JJDouglas Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
Question on using commas with "then"
I have become a bit confused over using commas with "then".
I believe the general rule is that you don't need to use a comma when "then" means "at that time", but you do need to use a comma when it means "in that case", as the answer to the last question on this CMOS FAQ page discusses:
http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/qand...tml?page=1
So, for example, I understand why a comma would be used in the following because "then" is being used to mean "in that case".
"Is that it, then? You're just leaving?"
But is the same true for when "then" means "in that case" and comes at the beginning of the sentence?
"Then it's settled. We leave tonight."
I can't decide if a comma should be used after "then" or not. Applying the same logic from the rule above means that there should be one, but there's something about "Then, it's settled" that just seems off to me. Do you think one should be used, and if not, what is the reasoning behind the omission?
I believe the general rule is that you don't need to use a comma when "then" means "at that time", but you do need to use a comma when it means "in that case", as the answer to the last question on this CMOS FAQ page discusses:
http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/qand...tml?page=1
So, for example, I understand why a comma would be used in the following because "then" is being used to mean "in that case".
"Is that it, then? You're just leaving?"
But is the same true for when "then" means "in that case" and comes at the beginning of the sentence?
"Then it's settled. We leave tonight."
I can't decide if a comma should be used after "then" or not. Applying the same logic from the rule above means that there should be one, but there's something about "Then, it's settled" that just seems off to me. Do you think one should be used, and if not, what is the reasoning behind the omission?
Top answer
How the statement is phrased or emphasized in spoken English would largely determine comma use. For example: "Is that it then? " In speech, the first sentence would be spoken rapidly, since the speaker is upset, so no comma would be used.
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How the statement is phrased or emphasized in spoken English would largely determine comma use. For example:
"Is that it then? You're just leaving?" In speech, the first sentence would be spoken rapidly, since the speaker is upset, so no comma would be used.
"It that it, then? You won't reconsider?" Here the speaker is trying to convince the listener to reconsider, so there
"Is that it then? You're just leaving?" In speech, the first sentence would be spoken rapidly, since the speaker is upset, so no comma would be used.
"It that it, then? You won't reconsider?" Here the speaker is trying to convince the listener to reconsider, so there
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