[Grammar] When to offset someone's name using commas

[scofansnag]

Here is my sentence. She was also widowed and lived with her son, Patrick, in 1997.

 

[Rover_KE]

Welcome to the forum.

Are you asking us or telling us?

 

[GoesStation]

Welcome to the forum. I think you meant to ask the question When should I offset someone's name with commas? Question phrases begin with a question word which is followed by the verb, then the subject. The phrase When to offset someone's name is an affirmative statement, not a question.

Many writers and editors would omit them nowadays, as commas are used less than they used to be, but the commas in your sentence are fine.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

If Patrick has brothers, don't use commas. If he doesn't, then use them.

Without commas, you're telling us which son. With commas, you're simply giving us added information: her son's name.

And GS is right, it's fine to omit the commas when it really doesn't matter - as, in this case, it doesn't.