How to punctuate an example indicated by "say"?

Question

I'm wondering how commas should be placed around the word "**say**" and the following clause in a sentence like this: > If you have, say, a bucket, that you would like to fill with water, then ... This is how I *speak* the sentence, with minor beaks at ever comma. But it looks odd in text. I've seen others use punctuation in other seemingly random configurations, including with no commas at all, which looks even worse. One of the reasons I can't work it out is that the bucket here appears to be acting like the subject, *and* a separate clause (although one that can't be removed without breaking the sentence). Is there a "best" choice of punctuation for a sentence like this? And is there a name for this kind of built-in-example-clause-thingy?

Answer 1

If you have, say, a bucket that you would like to fill with water, then... .

If you have an introductory "if" clause, then the following clause should begin with "then." (As in this example)

"Say" works as a transitional expression, and is therefore set off by commas.

Answer 2

Hi! You punctuated that sentence correctly. Whenever you add a comment like “say” or an interjection of any kind, it is set off by commas. Also, the second phrase beginning with “that,” can sometimes be called a “relative clause” when it can be excluded from the sentence. A relative clause adds extra information to the sentence, but is not a necessary component of the sentence. Thus it is set apart by commas. Words that are not necessary to the main independent clause are set off by commas. In other words, if you can remove the extra interjected words or phrases from the sentence...and what’s left still functions as a complete sentence with a subject and verb as basis, then you place commas around the word or phrases you are inserting - showing their removability. If the second part of your sentence with the “that” clause is necessary to the sentence, you do not put commas around it. The same is true for “appositives” where you can insert clarifying information, but it is not necessary to the meaning of the sentence.

In your case, the phrase starting with “that...” is NOT used as a relative clause because it is a necessary part of your sentence. The comma is not needed before “that...” in your sentence. HOWEVER, I suggest removing some of the informality of one’s speech and choose simpler, more formal phrasing for written work. For example, I might say, “If you have a bucket, for example, that....” In this case, both commas are used only for the phrase “for example,” and NOT for the dependent clause, “that...”

Also, an extra note: “bucket is not the “subject” of the sentence; it is the “object.” “You” is the “subject” and “have” is the verb.

I hope this helps!

Linda T., M.Ed.

Reading and English Language Specialist

Answer 3

In this case, "say" should be set off with commas, as you've indicated. You could replace it with a phrase like "for example," which would also take commas on either side. Lots of commas can make a sentence look extra clunky, but in this case they would make it more readable.

An alternative approach is to simply rearrange the sentence a bit:

"Let's say you have a bucket that you would like to fill with water..."