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Snarf Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
A Parenthetical to Name Comma Query
"Your Honour, my client, Mrs. Sarah Smith is suing Mr. Jon Olson for punitive damages."
Is it optional whether I do or do not put a comma after "Sarah Smith," since "my client" is parenthetical and doesn't necessarily have to be there in the first place for the sentence to mean the exact same thing?
Thanks.
Is it optional whether I do or do not put a comma after "Sarah Smith," since "my client" is parenthetical and doesn't necessarily have to be there in the first place for the sentence to mean the exact same thing?
Thanks.
Top answer
In my English, a comma after Smith is imperative.
- In my English, a comma after Smith is imperative.
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8 Answers
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What do you mean in your English? You mean the way you read it in your head?
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No, I mean what I consider to be grammatically correct. In other words, I think it would be wrong to omit that comma.
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SnarfWhat do you mean in your English?I took AG's words to mean: In my variety of (American) English.
I was wrong. It doesn't matter. In my variety of (British) English, a comma after 'Smith' is essential.
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The parenthetical information is the second part, ie 'Mrs Sarah Smith'. Hence, the two commas.
To illustrate that, try using actual parentheses.
eg Not OK "Your Honour, ( my client ) Mrs. Sarah Smith is suing Mr. Jon Olson for punitive damages."
To illustrate that, try using actual parentheses.
eg Not OK "Your Honour, ( my client ) Mrs. Sarah Smith is suing Mr. Jon Olson for punitive damages."
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Clive try using actual parentheses.Without the space after the first parenthesis and the one before the last, of course.
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It's how I write them on the blackboard. I find it lends emphasis to the point I'm trying to teach if I write them that way.
If that's OK with you.
Clive
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If that's OK with you.
Clive
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