comma, dash or ellipsis after 'except' [preposition]: Except, that

[HSS]

Hi, I feel uncomfortable with the comma after 'except' here. Is it just me? If the comma represents a pause, shouldn't it be an ellipsis (...) or a dash (---)?

Chuck was on a trip out of Columbus; he'd phoned, and the call-waiting had clicked in, and Jack had spoken with him before coming back to me.
Nothing extraordinary about that. It happens every second of the day on telephones in every city in the country.
Except, that question; Where do the best thing go? What do the teammates think, once the first, dearest team has had to disband? ('And You Know You Should Be Glad' by Bob Greene)

 

[Beryl from Northallerton]

I see no reason for it, personally.

 

[Glenfarclas]

This shouldn't be read as a grammatical comma, but as the author's attempt to put a natural thinking and speech pattern into writing. To me, a dash would be too abrupt, and an ellipsis would be too long and mysterious. I agree with the comma here, taking into consideration the type of writing that Greene is engaged in.

 

[owlman5]

People sometimes use commas to represent omitted words. It's possible that Greene has used a comma to replace the word "for". Then again, he might have used it to represent a pause. I don't think there really is any one correct answer here.

Writers sometimes use punctuation in idiosyncratic ways, particularly when they write fiction. Some punctuate their sentences in accordance with the recommendations offered in some style manual. Others are more unorthodox. As I recall, Céline used almost nothing but ellipses in many of his novels. I doubt that any "authority on punctuation" would approve of that approach, but he was happy with it.

 

[HSS]

People sometimes use commas to represent omitted words. It's possible that Greene has used a comma to replace the word "for".

Hi, owlman. Interesting. I thought it would be an apostrophe that would do the job. Greene may have wanted to place a clear pause here so he could sweep the next part through. I've seen numerous people who use commas excessively. So, maybe I shouldn't be surprised.

 

[CarriKP]

People sometimes use commas to represent omitted words. It's possible that Greene has used a comma to replace the word "for". Then again, he might have used it to represent a pause. I don't think there really is any one correct answer here.

Writers sometimes use punctuation in idiosyncratic ways, particularly when they write fiction. Some punctuate their sentences in accordance with the recommendations offered in some style manual. Others are more unorthodox. As I recall, Céline used almost nothing but ellipses in many of his novels. I doubt that any "authority on punctuation" would approve of that approach, but he was happy with it.

I agree there isn't any one correct answer here.