comma after 'everywhere' [adverb]: everyone, everywhere, by 2015

[julietatuya]

In the following sentence, should I include the comma after "everywhere"?

Without: The MDGs are a framework adopted by world leaders for the international community to work together toward a common end - making sure that human development reaches everyone, everywhere by 2015.

With:The MDGs are a framework adopted by world leaders for the international community to work together toward a common end - making sure that human development reaches everyone, everywhere, by 2015.

 

[owlman5]

This is an interesting question, Julieta Tuya. I can't think of a good functional reason for any comma between "everyone" and "everywhere", or after "everywhere". However, using two compounds with "every-" is unusual, and placing a comma before and after "everywhere" seems to make the adverb work something like a miniature non-essential explanatory phrase. I think you'll be safe in using the second version of your sentence.

It wouldn't surprise me if another member came to a different conclusion.

 

[chfattouma]

Hello,
the comma is redundant here as there isn't any other word to add to the list as in the following": everyone, everywhere, whenever...
the first alternative is the correct one

 

[Parla]

Both choices are grammatical. It's a matter of personal preferences. In English, we don't have rules for everything; there are often many ways to phrase and punctuate.

 

[panjandrum]

If you have one, you must have both.
So it should be:
... reaches everyone everywhere by 2015.
OR
... reaches everyone, everywhere, by 2015.

 

[brian]

I generally treat commas as indications of pauses when read aloud. When deciding whether to put a comma, I go by gut feeling to see whether I have a pause there, and my gut here agrees with panj: if I pause before everywhere, then I must also pause after it.