comma with apposition (name): French Prime Minister Francois Fillon

[anti_freaks]

Hi there,

The French Prime Minister Francois Fillon has defended President Sarkozy's decision to deport thousands of Roma people, saying the majority of French people support the policy.

In written English, which one is correct?
The French Prime Minister Francois Fillon has...
The French Prime Minister, Francois Fillon, has...
The French prime minister, Francois Fillon, has...

 

[Rover_KE]

1. I would write 'The French prime minister Francois Fillon has...'

A moderator will soon remove your second question.

Rover

 

[anti_freaks]

Huh...Why is that?

 

[Rival]

In 'traditionally correct' English, the title would be capitalised 'Prime Minister' and his name would be between commas, as in your second alternative.

In reality, the use of capital letters, commas, etc, is determined by the house style of the particular newspaper or magazine, and each house has their own way of doing it.

Yes, "all the more" is a set phrase, (usually followed by "so" in order to avoid repetition of the adjective).

He could have said "made more so because of..." or "made more violent because of..." and it would have meant the same -- it just would have lost a little elegance.
.

 

[Rival]

Huh...Why is that?

Because you're supposed to ask only one question per thread.

I answered your first two questions because they stem from the same quote, but even that is stretching the rules.
.

 

[anti_freaks]

Thank you very much, RivalIt's clear now.

 

[e2efour]

1. I would write 'The French prime minister Francois Fillon has...'

A moderator will soon remove your second question.

Rover

To use the jargon, non-restrictive appositives should be separated by commas. I see no reason to depart from this rule (or recommendation, call it what you will).

It is ok to remove the commas if we remove "The". Prime minister then becomes a title, as in "Prime Minister Francois Fillon", a style commonly used in the US and more recently copied in British newspapers.

 

[Harry Batt]

I'll agree with Rival's post concerning the commas. The current view on commas is to eliminate them as long as the meaning is clear without them.

 

[e2efour]

I'll agree with Rival's post concerning the commas. The current view on commas is to eliminate them as long as the meaning is clear without them.

I'd be grateful for a reference about this.

 

[Harry Batt]

One source would be The Harper Collins Concise Handbook for Writers. They devote 2 full pages under the subject, Unecessary commas.

 

[e2efour]

And do they specifically mention non-restrictive appositives?

I shall certainly take a look at this book, if I can find it. Especially in view of, among others, the Wikipedia article on apposition, which says:
While a non-restrictive appositive must be preceded or set off by commas, a restrictive appositive is not set off by commas.[1]
The reference is to Princeton University's course for writers.

 

[Harry Batt]

e2 I did not run across non-restrictive appositives.