My girlfriend and I were discussing the following sentence:
"Curiosity and diversity were discouraged, at times, disciplined."
I feel that there is clearly a larger pause with the first comma than with the second, and so there should also be a difference in punctuation. I don't have the technical knowledge to explain why, but I would like to know the reasons why I am right or wrong. I would prefer any of the following variations:
"Curiosity and diversity were discouraged, at times disciplined." (Omitting the second comma)
"Curiosity and diversity were discouraged. At times, disciplined." (I know this is technically wrong, but authors do it all the time if it flows better)
"Curiosity and diversity were discouraged; at times, disciplined." (If we treat the second half as an independent clause ["At times, they were even disciplined."] with the subject implied, then a semi-colon should be okay I think)
Can anyone comment on these variations and the relevant grammar rules?
Thank you,
Ryan
Best Answer
The semicolon and comma are the best option. You have two independent clauses, one of which elides the subject and verb, so you use a comma to indicate ellipsis.
This is noted in the Chicago Manual of Style §6.49, “commas to indicate elision”.