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JJDouglas Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
Trying to gather opinions on the punctuation of compound sentences of this type
I have asked similar questions relating to this in the past, but I would like to try and get a definitive answer as I am still hesitating what is best to do in my own writing and proofreading.
In a compound sentence when the second independent clause begins with an interrupter, how do you choose to punctuate it?
I think there are basically three options:
"The concert was great, but, unfortunately, it was a bit too crowded for me."
"The concert was great, but unfortunately, it was a bit too crowded for me."
"The concert was great but, unfortunately, it was a bit too crowded for me."
For a long time, I have been using the second option. I think that's because I read that's what you're meant to do in "Elements of Style" by William Strunk, and it just stuck. However, I realise that it may be outdated now. I think that nowadays there is a lot of preference for the third option.
It would be great if I could get different people's opinions and, if appropriate, links to any sources that could help clear this up.
In a compound sentence when the second independent clause begins with an interrupter, how do you choose to punctuate it?
I think there are basically three options:
"The concert was great, but, unfortunately, it was a bit too crowded for me."
"The concert was great, but unfortunately, it was a bit too crowded for me."
"The concert was great but, unfortunately, it was a bit too crowded for me."
For a long time, I have been using the second option. I think that's because I read that's what you're meant to do in "Elements of Style" by William Strunk, and it just stuck. However, I realise that it may be outdated now. I think that nowadays there is a lot of preference for the third option.
It would be great if I could get different people's opinions and, if appropriate, links to any sources that could help clear this up.
Top answer
JJDouglas I would like to try and get a definitive answer I doubt there is a "definitive" answer as different people will have different preferred styles. " This is the one I would probably choose. " This is technically correct, but seems like overkill to me.
- JJDouglas I would like to try and get a definitive answer I doubt there is a "definitive" answer as different people will have different preferred styles.
- " This is the one I would probably choose.
- " This is technically correct, but seems like overkill to me.
- " I don't like this one much.
- It makes "but unfortunately" seems like a parenthetical phrase, which it is not.
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3 Answers
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JJDouglasI would like to try and get a definitive answerI doubt there is a "definitive" answer as different people will have different preferred styles.
There is at least one other option:
"The concert was great, but unfortunately it was a bit too crowded for me."
This is the one I would probably choose.
JJDouglas
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Thank you for your reply.
As a follow-up question in regards to what you said about not liking having "but unfortunately" in commas, would you consider the following to be equally unfavourable?
"All these risks make construction a risky line of work, and if workers continually fail to observe and apply the proper safety measures, a disastrous incident is just waiting to happen.
As a follow-up question in regards to what you said about not liking having "but unfortunately" in commas, would you consider the following to be equally unfavourable?
"All these risks make construction a risky line of work, and if workers continually fail to observe and apply the proper safety measures, a disastrous incident is just waiting to happen.
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JJDouglas"All these risks make construction a risky line of work, and if workers continually fail to observe and apply the proper safety measures, a disastrous incident is just waiting to happen."This seems OK to me. I don't think this is just because of the length of "and if ... measures", since "Do you disagree, and if so, why?" also seems OK to me.
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