Which is correct?

New runners especially those who are overweight should not strain themselves.
New runners, especially those who are overweight, should not strain themselves.

Question

Which is correct?

New runners especially those who are overweight should not strain themselves.
New runners, especially those who are overweight, should not strain themselves.

nottim · Answer

What do you think?

anonymous · Answer

the second

nottim · Answer

Aw. I wanted her to think. Rationalize.

anonymous · Answer

lozl sorry NotTim ill be sure to let her think next time :D

anonymous · Answer

Lol i thought that but they had a lot of questions like this, and they all seemed to be the second one! and i use a lot of commas lol so i didnt want to be wrong

anonymous · Answer

haha no problem sani :) always a pleasure to help with English

nottim · Answer

Well, a rule is try reading the sentence out loud. If you run out of air while talking, you need commas, or to break up the sentence.

anonymous · Answer

:) very very true and also when you read it , there is an innate ability we have to tell when something is wrong with our sentence ;)

nottim · Answer

Too bad you already got a medal. And that I can't give another.

nottim · Answer

Our work here is done. BATMAN AWAY

anonymous · Answer

:) lozl yes i must take my leave! Namaste

jagatuba · Answer

Another way to think about it is that if the bit in question sounds like something that would be just as comfortable in parenthesis (it doesn't change the overall meaning of the sentence), then it is a non-essential cause and should be set off in commas.