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Re: Commas after "i.e." and "e.g." (was: Re: [Ada] gnat_rmtexi: Use @./@: where appropriate.)
- To: fw at deneb dot enyo dot de, jsm28 at cam dot ac dot uk
- Subject: Re: Commas after "i.e." and "e.g." (was: Re: [Ada] gnat_rmtexi: Use @./@: where appropriate.)
- From: dewar at gnat dot com
- Date: Wed, 7 Nov 2001 07:18:58 -0500 (EST)
- Cc: gcc at gcc dot gnu dot org, oldham at codesourcery dot com
<<The reference given in
<URL:http://gcc.gnu.org/ml/gcc-patches/2001-06/msg01685.html> was The
Chicago Manual of Style, 13th edition. So we need to choose what rule we
follow in GCC. Suggestions?
>>
I object to the arbitrary comma rule here, it just adds noise. Almost all
rules that say "always add a comma here" are dubious. Commas produce a
pause in reading, and should only be used if that pause is appropraite.
By the way, McGraw Hill has guidelines that recommend against using i.e.
completely. Why? Because so many people misuse it to mean "for example",
that it can cause confusion. The copy editor for my book said " I
appreciate that you use i.e. correctly, but for an American audience I
still recommend against it" She has a point, and almost always it is
clearer to use "that is" or something similar.