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Ryansamturner Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

Comma Question.

In the below sentence should I have a comma before the word 'came'.

Everything was quiet. Then, out of nowhere came a sound.'
  

Top answer

I t's optional. Adding a comma there makes the phrase parenthetical. Not having a comma makes the phrase more part of the main idea, ie it adds importance to the phrase.

— Clive

  • I t's optional.
  • Adding a comma there makes the phrase parenthetical.
  • Not having a comma makes the phrase more part of the main idea, ie it adds importance to the phrase.
  • Clive
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4 Answers
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It's optional.

Adding a comma there makes the phrase parenthetical.
Not having a comma makes the phrase more part of the main idea, ie it adds importance to the phrase.

Clive
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Thanks Clive.

I think I'm going to enter a comma.

How about with this one, where the phrase out of nowhere appears at the end.

'Sarah placed her arms out in front of her, revealing a newly formed pathway, which seems to appear silently out of nowhere.'

Would you be inclined to put a comma in after 'silently'?
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Same comment. Do you want to add emphasis to 'out of nowhere''? Or not?

seemed

Do you need to say 'silently'? ie Could a pathway appear noisily?

Clive
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ryansamturnerThen, out of nowhere came a sound.'
I’d use either two commas or no commas there:

Then out of nowhere came a sound.
Then, out of nowhere, came a sound.
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