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Goronsky Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

comma

Can I omit the comma before 'Jennifer' here? I'm not speaking to Jennifer; I am going to ask her something.

I need to ask my wife, Jennifer.
  

Top answer

You can.

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5 Answers
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You can.
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Can I omit the comma in these too and leave as is?

My brother Frank was there. (I have 1 brother.)

My friend Jamie hates gossip. (I have only 1 friend.)

My best friend Lou passed away. (I have only 1 best friend.)

And in this one, can I strictly use commas throughout?

This:
My wife Debby, my daughter Samantha and my son Ted will be there. (1 wife, 1
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goronskyI need to ask my wife, Jennifer.
This sentence is ambiguous with or without the comma. If you are addressing Jennifer and she is not your wife, then a clear versions is: Jennifer, I need to ask my wife.
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goronsky: Can I omit the comma in these too

My brother Frank was there. (I have 1 brother.)

My friend Jamie hates gossip. (I have only 1 friend.)

My best friend Lou passed away. (I have only 1 best friend.)
Yes.

goronsky:

This:
My wife Debby, my daughter Samantha and my son Ted will be there. (
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Aspara GusI thought she was his wife, since the original post clarifies "I'm not speaking to Jennifer. I am going to ask her something".
It's not clear to me who 'her' is in: " I'm not speaking to Jennifer; I am going to ask her something". It seems as though he is not speaking to Jennifer at the moment, but he is going to speak to her, to ask her something.
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