A question of commas

[DAgent]

Add some more grain while I, as a non-native English speaker, notices the following:

"To my wonderful partner Sara,
Without her I could never have done this."

It is a dedication, about (and basically addressed to) Sara. So, IMHO, the 2nd line should be (if we maintain that capital) "Without whom I could never have done this."

or, replace the comma after Sara with a semi-colon:

"To my wonderful partner Sara;
Without you I could never have done this."

Either way, a comma after 'Without you' seems unnecessary to me. That 2nd line is a clear, short statement that should run unhindered by comma's.

I think I like your second example best of all here. It makes me feel like the writer is looking at her partner while making a little speech at a ceremony and looking right at her to thank her.

And I do think it should be "Whom" as well, it's kinda odd that the grammar checkers never brought that up either!

 

[Wayne Mack]

Late to the party, but I feel the bigger issue is the incorrect pronoun; using "her" instead of "you."

The opening is a salutation, addressing the writer's partner. As is the case with the opening of a letter, I feel the comma after Sara, the line break, and starting the second line with a capital are all appropriate. Once the her is changed to you, there is no need for a comma in the second line. I believe the following would be the correct version:

"To my wonderful partner Sara,
Without you I could never have done this."

 

[Matteo]

For* my wonderful partner (comma) Sara (full stop)
Without her (comma) I never could never have done this.

To me, the comma after "partner" is a slight pause and after "her" gives an expectation of something to come.

* I think this sounds more meaningful.