English Language & Usage Asked by Evilmeow on December 19, 2020
I’ve browsed a lot on the Internet and couldn’t find the answer on how to use commas on the next examples. Probably, it’s because I don’t know how these constructions are called? I’d appreciate some help with this aspect, too. I’ll drop a few examples.
1. And, if I had to guess, I’d say she is the one.
–>Here, I used the commas like this because I think the logical order is "And I’d say she is the one if I had to guess." ( I know about "and" at the beginning, just an example)
2. He was in danger, and, by the look on their faces, there was no coming back.
–> Here, I used the commas like this because I think the normal order is "He was in danger and there was no coming back by the look on their faces"
3. I wanted to eat a pizza, but, because I had already eaten, I just drank a glass of water.
–> Here, I used the commas like this because I think the normal order is "I wanted to eat a pizza, but I just drank a glass of water because I had already eaten."
4. I came home from work, and, eventhough I was tired, I still repaired the fence.
–> Here, I used the commas like this because I think the normal order is "I came home from work, and I still repaired the fence eventhough I was tired.
Please let me know if/where I am wrong and how are these constructions called. Any comment/ link to an article is very helpful and appreciated.
Thank you all in advance
One thing I notice in 2, 3 and 4 is that you put commas before the conjunctions "and" and "but". This is neither necessary nor helpful. I need only consider one of your examples to illustrate the point. In its simplest form it is "I came home from work and repaired the fence." Now add the non-restrictive supplementary clause (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_relative_clauses) as an insertion, separated from the main statement by two commas. "I came home from work and, even though I was tired, I still repaired the fence." This is the correct version.
Your example 1 takes a similar analysis, even though you start with "And". In this case the simplest form is "And she is the one.", presumably an emphatic statement following some introductory precedent. For example: "I had to choose the best woman. And she is the one." The supplementary clause is then inserted, separated as above from the main body by two commas: "And, if I had to guess, I'd say she is the one."
Answered by Anton on December 19, 2020
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