the Horne". "Look who's trolling in!"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polari

Google site searches of both American and British newspapers would suggest that use of comma or no comma before "respectively" is fairly evenly divided.

One editing blog suggests it's context specific - "If the sentence is long and has many parameters, then use the comma for clarity. If not, the comma may be omitted". And he adds there is no difference between AmE and BrE here. Seems a sensible approach to me.

http://blog.editage.com/taxonomy/term/350#.UXWZdkrQWM4

Warsaw Will Apr-22-2013

5 votes   Permalink   Report Abuse

I stand corrected! I have never heard of trolling as a fishing term and I've worked with fishermen!

Bolle Apr-23-2013

2 votes   Permalink   Report Abuse

Basically trolling means diverting people's attention form the matter at hand to end up in an absurd discussion about trolling or sometimes about trawling!

Irnavash May-02-2013

9 votes   Permalink   Report Abuse

No no no!

The best way to convey this is as follows:
Sewer projection flow monthly: 18
Sewer projection flow yearly: 200

Respectfully,
GKB

Simples!

GKB Sep-11-2013

1 vote   Permalink   Report Abuse

One use of the comma in English is to indicate a slight pause; so there is a difference between "Roses are red and violets are blue" and "Roses are red, and violets are blue" - the latter has a slight pause before "and".
In the same way I would suggest the comma before "respectively" marks a slight pause.
One can in fact say it either way.
The only corollary to this is that in recent years commas have been dying out - I use them only where necessary these days to make the meaning clear or to clearly indicate a slight pause.

jayles Sep-11-2013

4 votes   Permalink   Report Abuse

I'll bite.

BrockawayBaby, a semicolon should NOT be used, as there not a list. There are only two items. Even if there was a list, there would not be a semicolon before "respectively" anyway. "Respectively" is a comment on the order of "18" and "200," not part of the items. Your solution is grammatically incorrect.

brookworm Nov-06-2015

2 votes   Permalink   Report Abuse

To the chair of the governors and governors, respectively,
(is this the right way to open a letter?)

Kaz Vaz Feb-05-2017

0 vote   Permalink   Report Abuse

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