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JJDouglas Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

Using the phrase "but only if..."

Does the phrase "but only if" require a comma?
Or does it follow the same rules as "if" and is therefore subordinate?

I have seen it written both with or without and am confused over which is right.

For instance:
We can go to the amusement park but only if you behave.

or...

We can go to the amusement park, but only if you behave.
  

Top answer

JJDouglas We can go to the amusement park, but only if you behave. This is how I would write the sentence. I have a couple of British friends here in Seattle that argue that we Americans over-punctuate.

— Philip

  • JJDouglas We can go to the amusement park, but only if you behave.
  • This is how I would write the sentence.
  • I have a couple of British friends here in Seattle that argue that we Americans over-punctuate.
  • They both would most likely not use the comma here.
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1 Answers
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JJDouglasWe can go to the amusement park, but only if you behave.
This is how I would write the sentence. I have a couple of British friends here in Seattle that argue that we Americans over-punctuate. They both would most likely not use the comma here.
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