0
Prolix Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

Placement of Comma

Hi guys, a question about the placement of a comma.

Is it better to say, "He had, as we later found out, not been studying."

or

"He had not, as we later found out, been studying."

Thanks! Emotion: smile
  

Top answer

" It's writer's choice all the way. There is no right or wrong. Use the one that you think will produce the desired effect in the reader, or carries a tone consistent with the rest of the piece, or conveys the idea most clearly, or is put the way the character could be expected to put it, or whatever.

— Enoon

  • " It's writer's choice all the way.
  • There is no right or wrong.
  • Use the one that you think will produce the desired effect in the reader, or carries a tone consistent with the rest of the piece, or conveys the idea most clearly, or is put the way the character could be expected to put it, or whatever.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

4 Answers
0
There is also, "He, as we later found out, had not been studying." And, of course, "He had not been studying, as we later found out." And, "As we later found out, he had not been studying." It's writer's choice all the way. There is no right or wrong. Use the one that you think will produce the desired effect in the reader, or carries a tone consistent with the rest of the piece, or conveys the id
0
0
In my opinion, "had not been studying" is all part of the action of this sentence and I prefer to keep that together.

I would say, "He, as we later found out, had not been studying."

However, you generally have some sytlistic freedom.
0
0
As noted above, there are other way to say it.

Of your two options, I much prefer #2.

#1 makes the listener think it is a positive sentence, and then later causes the listener to have to revise his understanding.

#2 more quickly conve
0
0

Related Questions