comma before and after a date: leaves on Friday, 3 July 2015 at 10.45am for

[Karen123456]

Cortege leaves on Friday, 3 July 2015 at 10.45am for cremation at Mandai Crematorium Hall 1 at 11.45am.

The above is taken from the obituaries section of a local newspaper.

I wonder if s comma is necessary after "2015".

Thanks.

 

[natkretep]

I think it is optional, Karen.

You don't usually need to separate time adjuncts with commas. (Therefore: 'I saw him at 10 o'clock', not 'I saw him, at 10 o'clock'.)

However, because of the comma after Friday, '3 July 2015' can be thought of as parenthetical, where generally a pair of commas is used; this means that the date is set off as parenthetical information.

 

[Karen123456]

Thanks, natkretep.

 

[RM1(SS)]

I would use either two commas or no comma. The single comma looks very odd to me.

 

[natkretep]

Wouldn't you say it was conventional to put a comma between the day of the week and the date?

 

[RM1(SS)]

Yes. I probably picked up the no-comma habit while I was in the Navy.

 

[panjandrum]

I would use either two commas or no comma. The single comma looks very odd to me.

I have been conditioned to expect two or none in this situation.

Cortege leaves on Friday, 3 July 2015, at 10.45am for cremation at Mandai Crematorium Hall 1 at 11.45am.
OR
Cortege leaves on Friday 3 July 2015 at 10.45am for cremation at Mandai Crematorium Hall 1 at 11.45am.​

One comma would be very odd indeed.