Oh God Commas

Question

Does it make sense to consider "Oh God" an interjection, and so only put a comma in front of "God," but then, in that same work, only consider "Oh" an interjection when "Oh, God" is the only thing that is being said? For example:

1. "Oh God, I can't believe this," he said.
2. "Oh, God," he moaned while rubbing his eyes.

If a comma is put in front of "Oh" in the first sentence, it could look like he's actually talking to God, which he's not. In the second one, nothing is following "Oh, God," so it's like saying "Oh, no," in which case the "Oh" is definitely the interjection. (And, yes, I know that "no" is not a name like "God" is, but I'm just using it as an example of similarity.) Does that make sense?

Thanks.

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

I think you are over-analyzing this matter in a way that a native speaker would not.

Both ways sound fine to me, with no real difference in intended meaning..

Clive

CalifJim · Answer

SnarfIf a comma is put in front of "Oh" in the first sentence, it could look like he's actually talking to ***,

I don't think so. To make it look like he's talking to ***, I would use "O ***" (vocative use). "Oh, ***" is the form with the interjection "oh".
_________
In a description of how to express the vocative in English:

The first is the archaic “O.” For example, “Praise the Lord, O my soul” for Psalm 103 is clearer. But it sounds archaic, because we don’t use “O” in normal speech in English. (“O police officer, please don’t give me a ticket…”)

http://goddidntsaythat.com/2010/01/12/q-and-a-how-do-you-work-o-vocative/

CJ

Snarf · Answer

CliveHi,I think you are over-analyzing this matter in a way that a native speaker would not.Both ways sound fine to me, with no real difference in intended meaning..Clive

English is actually my first language, I'm just a perfectionist. It's one of the by-products of my OCD. Let me ask you, though, Clive: If you were reading a book and you came across example one, and then you kept reading and came across example two, would you find it inconsistent on the part of the writer that the latter had the comma after "Oh," but the former didn't?

Thanks.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

I doubt that I'd notice.

If I did, I think I'd probably just take the comma to mean that he said the phrase more slowly and thoughtfully.

Clive

Fivejedjon · Answer

Snarf If you were reading a book and you came across example one, and then you kept reading and came across example two, would you find it inconsistent on the part of the writer that the latter had the comma after "Oh," but the former didn't?

You didn't ask me, but I am going to respond anyway. I don't care if a writer or speaker is inconsistent in their (I know, I know) use of language. The primary purpose of language is to communicate, and if communication happens, then the language has worked. The conventional rules on punctuation are a useful oil to smooth the written machinery of communication, not an end in themselves. So long as a different grade of oil does not impair communication, then does it matter if it's not the one that some expert recommends?

Oh God Commas

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