Punctuation using commas to set off parenthetical and transitional expressions, contrasting elements, interjections, words used in direct address and tag questions Coming in ahead of schedule and under budget it appears is the only way to keep this client happy.
My answer
Coming in ahead of schedule, and under budget, it appears is the only way to keep this client happy. Contrasting elements
What are your directions? Are you supposed to revise the sentence or just stick some commas in there somewhere?
To punctuate the sentence correctly, we need to use commas to set off the parenthetical and transitional expressions, as well as the contrasting elements.
The sentence in question is: "Coming in ahead of schedule and under budget it appears is the only way to keep this client happy."
To properly punctuate this sentence, we can add commas to separate the parenthetical and transitional expressions, as well as the contrasting elements. Here's the revised version:
"Coming in ahead of schedule, and under budget, it appears, is the only way to keep this client happy."
By adding commas after "schedule" and "budget," we effectively set off the transitional expressions "and under budget" and "it appears" from the main clause of the sentence.
This helps clarify that "Coming in ahead of schedule and under budget" is the main subject of the sentence, while "it appears" serves as a parenthetical expression. The commas also indicate a pause in the sentence, which helps with readability and comprehension.
In this particular case, the parenthetical expression and the contrasting element are combined into a single phrase, so the same commas serve both purposes. Remember that it's important to use commas strategically to improve clarity and readability in your writing.