Learn English – Two consecutive adverbs using comma

adverbscommaslists

Is it proper to use this instance of two consecutive adverbs separated by a comma?

e.g. "He seriously, actually has this problem."

I have seen some consecutive adverbs be okay, but others not.
Thank you in advance!

Best Answer

Sure. The comma stands in for an elided conjunction. From The Lodger by Marie Belloc Lowndes:

Again she glanced at him quickly, furtively, but he seemed just as usual

Your example is a little odd because while people have serious problems, we usually don't say that they have them seriously, i.e., in a serious way. The sentence also has an echo of an introductory adverb --

Seriously, he actually has this problem

which means, "I'm serious about his having this problem."

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