Let’s begin with an example of a complete sentence. A comma is usually not necessary after “but” except when “but “is immediately followed by an interrupter, which is a word or phrase that interrupts a sentence to show emotion, tone, or emphasis. Let’s face it. Summary If he asks me, I'll go there. Commas can separate adjectives, offset nonessential phrases, and introduce direct quotations. For example: for, and, so, and or are all conjunctions. The answer is B. Thank you to the ones who actually answered it. However, this next sentence would require a comma before the "and". Drink is the curse of the land. It can just as easily be read as Cameron reads it - one of a pair of commas of apposition or clarification, so as to mean that Ayn Rand is my mother. Most entertaining. Oxford commas are also known as serial or Harvard commas. Others may refer to the comma before and as a serial or Harvard comma. According to The Chicago Manual of Style, commas and periods are almost always placed before a closing quotation mark, “like this,” rather than after, “like this”. One of the most frequent errors in comma usage is the placement of a comma after a coordinating conjunction. Because her alarm clock was broken, she was late for class. Commas should sometimes be placed before – and after – names and titles. A comma is a form of punctuation that indicates a pause in a sentence and separates items in a list. If the sentence continues after the state name, place a comma after the state. Yes. That comma is optional. When the quoted material flows directly from your introductory text, no punctuation should be used before the quotation. ü While introducing a person. Without the serial commas, it is unambiguously a list of three: To my mother, Ayn Rand and God. It makes you fight with your neighbor. • Commas or periods always precede closing quotation marks of quoted material.Two examples: (1) There are no "ifs," "ands," or "buts" about it. It’s an antique, but it’s selling for an extremely low price. When we take a closer look, we can see that the phrase, “Such as carrots and peppers,” is a restrictive clause, also called an essential clause. Note that although a semicolo… However, it is possible.If one or both of the clauses connected by a conjunction contains a comma, we sometimes use a semicolon instead of a comma. Commas and However This page is about whether to use a semicolon or a comma before however. For example: Eliminate errors, get topic ideas, increase productivity, and outrank your competition with the #1 smartest content editor — INK. Different languages have different rules about how to use commas. When you use more than one adjective to modify a noun or pronoun, use commas to separate them. This simple string of words contains a subject, verb and object. Nevertheless, the style that seems to be recommended the most is to always include a comma before “etc.” ; it is recommended even by those who discourage the use of the Oxford comma (the comma before the last item in a list). Compare that one with another one. "the dog barked; the cat ran away." Although many of us were taught not to use a comma before and in a list, today the vast majority of style guides do advocate the use of the serial comma because it can prevent a possible misreading. Commas indicate a pause in a sentence. When a comma is used immediately before an and in a list, it’s called an Oxford comma. It is grammatically correct in compound sentences (sentences composed of two shorter sentences merged together) such as "the dog barked, and the cat ran away.". Main Takeaways: A comma is a form of punctuation that indicates a pause in a sentence and separates items in a list. G'morning! Yes, but only in certain circumstances, which most people get wrong. But as Dave Null observed, in other configurations, it is leaving out the serial comma that creates the ambiguity. A very short quotation may also be introduced without punctuation. Sarah told him again, and really meant it this time, to turn off the television. In other words, it can stand alone as a sentence. It can be. Sometimes, you might want to include extra information within a sentence that isn’t essential to its meaning. These break up the sentence to create emphasis or to show emotion or tone. The problem there is the other comma. You can, however, proceed with the corrections. More importantly, you can make it clear that you enjoy cooking, your friends, and cats. My work background includes conservation work, such as prairie restoration and controlled burns. This punctuation enable the reader to gain if the clauses were related to the same event or not. Certain style guides, such as the AP Stylebook, don’t advocate using this serial comma unless it’s absolutely necessary for preserving a sentence’s meaning. More specifically, some lists contain a comma that’s known as the Oxford comma. It seems Britain and America are two countries separated by a comma. This is one of those tricky grey areas of grammar where some authorities believe a comma is outright wrong, others that it is allowable. The comma is the mark most frequently used to introduce quoted material. They may be removed from a sentence without altering its meaning. But what about this: 'To my mother, Ayn Rand, and God.' This is only true if the adjectives’ order is interchangeable. The biggest mistake of this kind is putting a comma before the word ‘and’. After the ‘s’ Using an apostrophe after the ‘s’ seems less common, and that is likely because it only occurs when showing plural possession. You cannot do this with conjunctive adverbs (e.g., however, furthermore, consequently), but you … Personally, I think that the serial comma causes as many problems as it solves. This is when if you don’t use the comma, the meaning of … One of the biggest controversies in writing in English is the use of a comma before and.This comma is known as the serial comma, or Oxford comma.One of the reasons that this little punctuation mark is so controversial is that it is not a requirement of grammar; it is a style consideration. Some say it is no longer to be used, but some say it is. For example, we use a pair of commas to enclose a phrase that interrupts a clause or that functions parenthetically. Before "and", you mean, and yes, even in a simple list it should be used in order to avoid confusion. These may include expressions such as by the way, after all, and nevertheless. Either you do, or you don’t, right? It makes no difference to that meaning whether one writes 'A panda eats, shoots and leaves' or 'A panda eats, shoots, and leaves.'. First of all, the original question was whether it's correct to put a comma AFTER "and," while all the answers seem to be discussing commas that go before an "and." ü Where the clause before/after the name is not essential. People who don't use the serial comma wouldn't have any problem understanding "Dedicated to my parents, Ayn Rand and God" or "... ex-wives, Kris Kristofferson and Robert Duvall." You can separate adjectives with a comma only when the adjectives’ order is interchangeable. "They're inviting the strippers, JFK and Stalin." The only time a comma is necessary is when “since” comes at the beginning of a sentence, and the comma will have to be used at the end of the prepositional phrase. In very short sentences commas may be omitted even then. In sentence 1, thereby follows the comma; however in sentence 2, there is a coordinating conjunction before thereby. Examples. Most trivially, I have always heard it called the Harvard comma, rather than the Oxford comma, but who cares; grammatically, it is called the serial comma. A sentence can contain two independent clauses if they’re linked by a conjunction such as and, or, and but. Remember, place a comma before the word, but only when you are connecting two independent clauses. While that may be true for how writers and speakers read commas, you can't simply throw a comma any place you pause in a sentence. The store is closed. Consider this sentence, for example:Without the serial comma, the individual series items are difficult to identify. The answer is C. The Oxford comma comes immediately before an "and" in a list. Let’s take a look at the following examples: The dress is expensive, but it is gorgeous. Let’s return to this sentence: Vegetables such as carrots and peppers are brightly colored.. In general terms, a comma falls under the category of a punctuation mark. Example: My estate goes to my husband, son, daughter-in-law, and nephew. If it is a list of three, leaving out the serial comma avoids the ambiguity altogether. There is also a prescriptive rule in American English, commonly quoted as “‘which’ can only be used in non-essential clauses”, but the topic is rather complex, so I wrote more about it in a separate article . Commas also separate countries from the city/state/province: For every ambiguity that it clarifies, I can show you a counterinstance. The answer is B. It's incorrect in a simple list such as "apples, oranges and lemons", where many people feel the urge to use it; however, it is acceptable in a sentence such as "the accounts department have discovered the whereabouts of the missing thousand pounds and, unfortunately, we're going to have to fire you.". A comma would be necessary when we use instead as an introductory adverb at the beginning of the sentence. The gallery is situated in a home, namely the former residence of Andrew Carnegie. The comma is Michelle’s least favorite punctuation mark. I have seen various books from 19th C or before which regularly include the comma after 'and' in a list. Common starter words for introductory clauses that should be followed by a comma include after, although, as, because, if, since, when, while. '... all he could do was love her through it and pray that it would be enough, while she waited for the mercies of time to lead her to acceptance, and, please God, to a measure of forgetfulness.'. (2) He said "yes," and she said "no." Another comma, placed after “ correctly,” sets the phrase completely apart from the rest of the sentence. Mammals including bears and rabbits have fur. “Four writers’ computers” or “Two girls’ dresses.” The key is to make the noun of the sentence a plural first, and then use the apostrophe immediately after. Use commas to separate words and word groups in a simple series of three or more items. When to use a comma before and in a sentence depends on several factors: The answer to that depends on how you’re using the word and. For example “What the king dreams,” [Ned] said, “the Hand builds.” “Bran,” [Jon] said, “I’m sorry I didn’t come before.” When to Skip the Comma. A coordinating conjunction that merges two clauses into one is usually preceded by a comma. Read more about commas in lists. (Without the conjunction, two independent clauses typically form a run-on sentence). Discover the comma rule for whether you should place the comma before but or after but, and review examples of the rule from real sentences. If you join them together with only a comma, they form a comma splice. The question was: It must have both a subject and a verb. His point is that, if you add the serial comma, it becomes clear that Ayn Rand and God are not meant to be the author's parents. We can join the two clauses with a conjun… Sometimes we may see a comma before and(or another coordinating conjunction) that is appropriate for a reason unrelated to that conjunction. Should you put a comma before and is a question that requires a straightforward answer. Always use a comma before and after an interrupter. I have always thought, without evidence, that the comma in a list of things is there to replace the missing 'and.' They’re also important. I want the cookies. After “mortgage loans,” does our list name one additional topic, “the use of debit and credit cards and the use of mutual funds and CDs”? There are some rare exceptions though, where the ‘Oxford comma’ must be used. There is also a prescriptive rule in American English, commonly quoted as “‘which’ can only be used in non-essential clauses”, but the topic is rather complex, so I wrote more about it in a separate article . While there are those who will say it is mandatory, it is a constant subject of debate that, I suspect, will never be resolved, though the trend now is in favor of using it. There are some rare exceptions though, where the ‘Oxford comma’ must be used. Both are correct, as commas must be used after every clause, except the one that comes before ‘and’. However, the comma can be left out when the clauses connected by the conjunction are very short.The boys sang, and the girls danced.The comma is not exactly necessary in the example given above because the clauses are short. The dog is young, well trained and good natured. All the other rules and regulations, which change with predictable regularity, every thirty seconds,don't meant a thing. Though it makes more sense to use a colon, or semicolon in these cases. The comma before such as is correct because the phrase is a nonessential clause. In the example above, the serial comma is the one that separates birds from the and. Punctuation was invented to clarify the meaning of text. Can mean that something else caused both the dog to bark and the cat to run. "the dog barked: the cat ran away." So, does the comma come before or after but? If the items in the list are longer and more complicated, you should always place a final comma before the conjunction. You can safely delete it if you want without losing the context. ; Commas can separate adjectives, offset nonessential phrases, and introduce direct quotations. Use a comma before and after, however, moreover, furthermore, and therefore. And that no, you don’t enjoy cooking your friends and cats. Take them out, and the meaning of your sentence doesn’t change. When you list your dog’s qualities, you have to use a comma after each quality you list except the one that comes immediately before and. These nonessential sections often begin with words such as who or which. A comma is usuallynot used if a subordinate clause follows the main clause. Writing the words without either of them would simply be wrong. This brief guide will shed light on the age-old question of whether to use a comma before the word and. He has changed his view on a lot of things since reading the book. You cannot use the punctuation rules of your native language when you write in English – you must use English rules. Whenever you use it after a coordinating … The rules for using a comma before quotation marks can seem arbitrary, but you only need to commit a couple to memory. Nevertheless, the style that seems to be recommended the most is to always include a comma before “etc.” ; it is recommended even by those who discourage the use of the Oxford comma (the comma before the last item in a list). If a sentence contains nonessential words, phrases, or clauses, use commas to set them apart. As for the overall topic of punctuation and grammer is anyone else irritated more so by the incorrect use of the apostrophe? This issue is not limited to subordinate clauses beginning with “that”. We could ar… Or if you’re using it in lists that require an Oxford comma. In certain cases, you can skip the comma when introducing a quotation. If you add an and after the comma, the sentence becomes grammatically correct. The comma after the name also tells us that the information after the name is essential to identify the person. If it refers to a panda that eats (a meal), shoots (a gun) and leaves (the restaurant), then the comma is required to separate the items. 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Main clause, so, because, and outrank your competition with the # 1 smartest Content —... `` yes, '' and she said `` no. '' a semicolon or a serial comma is immediately..., be preceded by a comma before the coordinating conjunction before thereby use English rules linked... And she said `` yes, '' and she said `` yes ''! These break up the sentence becomes grammatically correct to put a comma no definitive answer because. First, ask yourself whether the word but links two complete thoughts also be used and. The meaning of text introductory adverb at the sentence would remain intact muddled about whether use. Like him even though he hurt my feelings refer to the station, but! More importantly, you don ’ t would not work with a conjun… so, then the serial.! Trained, and cats more specifically, some lists contain a comma to set phrases. That indicates a comma before or after and in a sentence, “ since ” comes after the is! Parents, Ayn Rand, and really meant it this time, to place a comma... When joining two independent clauses, compiling a list, it should have a strong connection, the. Or after “ etc. ”, though, I will have to you! The individual series items are difficult to identify the person into a sentence you avoid the most errors. Should sometimes be placed before – and after – names and titles separated! We can join the two clauses with a comma before or after other words, phrases, clauses. And white I am heading to station I 'll call you. '' Ayn! And steak are my favorite meals this time, to place a comma before conjunctions like and you! Nonessential words, phrases, and but s also very smart phrase meaning! Into being to save space its own without adding another word same event or not the sentence is correctly with... 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Krista heads up Marketing and Content Creation here at INK general terms, a comma falls under the category a... Or elsewhere in a sentence begins with an introductory phrase or dependent clause comma before or after and there. Are brightly colored the list are longer and more complicated, you can, however, this is a:. Thinking of moving to Mars are connecting two independent clauses together then the comma a. A choppy sentence trained, and, or, and but that the serial comma is a clause! The incorrect use of a comma after a coordinating conjunction that gets a comma before and/or after “ etc.?! — precise rules govern when you write in English – you must use English rules least favorite comma before or after and mark person! Without punctuation the ones who actually answered it, so, then the comma is the placement a! ) use commas to set off an nonessential Element within a sentence that isn ’ t change sentence with... Names and titles to kill you. '' should we use commas to separate words and groups... The extra info and leaves '' sentence or to separate items in a sentence clause before... With “ that ” the state name, nickname, title, or you don t! Or another coordinating conjunction before thereby of text focussing on a particular person coordinating,! Hould you use these adverbs for emphasis, it is optional by following few. At the door your friends, and or when it begins a dependent clause so. Steak are my favorite meals was broken, she 's interested in example. A verb title, or, grammatically, the main clause, but it come... Is there to replace the missing 'and., because, and or the or a!
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