Comma placement in "developing cutting edge websites and previously video games"

Question

This is the opening line of my CV so I would like it to be correct. Would this be the correct place to put the comma? I've always been taught not to put a comma before and.

I’m a talented and versatile programming and UI professional with 5 years of commercial experience in developing cutting-edge websites, and previously video games.

Related: Comma before last item in a list – RegDwigнt Jul 04 '11 at 10:54 — RegDwigнt, Jul 04 '11 at 10:54
"To my parents, the Pope and Mother Teresa." – apaderno Jul 04 '11 at 16:07 — apaderno, Jul 04 '11 at 16:07

score 4 · Accepted Answer · 2011-08-05T15:36:19.720

4

The comma should be omitted altogether if you are referring to A and B.

I’m a talented and versatile programming and UI professional with 5 years of commercial experience in developing cutting-edge websites and previously video games.

However one may introduce an optional pair of bracketing commas to set off the weak interruption previously.

I’m a talented and versatile programming and UI professional with 5 years of commercial experience in developing cutting-edge websites and, previously, video games.

edited Aug 05 '11 at 15:36

answered Jul 04 '11 at 10:55

I'm not sure about that. I think that the sentence reads better if the "previously" is presented as a clause. "and, previously, video games" reads more naturally to me. – Andy F Jul 04 '11 at 11:07
2

I agree with @Jasper that "previously" should be weakly bracketed with commas.
However, the improved punctuation does not remove an ambiguity. Does the OP mean that he has 5 years of commercial experience in developing cutting-edge websites and, previously, 5 years of commercial experience in developing video games? With the sentence as it is, I am left unsure about the nature and length of the video game experience the OP has.

It might be better to write something like: "with 3? years of experience in developing video games, followed by 5 years of commercial experience in developing cutting
– Shoe Aug 06 '11 at 07:45
I have purposely left it ambiguous. – Ryall Aug 09 '11 at 15:44

score 1 · Answer 2 · edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:38

1

This question addresses a similar problem, except with the conjunction "but", not "and" as here.

Basically, the same principles apply. Commas originally weren't used before conjunctions, but now they are. Thus, there is nothing wrong with your adding the comma behind "and". In fact, I would suggest:

...developing cutting-edge websites, and previously, video games.

Hope that helps!

edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:38

Community

1

answered Jul 04 '11 at 11:03

Thursagen

41,919

So, you don't find anything strange in "to my parents, the Pope and Mother Theresa," do you? – apaderno Jul 04 '11 at 20:51

Comma placement in "developing cutting edge websites and previously video games"

2 Answers2