Tip from the Writing Center: Set off information with commas

This month’s writing tip is to use commas to set off all geographical names, items in dates (except the month and day), addresses (except the street number and name) and titles in names. 

Anyone who attended grammar school in the United States learned this rule early in their education; in fact, for many, this was the first time the comma was introduced to them. This is also one of the most often used comma rules by those who write in English.  

Examples: 

• Columbus, Ohio, gets its name from Christopher Columbus.  
• Cassandra Hirsh, D.O., was appointed the Interim Director of Hospice and Palliative Care at Akron Children’s Hospital on May 15, 2024. 
• The address of NEOMED is 4209 St. Rt. 44, PO Box 95, Rootstown, Ohio 44272. 
• Today’s date is July 9, 2024. 

- submitted by Brian Harrell, Writing Center specialist