If Not All, Then Most

Question

On page 1316 of the famous The Cambridge Grammar Of The English Language (TCGOTEL), the footnote contains this sentence:

"He has read, if not all then certainly most, of her novels."

Is the punctuation correct? I am thinking the second comma is misplaced.

Enoon · Accepted Answer

widenOn page 1316 of the famous The Cambridge Grammar Of The English Language (TCGOTEL), the footnote contains this sentence:"He has read, if not all then certainly most, of her novels."Is the punctuation correct? I am thinking the second comma is misplaced.

I wouldn't use any commas. Are you saying that the book has both commas in it?

Clive · Answer

I agree with you.

Another approach is to remove both commas.

Clive

Widen · Answer

I double checked.  The book has both commas indeed.  So, it is an oversight by the authors?  In a grammar book no less?

Clive · Answer

When you say that the second comma is 'misplaced', it implies you think it should be somewhere else, but not removed.
Where would you put it?

Clive

Enoon · Answer

I believe I've seen that sort of thing before. A Cambridge don can put a comma anywhere he likes. I think you should accept these and try to understand the thinking that put them there. I still wouldn't put either one, myself, though.

Widen · Answer

When you say that the second comma is 'misplaced', it implies you think it should be somewhere else, but not removed.
Where would you put it?

Would this be better?

"He has read, if not all, then certainly most of her novels."

Clive · Answer

No, I don' t like that idea.

If I had to use two commas, I'd writ it as
"He has read, if not all then certainly most of, her novels."

But it's awkward. I prefer no commas.

Clive

If Not All, Then Most

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