Punctuation after the interjection "by heaven"

Question

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Exclamation marks in the middle of a sentence

How would you punctuate the following phrase with "by heaven"? It was used by a cricket commentator.

By heaven that's a good stroke!

By heaven! That's a good stroke!

By heaven, that's a good stroke!

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Nov 07 '12 at 11:50

2

It would normally only be written as a record of direct speech and not as part of a piece of continuous prose. Either of the two ways you have shown would serve the purpose.

answered Nov 07 '12 at 11:50

Barrie England

140,205

We are anxiously waiting for our last man to hit and by heaven, that's a good stroke! The answer is good, nevertheless. – Gorpik Nov 07 '12 at 12:04
@Gorpik: What about comma between and and by heaven? Wrong? Optional? Needed? – SF. Nov 07 '12 at 12:17
@SF. And doesn't occur in the original speech. – Barrie England Nov 07 '12 at 12:21
@BarrieEngland I was just trying to give an example where that would be written in continuous prose. – Gorpik Nov 07 '12 at 12:24
@SF I really don't know. I don't like commas after and, but I may very well be wrong on that. – Gorpik Nov 07 '12 at 12:25
@Gorpik: That wasn't the question the OP asked. If you have a question about commas after and, you may like to ask it as a separate question (although it may already have been asked). – Barrie England Nov 07 '12 at 12:31
Actually, this falls well within realm of "Punctuating by heaven interjection", it's just omitted in OP's example. – SF. Nov 07 '12 at 12:34
@SF. And isn't a punctuation mark. – Barrie England Nov 07 '12 at 12:40
@BarrieEngland I know, that was just a comment about your direct speech reference. I was not trying to open additional questions. – Gorpik Nov 07 '12 at 12:40
@Barrie: Yes, but a comma that might or might not go between and and by is. – SF. Nov 07 '12 at 13:53

Punctuation after the interjection "by heaven"

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