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Eddie88 Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
How to punctuate a sentence, please.
Should the word therefore be separated from the sentence by commas in this sentence?
The fish was fresh and, therefore, satisfactory.
I feel it is restrictive and therefore doesn't need commas because if you take out the word 'therefore' it implies that it is read like this: The fish was fresh and satisfactory.
It no longer states that the fish was satisfactory because the fish was fresh as it now states that is fresh and satisfactory- suggesting it is satisfactory but not because it was fresh.
So, is it correct to leave out the commas for my above reason?
Second example, The striker can pass the ball out wide to perform a move, for example a cut.
Is it correct to have just the one comma before the word for? I feel that for example a cut is parenthetical information. I initially thought that a comma should go after example, too. But then it would mean that for example in non essential and could be left out of the sentence, but that would not make sense: the striker can pass the ball out wide to perform a move a cut.
Therefore, I feel the whole bit is parenthetical: for example a cut and not just for example. So how I have written it is correct, correct?
Is this all the correct reasoning?
Thanks
The fish was fresh and, therefore, satisfactory.
I feel it is restrictive and therefore doesn't need commas because if you take out the word 'therefore' it implies that it is read like this: The fish was fresh and satisfactory.
It no longer states that the fish was satisfactory because the fish was fresh as it now states that is fresh and satisfactory- suggesting it is satisfactory but not because it was fresh.
So, is it correct to leave out the commas for my above reason?
Second example, The striker can pass the ball out wide to perform a move, for example a cut.
Is it correct to have just the one comma before the word for? I feel that for example a cut is parenthetical information. I initially thought that a comma should go after example, too. But then it would mean that for example in non essential and could be left out of the sentence, but that would not make sense: the striker can pass the ball out wide to perform a move a cut.
Therefore, I feel the whole bit is parenthetical: for example a cut and not just for example. So how I have written it is correct, correct?
Is this all the correct reasoning?
Thanks
Top answer
Hi, Let me begin with a very general and subjective observation that we use fewer commas today than in earlier times. So, if you have two valid alternatives, favour the one with fewer commas. Should the word therefore be separated from the rest of the sentence by commas in this sentence?
- Hi, Let me begin with a very general and subjective observation that we use fewer commas today than in earlier times.
- So, if you have two valid alternatives, favour the one with fewer commas.
- Should the word therefore be separated from the rest of the sentence by commas in this sentence?
- The fish was fresh and, therefore, satisfactory.
- Your punctuation above seems fine to me.
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1 Answers
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Hi,
Let me begin with a very general and subjective observation that we use fewer commas today than in earlier times. So, if you have two valid alternatives, favour the one with fewer commas.
Should the word therefore be separated from the rest of the sentence by commas in this sentence?
The fish was fresh and, therefore, satisfactory.
Let me begin with a very general and subjective observation that we use fewer commas today than in earlier times. So, if you have two valid alternatives, favour the one with fewer commas.
Should the word therefore be separated from the rest of the sentence by commas in this sentence?
The fish was fresh and, therefore, satisfactory.
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