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I'm thinking about making a headline. I know you would use a comma here:

Professor Bill Bick then told me, "There will be more jobs when the economy recovers."

What about here?

Read Professor Bill Bick's article, "Why There Will be More Jobs When the Economy Recovers."

Are commas used before article titles that are quoted?

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+1 Good question. I have seen a comma used in such a place, though it was unnecessary. In fact, there are situations where a comma there would create plenty of confusion, if not a change of meaning itself. Maybe it is advisable to avoid it at all times. –  Kris Mar 2 '12 at 4:11

3 Answers 3

up vote 2 down vote accepted

At this website, I found the following guidance:

When you are explaining a particular word or phrase by using quotations around it, or identifying the name of a book, song or movie, you will not necessarily need to use a comma before the item. In these cases, the quotations are used to support the primary meaning of the sentence. For example:

  The movie “Bedknobs and Broomsticks” is still one of my all-time favorites!

Interestingly enough, the rule is not definitive - "will not necessarily need" implies it wouldn't necessarily be improper to use the comma, if you felt it would be beneficial.

Incidentally, most of the comma guidance I perused - including guidance on ELU - indicated that the comma in your first example would indeed be proper, as you stated.

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There is no need for the comma in either case.

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I wonder if the first might be a British English thing. In American English, in my experience, you would never see the first without a comma preceding it. –  Lynn Mar 1 '12 at 22:05
+1 Now it is settled. I would like to quote your answer as the reference in future. –  Kris Mar 2 '12 at 4:13

Yes, you do need commas in both instances. Hope I helped!

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