{"id":9083,"date":"2020-10-30T16:17:12","date_gmt":"2020-10-30T16:17:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/?p=9083"},"modified":"2023-04-13T21:58:33","modified_gmt":"2023-04-13T21:58:33","slug":"comma-usage-unfortunately","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-usage-unfortunately\/","title":{"rendered":"Comma before or after &#8220;unfortunately&#8221;: The Definitive Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>img#mv-trellis-img-1::before{padding-top:150%; }img#mv-trellis-img-1{display:block;}<\/style><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While a ship navigates via radar and the three kings by a star, a reader is <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-before-or-after-also-the-definitive-guide\/\"><b>also<\/b><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">guided by punctuations in texts.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Punctuations, in essence, serve as mountain beacons so readers so do not get lost in the savage jungle of words.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Without punctuations such as commas, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/academicguides.waldenu.edu\/writingcenter\/undergraduate\/paragraphs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>sentences and paragraphs<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> would be <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-before-or-after-nonetheless\/\"><b>nonetheless<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> incoherent and monotonous.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The following sections aim to provide some clarity on comma-related decisions together with the adverb that we use to express disappointment from unpleasant circumstances &mdash; <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">unfortunately.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<br>\n[toc]\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b>Do we need a comma before or after &ldquo;unfortunately&rdquo;?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I&rsquo;m guessing nobody would like the answer to the question above which is&hellip;it depends.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Commas may come before, after, and even both before and after <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">unfortunately.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Typically, a comma is clipped before <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">unfortunately <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">when it appears in the middle of the sentence or at the end as a parenthetical entity or afterthought.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meanwhile, a <\/span>comma is placed after <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">unfortunately when it is used as a disjunctive adverbial at the beginning of a clause.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Whereas<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, no commas are needed when it functions as an adverb of manner that modifies an adjacent verb, adjective, or adverb.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-9089\" src=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Comma-Usage-with-Unfortunately.png\" alt=\"Comma Usage with Unfortunately\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Comma-Usage-with-Unfortunately.png 320w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Comma-Usage-with-Unfortunately-200x300.png 200w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Comma-Usage-with-Unfortunately-683x1024.png 683w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Comma-Usage-with-Unfortunately-768x1152.png 768w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Comma-Usage-with-Unfortunately-561x842.png 561w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Comma-Usage-with-Unfortunately-364x546.png 364w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Comma-Usage-with-Unfortunately-728x1092.png 728w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Comma-Usage-with-Unfortunately-608x912.png 608w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Comma-Usage-with-Unfortunately-758x1137.png 758w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Comma-Usage-with-Unfortunately.png\"><\/noscript><img loading=\"eager\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-9089 eager-load\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201000%201500'%3E%3Crect%20width='1000'%20height='1500'%20style='fill:%23e3e3e3'\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" alt=\"Comma Usage with Unfortunately\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1500\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Comma-Usage-with-Unfortunately.png\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-1\" data-src=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Comma-Usage-with-Unfortunately.png\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Comma-Usage-with-Unfortunately.png 320w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Comma-Usage-with-Unfortunately-200x300.png 200w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Comma-Usage-with-Unfortunately-683x1024.png 683w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Comma-Usage-with-Unfortunately-768x1152.png 768w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Comma-Usage-with-Unfortunately-561x842.png 561w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Comma-Usage-with-Unfortunately-364x546.png 364w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Comma-Usage-with-Unfortunately-728x1092.png 728w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Comma-Usage-with-Unfortunately-608x912.png 608w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Comma-Usage-with-Unfortunately-758x1137.png 758w\" data-svg=\"1\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b>Comma before &ldquo;unfortunately&rdquo;<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A comma insertion is utterly necessary when strategizing texts with parenthetical expressions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although these expressions help in creating a stylistic flavor to texts, they are also grammatically dispensable.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>Using <\/b><b><i>unfortunately<\/i><\/b><b> as a parenthetical element<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In discourse, we have the tendency to insert qualifying thoughts halfway through a statement or as a closing remark.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These speech elements are known as parentheses or parentheticals.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Parentheticals are responsible for providing extra layers of context to the information we wish to impart.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These expressions are grammatically inessential which means they are only added for rhetoric and interjectory purposes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unfortunately <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">could be shoved in as an introduction to a parenthetical expression or as a one-man utterance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When this is employed, a comma is always necessary before the adverb being discussed and right after <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">unfortunately <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">when used alone.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"su-note\" style=\"border-color:#e5e54c;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#FFFF66;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\">The new policy, unfortunately enacted out of bureaucracy, has triggered a nationwide strike.<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"su-note\" style=\"border-color:#e5e54c;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#FFFF66;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\">Luke, unfortunately, has been retrenched from his company.<\/div><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b>Comma after &ldquo;unfortunately&rdquo;<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another major task of the adverb being explained is to reflect the writer or speaker&rsquo;s point of view by framing an entire clause. When this is applied to the word <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">unfortunately, <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">we refer to it as a disjunct adverbial.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Disjunctive adverbs are the kind of adverbials that enable the writer to express personal views and comments toward the intended written or oral information content which may appear as a word, phrase, or clause.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This means that disjunctive adverbials&rsquo; grammatical function is to modify the whole sentence; therefore, they are also referred to as sentential adverbials.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Disjuncts often come either at the beginning of the sentence and they are set off with a comma after to underscore the mood intended by the writer.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b><i>Unfortunately<\/i><\/b><b> as a disjunctive adverb<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a disjunct, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">unfortunately <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">implies emotions of disappointment or regret in an unfavorable circumstance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unluckily, sadly, <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">regrettably <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">may also be used to replace this adverbial.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Say, for instance, you just got invited to an all-expense paid weekend getaway at the beach two weeks later, but you realized that the dates have already been booked by your boss for some out of town fieldwork.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Miserable, isn&rsquo;t it?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Situations like this would normally prompt the use of <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">unfortunately <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">or other similar disjuncts.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"su-note\" style=\"border-color:#e5e54c;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#FFFF66;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\">Unfortunately, I can&rsquo;t come because I have some work to do.<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"su-note\" style=\"border-color:#e5e54c;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#FFFF66;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\">Unfortunately, I&rsquo;ll be in another city for some important fieldwork by then.<\/div><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b>When is a comma not necessary with <\/b><b><i>unfortunately<\/i><\/b><b>?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are also other cases that do not necessitate comma usage before or after <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">unfortunately.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This happens when its job in the sentence is to directly modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let&rsquo;s look at some examples.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b><i>Unfortunately <\/i><\/b><b>as a verbal modifier<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One basic function of adverbs is to modify verbs in sentences to add extra spice to the action being done by the subject.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">unfortunately <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is used to modify verbs, we refer to it as an adverb of manner &mdash; adverbs that tell us how the action happens.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Normally, we place verb-modifying adverbs before simple present and past verbs, but after auxiliaries and modals.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"su-note\" style=\"border-color:#e5e54c;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#FFFF66;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\">I unfortunately missed my flight because of oversleeping at the airport.<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"su-note\" style=\"border-color:#e5e54c;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#FFFF66;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\">She has a <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/well-rounded-synonyms\/\" title=\"well-rounded\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\">well-rounded<\/a> figure.<\/div><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b><i>Unfortunately <\/i><\/b><b>as an adjectival modifier<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Intensifying the meaning of adjectives can also be done by slipping an adverb before it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When this is done with <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">unfortunately, <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">there is no need for <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-rules\/\" title=\"comma placement\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\">comma placement<\/a> either before or after it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moreover, always remember that adverbs always come before adjectives in sentences because while adverbs modify adjectives, adjectives do not modify adverbs.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"su-note\" style=\"border-color:#e5e54c;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#FFFF66;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\">An unfortunately helpless cat has just been hit by a vehicle.<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"su-note\" style=\"border-color:#e5e54c;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#FFFF66;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\">We have just made an unfortunately risky decision.<\/div><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b><i>Unfortunately <\/i><\/b><b>as an adverbial modifier<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The last case is with <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">unfortunately <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">modifying adverbs, again, with the purpose of adding an extra layer of supporting detail to other adverbs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/unnecessary-commas\/\"><b>No comma is needed<\/b> <\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">before or after <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">unfortunately <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">in this case<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-before-too-the-definitive-guide\/\"><b>too<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"su-note\" style=\"border-color:#e5e54c;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#FFFF66;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\">My sister just can&rsquo;t help but bag everyone out unfortunately all the time.<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"su-note\" style=\"border-color:#e5e54c;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#FFFF66;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\">Parentless and homeless, Dylan sleeps unfortunately everywhere.<\/div><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As we consume our daily dosage of information, our lexical repertoire continually expands as well.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One way to determine our linguistic competency is through our writing skills.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Effective writing strategies are a vital determinant of linguistic literacy which provides us with more confidence in handling more complex discourse.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The use of adverbial connectors and punctuations elicit writing proficiency; <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-before-or-after-thus\/\"><b>thus<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, they ought to be given importance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In other words, constant writing practice, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-before-albeit\/\"><b>albeit<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> arduous and time-consuming, incrementally increases our language skills; therefore, it is highly recommended.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>While a ship navigates via radar and the three kings by a star, a reader is also guided by punctuations in texts. Punctuations, in essence, serve as mountain beacons so readers so do not get lost in the savage jungle of words. Without punctuations such as commas, sentences and paragraphs would be nonetheless incoherent and &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9088,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"disable-in-feed":false,"article-schema-type":"","disable-critical-css":false,"_convertkit_action_broadcast_export":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[35,1119,1116],"tags":[80,153,152],"class_list":["post-9083","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-english","category-comma-rules","category-grammar","tag-comma","tag-comma-after-unfortunately","tag-comma-before-unfortunately"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9083","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9083"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9083\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25017,"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9083\/revisions\/25017"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9088"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9083"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9083"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9083"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}