The basic rule is very easy. I'll go there if he asks me. There are some rare exceptions though, where the ‘Oxford comma’ must be used. ; Commas should be used before and when joining two independent clauses or when compiling a list. Like because, as can be used as a conjunction or as an adverb. ü While introducing a person. What’s more, it has a much cleaner typographical appearance. Simply put, you should use a comma before which when it precedes a nonrestrictive modifying clause . Outside of the two scenarios given above—a negative independent clause and structural ambiguity—you’ll never need a comma before the word “because” in a simple sentence. Thus, in the following sentence, the comma is placed after taught: “You’ve got to be carefully taught,” wrote Oscar Hammerstein II. I want the cookies. The adverb hence has a few meanings, including (1) for this reason, (2) from this source, (3) from now, (4) from that time, and (5) from this place.It once functioned as a noun in the phrase from hence, but in modern English that redundancy has fallen out of favor. When should we use a comma before or after “instead”? That said, advocates of the Oxford comma do have a strong argument when it comes to the clarity. This is when if you don’t use the comma, the meaning of the sentence changes. In this situation, each clause is equal in weight, and neither clause is dependent on the other to make sense. Use a comma before a conjunction (conjunction are words like 'and', 'or', and 'but') when it joins two independent clauses. We should only place a comma before but when we are joining together two sentences, otherwise, a comma is unnecessary. Didi may want to spend her roulette winnings on that Ferrari she always wanted or a luxury vacation. Vocational rather than academic, "Grammar for Grown-ups" is packed with real-life examples and keeps you engaged with a wealth of great quotations from Homer the Greek to Homer the Simpson. You have been successfully subscribed to the Grammarly blog. Well, more often than not, a comma does not come before this adverb, but it may come after it instead. For example, take this sentence: I ran short of money, so I borrowed some from my sister. Tone vs. He wanted to talk to me because he owed me money. The comma before “obviously”: In-depth analysis. Always use a comma before and after an interrupter. Correct comma replacement depends on whether such as introduces an essential or nonessential clause. Didi may want to spend her roulette winnings on that Ferrari she always wanted, or a luxury vacation. 1. An appositive is a word or phrase that helps to further identify a noun. Whether or not you put a comma before and depends on how you’re using and. Add commas to the beginning and end of the nonrestrictive clause. Check out our guide to comma use. You cannot use the punctuation rules of your native language when you write in English – you must use English rules. Often the appositive can be swapped with the noun it helps describe. Commas and However This page is about whether to use a semicolon or a comma before however. But Wait … There’s More! are usually neither preceded nor followed by a comma. Let’s begin with an example of a complete sentence. What distinguishes English from most other languages is its use of commas before a dependent (subordinate) clause. Consider the longer series of coordinating items in this sentence; within the series itself, there is a phrase with a necessary or. There’s no definitive answer, because different style guides recommend different usage. Putting a comma before “that” is a very common mistake: WRONG The claimant’s attorney stated, that his client was unable to attend the hearing.… Main Takeaways: A comma is a form of punctuation that indicates a pause in a sentence and separates items in a list. Grammar mistakes, such as misused semicolons and comma splices, should be avoided. It can stand on its own without adding another word. Should you use a comma before or? A Final Writing Tip It makes you shoot at your landlord. Should you use a comma before or? An independent clause is a clause which could stand alone as its own sentence, because it has its own subject and verb. 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. You may want to use a comma in a series of three or more things. ; Commas can separate adjectives, offset nonessential phrases, and introduce direct quotations. Each of the two clauses here can stand independently. The answer depends on how you are using or. “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. This simple string of words contains a subject, verb and object. Should I use a comma before and after an appositive? Appositives act as synonyms for a … Let’s look at a few straightforward sentence constructions: I ate the pasta because I liked it. Would you like that martini shaken, or stirred? When each element separated by or is just one or two words, the reader will have little trouble mentally sorting things out with whichever style you choose. The answer depends on how you are using or . Didi may want to spend her roulette winnings on that Ferrari she always wanted. Commas before as can be more tricky. Or is a coordinating conjunction, which means that it coordinates two elements of equal syntactic importance (i.e., two things of identical grammatical weight). Use commas to offset appositives from the rest of the sentence. An independent clause is a complete thought with its own subject and predicate. ü Where the clause before/after the name is not essential. It’s almost always optional to put a comma before and in … Notify your doctor if you experience dizziness, fainting spells, nausea, vomiting, weak or rapid pulse, or difficulty breathing. Misused semicolons and comma splices are two examples of the types of grammar mistakes that should be avoided. The store is closed. Dependent clauses (clauses introduced by words like “that”, “which”, “who”, “where”, “how”, etc.) A pre-comma may be placed either when it is used as an initial parenthetical component or when it comes after … Applicants must be able to tell jokes and sing. Mood: How to Use Tone and Mood in Your Writing, 5 Writing "Rules" That Are Really Guidelines, Beware of These Common Consistency Issues in Writing. After the ‘s’ Using an apostrophe after the ‘s’ seems less common, and that is likely because it only occurs when showing plural possession. (Notice how I used it as an adverb in the preceding sentence.) • Commas or periods always precede closing quotation marks of quoted material.Two examples: (1) There are no "ifs," "ands," or "buts" about it. If there are no two independent clauses, comma is not used. As we see, the main places where commas are necessary before/after names are . Commas indicate a pause in a sentence. Straight talking and methodical, "Smashing Grammar" (Our Grammar Book, 2019), Read more about using semicolons before conjunctions, Commas after interjections (yes, no, indeed). Tip: See my list of the Most Common Mistakes in English.It will teach you how to avoid mistakes with commas, prepositions, irregular verbs, and much more. A comma is usuallynot used if a subordinate clause follows the main clause. • Colons and semicolons always follow closing quotation marks of quoted material.Two examples: (1) He said "no"; she said "yes"; and some said neither "yes" nor "no." This is the much-debated Oxford comma (or serial comma). A comma is needed before “so” when it’s acting as a conjunction to bring together two independent clauses. If the two parts of your sentence can stand alone, you need to use a comma. In very short sentences commas may be omitted even then. Although the Oxford University Press uses it (hence the name), American English writers use it more often than British English writers. If the sentence is combining two independent clauses together then the comma should appear. I like him even though he hurt my feelings. (2) He said "yes," and she said "no." Do you disagree with something on this page. It is considered good style to place a comma before or when it begins an independent clause. But and this is important I didn’t hear the door until after 2 am. If your sentence has an interrupter after but, then go ahead and use the comma. Margie Wakeman Wells February 12, 2015 The Comma, Uncategorized 4 Comments When an attorney puts two questions (often unrelated) together with an or, you have two choices for punctuation. Always place a comma before or when it begins an independent clause, but if it begins a dependent clause, don’t. Applicants must be able to sing and be classically trained dancers. Every interrupter is set off with commas, whether it comes after “or,” “but,” or “and.” Try reading these clauses without them. We can invest our savings in stocks, bonds or real estate. Applicants must be able to tell jokes and sing. Writing, grammar, and communication tips for your inbox. 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