Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
... while in 2011 [,] the rate was x%
English answer:
optional; frequently (and increasingly?) omitted
English term
... while in 2011 [,] the rate was x%
Jun 4, 2012 13:46: Charles Davis Created KOG entry
Non-PRO (1): Cilian O'Tuama
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Responses
optional; frequently (and increasingly?) omitted
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Note added at 11 mins (2012-05-30 10:01:47 GMT)
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All I am saying is that the answer to your question "do you need it" is no. There is no recognised rule that says you must include it. Arguably it is clearer if you include it, though I don't think so. But the most you might say is that it is preferable to include it, not that it is necessary.
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Note added at 17 mins (2012-05-30 10:07:48 GMT)
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Thinking about this, I actually find this comma intrusive, though I wouldn't say it's wrong. But pace Oliver, this is not an introductory phrase; "in 2011" is simply an adverbial expression placed before the subject. It is basically saying: "while the rate in 2011 was x%" or "while the rate was x% in 2011", and "in 2011" has been moved forward in the clause for emphasis. So the comma serves no syntactic function; you certainly wouldn't include it in the alternatives just quoted. Nor, do necessarily place a comma after an adverb that precedes the subject. You can if you like. "Last year we spent our holidays in France", or "Last year, we spent our holidays in France". As you prefer.
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Note added at 26 mins (2012-05-30 10:16:50 GMT)
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You may find this useful. It basically says that commas should be used after introductory "sentence adverbs" (things like "ironically" or "remarkably"), but are not necessary after preceding adverbs that modify just the verb (as is the case here), and that they are usually omitted in such cases.
http://grammartips.homestead.com/adverbs2.html
| agree |
Tony M
: I agree, these days, the tendency is to omit it; does depend a bit on how it flows on from what precedes it. One of my major international publishing customers has a style manual in which they reject the comma.
2 mins
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Thanks, Tony!
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airmailrpl
: -
30 mins
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Thanks, airmailpl!
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| agree |
Sheila Wilson
: Armorel makes a very good point in the discussion box
35 mins
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I agree; I hadn't thought of that angle. Thanks, Sheila!
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Yvonne Gallagher
: more than likely the comma is not necessary here...
41 mins
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Thanks, gallagy!
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B D Finch
4 hrs
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Many thanks, B D
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Lara Barnett
: I would omit it - maybe that is because I frequently see it like that.
1 day 8 hrs
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Thanks very much, Lara!
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Phong Le
2 days 3 hrs
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Thanks, Phong Le :)
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Italy
Texts with zest by a Chartered Linguist
Native in: English (Variants: British, UK)
Works in: Italian to English, English
... while in 2011, the rate was x% [YES]
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Note added at 1 hr (2012-05-30 11:01:33 GMT)
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Further to your discussion note at 12.57: better to rephrase -
"This year, the rate has risen to Y from the 2011 figure of X"
| agree |
Jenni Lukac (X)
: "whereas" might be better than "while", but without more context it's hard to tell.
1 min
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| agree |
Jack Doughty
4 mins
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| neutral |
Tony M
: I don't think necessarily 'preferable', and the modern trend is to omit them — UNLESS, of course, it is necessary for correct comprehension in relation to what precedes this.
8 mins
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Discussion
The whole thing would look like "This year, the rate [has] improved to reach Y, while in 2011 [,] it was X"