dashes and commas

[desayunoencama]

I have a grammar question that perhaps someone will know how to resolve. If one has an apposative clause separated by dashes within a series, does one use a comma after the closing dash? Does one use a comma instead of the closing dash? Semi-colons?

For instance: this is the first item--which is modified--, followed by another, and then a third?

Or should it be: this is the first item--which is modified, followed by another, and then a third?

Or something else entirely of which I'm as-of-yet unaware?

Thanks in advance for any grammarian assistance.

Comments

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

I would go with the first item--which is modified--followed by another, and then a third.

[badfaggot.livejournal.com]

Going not by any rule I know of but by feel alone: no punctuation immediately following an M-dash.

More help here (http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/CMS_FAQ/HyphensEnDashesEmDashes/HyphensEnDashesEmDashes_questions01.html), perhaps.

[anniegee.livejournal.com]

Under no circumstances should you use a dash followed by a comma.

You could either use semicolons-and-commas, or two dashes, or just commas.

Frex: this is the first item, which is modified; followed by another; and then a third.

OR: this is the first item, which is modified, followed by another, and then a third.

OR: this is the first item--which is modified-- followed by another, and then a third.

Of the three, I think the first is clearest.

[sinboy.livejournal.com]

I don't know, but I bet rosefox does.

/waits for her to chime in.

[rosefox]

*chimes*

Comma after em-dash: nevar!

"Opening" and "closing" em-dashes, supplanting the first comma: technically legit, but ugly. "John--who is dating Louise--Sandy, and Diane will all be attending." Ugh. Even worse if you omit the serial comma.

Replacing em-dashes with parentheses: acceptable and not hideous. "John (who is dating Louise), Sandy, and Diane will all be attending."

All commas all the time: okay but sometimes confusing. "I've invited John, who is dating Louise, Sandy, and Diane."

Replacing "opening" em-dash with comma, omitting closing em-dash, and replacing other commas with semicolons: pretty at the end of a sentence. "I've invited John, who is dating Louise; Sandy; and Diane." Less pretty at the beginning of a sentence. "John, who is dating Louise; Sandy; and Diane will all be attending."

[desperance.livejournal.com]

All of the above; or (my preferred option) just find another way to say it...

[timothyjlambert.livejournal.com]

Yeah, what dancinghorse said.

[mabfan.livejournal.com]

Of the three you offer, I think I prefer the second.