comma with phrases that use "yet"

I am using a sentence of the following form in a formal document.

This paper shows strong, yet very circuitous, analysis.

The sentence is expected to express that the analysis is strong but circuitous.

I have always put commas as shown above. However when reading it aloud it appears that the second comma impedes the reading. Perhaps it should not be there, but then it may change the meaning of the sentence and emphasize circuitous instead of strong analysis.

What are the rules for commas for such yet/but phrases?

Solution 1:

Like the coordinating conjunction but, the coordinating conjunction yet can coordinate various sorts of things. The difference between them is that yet is even more emphatic when used this way than is but.

In short sentences like yours, where the items coordinated are themselves short, a comma would just slow things down:

• His submission was an unexpected and strong entry.
• His submission was an unexpected and unconvincing entry.
• His submission was a surprising but ultimately unconvincing entry.
• His submission was a surprising yet ultimately unconvincing entry.

Here you have a strong yet circuitous analysis on your hands.

Solution 2:

Purdue's OWL on comma usage.

Point three seems relevant here:

3. Use a pair of commas in the middle of a sentence to set off clauses, phrases, and words that are not essential to the meaning of the sentence. Use one comma before to indicate the beginning of the pause and one at the end to indicate the end of the pause.

Here are some clues to help you decide whether the sentence element is essential:

If you leave out the clause, phrase, or word, does the sentence still make sense?

Does the clause, phrase, or word interrupt the flow of words in the original sentence?

If you move the element to a different position in the sentence, does the sentence still make sense?

If you answer "yes" to one or more of these questions, then the element in question is nonessential and should be set off with commas.

The sentence "This paper shows strong analysis" still makes sense. 'Yet circuitous' is modifying 'strong,' which is in turn modifying the analysis.

The pacing may seem strange with the comma at the end, but the comma is essential to the intended meaning (subordinating 'yet circuitous' to 'strong').

Solution 3:

A pair of commas used as in your query sentence acts like opening and closing parentheses: they mark off an observation or comment which is incidental to the main idea of the sentence.

In fact, you can test the necessity of having both commas by temporarily substituting a pair of parentheses for those commas to see if the resulting sentence is still coherent. If it is, then you need the second comma.