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Hi,
My son is on dictation level4, #69. I noticed on this one, and I've noticed on others in level 4, that they sometimes don't put commas where I think they should be. I don't have an English degree, but I thought I remembered that we are supposed to put commas around prepositional phrases. Also, I don't understand why "South" is capitalized.

Here is how #69 is typed in the appendix:
Last Wednesday when Jane came home from the South and called, "Prince, come here!" the dog tried to give her both paws at once, and showed by his joyful actions that he was glad to see her.

I thought it should be like this:
Last Wednesday, when Jane came home from the south and called, "Prince, come here!" the dog tried to give her both paws at once, and showed, by his joyful actions, that he was glad to see her.

Thank you!

All of the dictation passages are taken directly from a set of original dictation books used in the U.S. school systems in the early 1900s called Dictation Day by Day by Kate Van Wagenen. The passages are written exactly as they were in these books in order to preserve their form. Of course, you can always modify them if you wish. These books have stood the test of time and were suggested for use on Ambleside. Carrie is blessed to have slowly obtained an original set of these books from the same publishing time span so that the passages consistently rise in difficulty and are sequential with their bolded words. The copies she has even had leaves and flowers pressed between the pages - and notes in the margins. It felt as if we were holding a special piece of history in our hands as we went through them.

In Christ,
Julie

Thanks Julie! Yes, I know what a treasure those dictation books are and I've read on this board what a great find they were! I LOVE old books. I even looked them up online so I could see what they looked like. I have enjoyed using them with my son (level 4) and I have used the 1st dictation list with my daughter. I am very thankful for them! I like how the topics deal with everyday things the kids can relate to. Just wish I knew more about English when I come across one that I question. Maybe English rules were different back then? or maybe I'm just not remembering my English well from LONG LONG ago!

Thanks!

I can tell you why south is capitalized. I found this rule on a website "Capitalize points of the compass only when they refer to specific regions.
Examples: We have had three relatives visit from the South."
The rules for commas and prepostional phrases is tricky and depends on if they are in a series etc. So sometimes there are commas and sometimes not. From what I am finding it looks right. Sometimes commas are optional also so that might be where some of your confusion lies.