Vindicated Yet Again!

I am a technical communicator (among other things). Our motto is "no nit too small to pick". Especially when it comes to documentation. I am also an English teacher. Therefore, I'm a double whammy for any student, client, or unsuspecting text maker who plays fast and loose with punctuation, grammar and usage.

Rather heartening recently to hear that precise comma placement has been upheld in the courts. Much to Rogers Communications dismay, an unfortunate comma in a contract may cost them more than 2 million dollars. The punctuation question was sufficient reason for the other party in the contract, Aliant, to test it in court, and win.

Page 7 of the contract states: 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.”

Rogers thought it had locked in the deal for five years. Aliant disagreed, saying the second comma lends meaning to the sentence such that the clause "unless and until..." applies to the first part of the sentence AS WELL AS the second part. The regulator upheld this reading, according to the rules of punctuation.

Next time a techwriter or an English teacher tells you where to put (or NOT put) your comma, believe her. Especially if you're a lawyer.