I have two ideas: namely, the best one that should help you to get your business on the map.I could have told you a couple of things: namely, that you weren’t going to make many friends like that.I have a few ideas: namely, it would be better for you to do them like this.I wanted to help in a couple of ways: namely, I thought it would be better if you stacked the chairs in this way.I could list a few things: namely, your attitude is something that could definitely be changed.A colon is used to introduce a list by saying something like, “I have two ideas.” You can use the colon to start the list with “namely.” A comma will always follow “namely” after this. You can place a colon before “namely” when you are introducing a list of sorts. You need to change your attitude, namely, to make sure you don’t offend the locals.I didn’t know what to do, namely, since I wasn’t told by anyone what had to happen.They saw what was going on, namely, the stuff that wasn’t supposed to be seen.I thought you could go later, namely, to find out more about what we have to do to impress him.I told them what needed to happen, namely, relating to the things that should change to make this easier.If the second clause that comes after “namely” is a dependent clause (meaning it can’t be its own sentence), then a comma should come on either side of it. Comma Before and After “Namely”Ī comma can come before and after “namely” when it is included in the middle of the sentence.

Namely, I think you would be better off listening to his advice.

There are a few things that could change here.

Namely, to make sure that nobody else did things wrong without my guidance.

Namely, I knew I needed to get a couple of things laid out before moving forward.

I wanted to talk to her, namely, to make sure she knew that she was being watched.

Namely, someone was supposed to be coming along later today to tell me more about it.

This allows you to break up the flow of the clause, showing that “namely” has a greater impact than it would do if you were to keep the comma out of it. You should place a comma after “namely” when it starts a sentence or a new clause.

I couldn’t say much, namely because someone had already told me not to.

I told you all there was to learn, namely to help you understand what was going on around here.

He thought he knew everything about her, namely the things that were wrong in her life.

I couldn’t wait to tuck into the food, namely the crab was calling to me!.

We decided to visit the city, namely to find out more about the local area.If you say something simple like “I like the food here,” you might be able to use “namely” with a comma before it and nothing after to specify what kind of food you like. Comma Before “Namely”Ī comma can come before “namely” when used to add information to a basic clause. Watch the video: Only 1 percent of our visitors get these 3 grammar questions right. Semi-colon before: I wanted things to go better than that namely, I wanted you to be impressed with my designs.Colon before: There were a few things to note: namely, he needed to get them done on time.

Namely, because he decided to keep it from us. Comma after: We couldn’t figure out his name.Comma before: I got some food, namely the lobster and the shrimp.Here are some of the ways you can punctuate it correctly: There are a few specific ways you can punctuate it. “Namely” means “that is to say.” It’s used when you want to add further detail to a specific example. Generally, it starts a sentence or comes after a semicolon or a colon. It’s a conjunctive adverb that should split the rest of a clause. A comma should come before if it adds to a previous clause. “Namely” should have a comma after it if it introduces a new clause. Final Thoughts Correct Punctuation with “Namely”.

Namely in a sentence