Punctuation question...1 or 2?

Question

Can we also ask punctuation questions? Grammar and punctuation go hand in hand.

Comma placement correct in 1 or 2, or are both correct?

John was unhappy with his wife, and quite frankly, he may divorce her.

John was unhappy with his wife, and, quite frankly, he may divorce her.

Thanks.

Avangi · Accepted Answer

This is indeed the place to ask punctuation questions. Sometimes they directly effect the grammar, sometimes not. Some commas are optional.

Both your examples are okay by me. I'd say only the comma after "wife" is required.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Can we also ask punctuation questions? Definitely.

Grammar and punctuation go hand in hand.

Comma placement correct in 1 or 2, or are both correct?

John was unhappy with his wife, and quite frankly, he may divorce her.

John was unhappy with his wife, and, quite frankly, he may divorce her.

You have to decide where you'd pause in speaking.

One reason would be if you want to give the listener a moment to think about what you have just said. Another is to indicate to the listener that some part of the remark is parenthetical.

You also need to consider that the trend in modern English is to use as few commas as possible.

I wouldbn't say it in the style of #1.

#2 is OK, but I'd probably also omit the comma before 'and'.

Another alternative is to omit all the commas, ie

John was unhappy with his wife and quite frankly he may divorce her.

'Was' seems like an odd choice of tense. If 'he may divorce her', you'd expect the present tense, ie 'John is unhappy . . .'.

Best wishes, Clive

Punctuation question...1 or 2?

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