Quick comma question

[herkiefan]

Hi,

I've read several posts on TT referring to commas, but I still have a question.

Which one is correct?

In 2008 we won the championship.
In 2008, we won the championship.

I really hate starting a sentence like this. However, my boss likes it and I'm not really sure which one is correct.

I would prefer:
We won the championship in 2008.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,

Mike

“Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.”-Albert Einstein

 

[CajunCenturion]

I would use the comma.
In 2008, we won the championship.

However, it's not required.
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[EdwardMartinIII]

We won the championship in 2008."

Excellent solution. Avoid the hassle in the first place.

Edward

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[diogenes10]

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_commaint.html

I'd vote for no comma.

 

[j0ckser]

try saying it out loud. do you need to pause? if so use a comma. in this case i see no need for a pause = no comma.

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[dgillz]

A comma would be needed if conveying the results of multiple years' results such as:

In 2007, we lost in the first round; in 2008, we won the league championship.

Absent context like this, I would say no comma.

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[SantaMufasa]

Absent context like this, I would say no comma.

So, are you saying that you would write:

In 2007 we lost in the first round.

By extension, you would write:

In 2007 we lost in the first round. In 2008 we won the league championship.

If I have interpretted your assertions correctly, then your original prescription ("A comma would be needed if conveying the results of multiple years' results...") is irrelevant...the commas do not become necessary just because you are optionally joining two otherwise complete sentences with a semicolon.

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[ChrisHunt]

I'd go with J0ckser's "read it out loud and see if you pause" apporach. Of course, you might pause in places where I wouldn't, but that just gives your piece of writing something of your voice rather than mine. That's a good thing.

Here's how I might use/not use commas:

In 2008 we won the championship. This success came after the new manager instituted a wide range of coaching and squad changes.

The new manager instituted a wide range of coaching and squad changes. In 2008, we won the championship.

In reading the second passage, I'd place an emphasis on "2008" and follow it with a slight pause - hence the comma. In the first passage, I'd place what emphasis there was on the word "championship". Your milage may vary.

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