A very expensive comma: $2.13 Million CAD
Monday, August 07, 2006
For some reason I can't explain, aside from bad grammar, I tend to use too many commas in my writing. And it is not that I don't know the rules of comma usage, because I do. And is not that I wasn't penalized by my English teachers in high school, because I was. So I can only conclude that my Spanish language roots make my brain to logically separate sentences with commas where none are needed. (I have gotten marginally better, though--not much, just a bit.)
However, my commas don't cost me $2.13 Million yet. Ouch. I would think some lawyer got his or her hand slapped for this extra character.
This is the sentence that will cost Rogers (and ultimately their customers) all that money:
[The agreement] shall continue in force for a period of five years from the date it is made, and thereafter for successive five year terms, unless and until terminated by one year prior notice in writing by either party.
If you don't see it right away, the "bad" comma is the one before "unless."
(Perhaps my choice of never using an
unmentioned cable company for anything will pay off, i.e., I won't be paying for their mistakes.)
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