Question

Which sentence best shows correct comma usage?

A .What would you like Ken, for breakfast?
B. What would you like, Ken, for breakfast?
C. What would, you like Ken, for breakfast?
D. What would you like, Ken for breakfast?

Answer 1

The sentence that best shows correct comma usage is, indeed, letter B) What would you like, Ken, for breakfast?

Step-by-step explanation:

As we can see, the sentences in letter A - D are actually the same sentence with different punctuation. This sentence comes with a name right in its center: Ken. However, the speaker is not talking about Ken. The speaker is talking to Ken, addressing him, asking Ken a question. In that case, we have what is called a vocative - a word or phrase employed to address someone directly.

A vocative must always be set off by commas. If, for example, it had come at the beginning of the sentence, "Ken" would be followed by just one comma. But, since it came in the middle of the sentence, it needs a comma right before it, and another one right after it. Thus, the best option is letter B:

What would you like, Ken, for breakfast?

Another example with a vocative in the middle of the sentence would be:

- What do you think, doctor, of these results?

Answer 2

The sentence which best shows correct comma usage is " What would you like, Ken, for breakfast?" Option B is correct.

When we use vocatives in sentences, that is, names that are being addressed direcly, they must be separated with a comma or commas from the rest of the sentence.

In this particular case, the word Ken is between commas to be separated from the rest of the sentence. However, since vocatives tend to be at the beginning or end of a sentence, it should be semarated only by one comma.