comma with apposition (name): to tell his wife, Sasha, then

[onemorning85]

Which of the following is correct?

If he were to tell his wife, Sasha, then...
If he were to tell his wife Sasha, then...
If he were to tell his wife Sasha then...

 

[Smithy73]

If he were to tell his wife, Sasha, then... is correct but the rule doesn't just apply to names.
E.g. There are fourty-nine people, I think, that do....
Use this when you want to add extra detail - The sentence could read: 'If he were to tell his wife then...' but you are giving extra detail about his wife, i.e. her name, so that's why you need the commas.

 

[Copyright]

Which of the following is correct?

If he were to tell his wife, Sasha, then...
If he were to tell his wife Sasha, then...
If he were to tell his wife Sasha then...

What is your opinion? And your concern?

 

[onemorning85]

Nothing, I'm all set with this question. I think I knew the first one was correct, but I just LIKED the second one. I read it in a slightly different context (in a paper I'm editing) and it just seemed so right.

 

[Copyright]

If one opinion will do you, then you're all set.

 

[onemorning85]

I decided it on my own, not because of the above reply, though I'm grateful for it. If you have a reason for why the first example isn't correct, though, I'd be very curious.

 

[Copyright]

I think both 1 and 2 are correct. Where a name is closely associated with a title or identifier, you can leave out the comma. At least that's my opinion.

Personally, I would use 2.

 

[onemorning85]

I like that answer. But opinion? Do you remember if you ever learned this or read this? As much as grammatical rules are...annoying sometimes and should be changed, I like to stick to them.

 

[Forero]

If he has more than one brother: "his brother John".
If he has only one brother: "his brother, John" or "his brother John".
I presume he has only one wife, so: "his wife, Sasha" or "his wife Sasha".

 

[onemorning85]

So we have the majority of votes for the first example, one vote for the second, and now, a vote for the third. Hmm...

 

[Copyright]

From the Chicago Manual of Style:

5.49 Unless it is restrictive (see 5.50) a word, phrase, or clause that is in apposition to a noun is usually set off by commas….

The leader of the opposition, Senator Darkswain, had had an unaccountable change of heart.
Jeanne DeLor dedicated the book to her only sister, Margaret.
My wife, Elizabeth, had written to our congressman.

5.50 If the appositive has a restrictive function, it is not set off by commas:

My son Michael was the first one to reply.
Walpole had borrowed the rusty bread slicer from his friend Teetering.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So you decide on commas based on whether you believe your usage falls into 5.49 or 5.50.

I like 5.50 for If he were to tell his wife Sasha, then...
But I can see where others would like 5.49 for If he were to tell his wife, Sasha, then...

That’s why I said it was my opinion.

 

[Copyright]

So we have the majority of votes for the first example, one vote for the second, and now, a vote for the third. Hmm...

There is no difference between 2 and 3 with regard to setting Susan off with commas. It's just a matter of whether you like a comma after an introductory clause.

(A majority of two?)

 

[onemorning85]

Okay, in this context, only 1 and 2 are correct. Since the sentence begins with an if clause, a comma must follow Sasha (so the third one is out). Since Sasha can be considered parenthetical, a comma can precede Sasha too.

 

[Forero]

I have just come to realize that "If he were to tell his wife, Sasha, then..." might be using Sasha for direct address. In other words, out of context, this sentence might not be saying his wife's name is Sasha but that the speaker was addressing someone named Sasha. (Is Sasha a man's name or a woman's name?)

 

[onemorning85]

Well, Sasha is the name of the person that he may tell, yes...and it is also acting as an appositive. Hmm.

I've seen Sasha used for both men and women.

 

[e2efour]

In "If someone were to tell his wife Sasha that..." I would assume that the person in question was in favour of polygamy or lived in a society where a man can have more than one wife. Without a comma there is no apposition.

 

[onemorning85]

Well, it can be a matter of what's his wife's name, not which wife is it.