Punctuation around the word "namely"

Question

It seems somehow tricky to apply the right punctuation when it comes to the word namely. I got the following advice:

Search globally for "namely", and add a comma after it, as well as a comma, a semicolon, or a period before.

On the other hand, this link and this one suggest that there might be more to consider. So, what are the rules for punctuating around the word namely? Please try to prove your claims by including references.

Answer 1

I don't think that any settled and widely accepted rule for handling "namely" exists, which makes the challenge to "prove your claims by including references" rather difficult. The link you provide to Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary is useful because it describes some of the numerous ways that people deal with "namely," including these:

—namely,

—namely [no back punctuation]

, namely,

, namely [no back punctuation]

But that source doesn't account for other possibilities, such as these:

(namely,

(namely [no back punctuation]

; namely,

; namely [no back punctuation]

: namely,

: namely [no back punctuation]

. Namely,

. Namely [no back punctuation]

As the contrasting comments and responses to your question indicate, people have very different preferences for punctuating "namely." I favor the —namely, option, which I like because it establishes a clean break from the wording responsible for the deficiency in identification that the words following "namely" are dedicated to supplying. Nevertheless, I can't claim that my preference is anything more than a preference.

Answer 2

Why not this: "We will have several people on hand at the trade show, namely: Bob, Steve, Sue and Jennifer."

If you are introducing a list, why not use a colon?

Answer 3

The OED examples since the late 18th century are consistent: “namely” is followed by a comma. In broad terms, whatever follows it is [a list of] that which is then named/described/titled, etc. The list can be viewed as being in apposition to an earlier reference and this makes for the good use of a comma.

3.a. Introducing more detailed information or a particular example: that is to say, to be specific; to wit.

1798 G. Washington Let. in Writings (1893) XIV. 99 It would then have been understood as it is at present, namely, that the gentlemen would rank in the order they are named.

1855 A. Bain Senses & Intellect ii. i. 349 A third quality of sounds, namely, cadence or accent.

1875 A. Helps Social Pressure iii. 48 The worst and most disheartening point..is this namely,—that the course of modern thought and modern life is set against these improvements.

1934 R. Graves I, Claudius vii. 110 I have mentioned Julia's children..namely, her three boys, Gaius, Lucius, and Postumus, and her two daughters, Julilla and Agrippina.

1998 J. Irving Widow for One Year 442 He'd asked her to look for some important papers—namely, a codicil to his will.

That there is disagreement is fine. The essence of the punctuation after "namely" is to provide a slight pause. This is achieved also by the close synonymous phrases in the OED's definition, namely, “that is to say, to be specific; to wit.” Without doubt, the easiest way to do this is with a comma – everyone understands a comma. A colon or dash might work, but these tend to indicate a longer pause - this is useful if that is the way it was spoken or intended.

Answer 4

'I was speaking to one of the staff the other day, namely Charles Golightly.'

'An expert in sleep apnea, namely Professor Mikhail Yizhinski, claims he has solved the problem.'

'One day last week, namely Tuesday, I met with the Chief Inspector.'

A number of people have signed up for the outing, namely; Smith, Boulting, Lawrence, Rawson...

These are some, perhaps not all, of the uses of 'namely'.

But I can't think of an example of where one would put a comma after 'namely'. By it's very nature 'namely' usually introduces a subordinate clause or a list. It is a bit like 'in other words'.

Hope this helps.