Question about bad editing

[Lumara]

Has any writer here ever had an editor tell you to make a revision to an article, and you know that editor's instructions weren't correct? How did you handle it? I just had that happen, and it is frustrating.

Today I submitted my first article for Remilon, and it was returned by the editor for revision, which is to be expected when starting out there. I incorporated all of her comments, but one really bugged me, because I know it is incorrect, but since she's the editor, I had to add incorrect punctuation to a perfectly good sentence. Here is the sentence she wanted me to add punctuation to:

The residency program in Phoenix, AZ gives graduates the opportunity to study and use Spanish while treating a population that consists mostly of Spanish-speaking clients.

The editor said I needed to insert a comma after the state abbreviation AZ. I changed it, but sent the comment that I didn't think it was correct, and that I didn't understand why she wanted a comma there. I'm awaiting her reply, and it makes me wonder about the ability of some of the people they've hired as editors.

This is my first assignment with them, so I don't want to start out by making waves, but as an experienced writer it really irked me to have an editor tell me something I know is incorrect. Did I handle it properly? I just can't overlook something that is obviously wrong.

[rjweaver10]

I think it's one of those things where you pick your battles.

[Hoping2]

The editor was correct.

[beanandpumpkin]

The editor is mistaken, and I think you handled it correctly.

[Lumara]

rjweaver wrote:

I think it's one of those things where you pick your battles.

You're right, but only a writer who is a stickler for correct grammar and punctuation would understand how irksome it is.

Originally Posted by Hoping2

The editor was correct.

Could you explain why? I could agree that placing a comma there would be correct if the sentence had been written with this type of phrasing:

“The residency program, which is located in Phoenix, AZ, gives graduates the opportunity to study and use Spanish while treating a population that consists mostly of Spanish-speaking clients”

..but that wasn't the case.

beanandpumpkin wrote:

The editor is mistaken, and I think you handled it correctly.

Thanks, beanandpumpkin. I was polite in my comments to the editor and am just trying to understand where she is coming from since that doesn't follow any kind of style guide or rule I'm familiar with. The editors were so much better at wisegeek. I may not have agreed with the subjective revisions they made, but they never used poor grammar or punctuation.

[Hoping2]

I guess I'm quoting AP and Chicago. In those, the state is always set off in commas when the city is used. But then, the abbreviation isn't in AP. That's just the postal abbreviation. So, it will probably come down to the site's own guidelines. If it were me, I'd certainly use the comma. I've never had an editor who didn't require it.

[Hoping2]

Here are a few resources:

Rules for Comma Usage
Top 5 Comma Errors « Terribly Write
Chicago Style Q&A: Commas
Grammar and Punctuation Tips

[cassandra]

I agree the editor is correct. I actually remember learning that in grade school. I used to be one of those dorks who LOVED English class because I loved drawing those sentence structure diagrams. Oh crap, I don't know what they are called.... Anyone else do those when you were a kid and know what I'm talking about?

Oops, sorry for hijacking!

[beanandpumpkin]

Originally Posted by Hoping2

Here are a few resources:

Rules for Comma Usage
Top 5 Comma Errors « Terribly Write
Chicago Style Q&A: Commas
Grammar and Punctuation Tips

Interesting! I guess I'm mistaken. Thanks for linking; it's always good for a grammar-nerd to learn new tricks, LOL.

[Lumara]

Thanks for posting those resources, Hoping. I'd never seen a comma used that way before nor rules saying it should be. Interesting...