By using our site you agree to our privacy policy. The rule is – either have the commas both before and after a name, or don’t add it at all. These nonessential sections often begin with words such as who or which. Or if you’re using it in lists that require an Oxford comma. We help brands stay relevant and gain visibility in search results. If the independent clauses contain commas, it is possible to use a semicolon instead of a comma before the conjunction. The addition of commas gives extra emphasis to the name. If a sentence contains nonessential words, phrases, or clauses, use commas to set them apart. In other words, it can stand alone as a sentence. However, this is quite an outdated practice, but you can use it if you think it makes … The comma before … In the example above, the serial comma is the one that separates birds from the and. Use a comma before and after, however, moreover, furthermore, and therefore. Writers tend to make this mistake when forming sentences in … (Isn’t there always?) Commas may also be used to express interruptions to direct quotations. This is true for proper names, ordinary nouns, verbs, or anything else. There are three primary uses of conjunctions: When a coordinating conjunction is used to connect two independent clauses, a comma is always used. In some circumstances, you may use a comma before a conjunction such as "and" when it starts a dependent clause. But wait! Just be consistent. If you’ve ever heard someone arguing about serial commas or Oxford commas, this is what they were talking about. Because … if you remove the "and" you will be left with two complete sentences), or if you're using it as an Oxford comma. Appositives act as synonyms for a … There is no risk of confusion when you’re speaking of … before an essential or restrictive clause, that is, a clause that limits or defines the material it modifies. (There are a few exceptions that require you to use the Oxford comma in a list, but they are pretty rare.) 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. If you add an and after the comma, the sentence becomes grammatically correct. If a sentence begins with an introductory phrase or dependent clause, it should have a comma immediately after it. In general terms, a comma falls under the category of a punctuation mark. If the independent clauses contain commas, it is possible to use a semicolon instead of a comma before the conjunction. Commas can be used to set apart phrases that interrupt the flow of a sentence. You can separate adjectives with a comma only when the adjectives’ order is interchangeable. The sentence above contains two independent clauses (highlighted in green), so it requires a comma before and. The answer is D. Commas should be used when joining two independent clauses, compiling a list, or introducing direct quotations. Of those four uses, you’ll only need … Use commas to separate independent clauses when they are joined by any of these seven coordinating conjunctions: and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet. Should you put a comma before and is a question that requires a straightforward answer. 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. Don’t switch back and forth in the same document between using the Oxford comma and not using it. You should not use a comma before and if you’re only mentioning two qualities. The Chicago Manual of Style, section 6.21, says that although you use serial commas in Chicago style, you don’t use a serial comma in a company name if the “and” is written as an ampersand instead of as the word “and.” The serial comma is the comma before the final “and” in a series. Removal of such a clause from the sentence would alter the … Direct quotations, such as dialogue, should be preceded by commas. Comma Before 'And' & 'So' Although commas are used in many different ways, in this video we're only going to address the use of commas with the conjunctions 'and' and 'so.' Let Krista Grace Morris know how much you appreciate this article by clicking the heart icon and by sharing this article on social media. When a comma is used immediately before an and in a list, it’s called an Oxford comma. Consider this sentence, for example:Without the serial comma, the individual series items are difficult to identify. When directly addressing a person, use a comma to set off their name, nickname, title, or term of endearment. You usually put a comma before and when it’s connecting two independent clauses. In that case, you would not place a comma before … The dog is young, well trained, and good natured. Commas should be used before and when joining two independent clauses or when compiling a list. Commas can separate adjectives, offset nonessential phrases, and introduce direct … By the way, this rule only applies to lists of three or more items. Let’s take a closer look at each of these rules. It’s typically needed when the conjunction and is joining two independent clauses. Therefore, we need a comma before and. It’s cold outside, and I can’t find my coat. Use a Comma After an Introductory Word or Phrase. Here’s an example: The cake mix requires flour, sugar, eggs, and butter. 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. You can, however, proceed with the corrections. , First AI web content optimization platform just for writers, When To Use Comma Before Such As: The Definitive Guide, Whether you’re using an Oxford (or serial) comma. Sign in to access your personalized homepage, follow authors and topics you love, and clap for stories that matter to you. EXAMPLES: The dog is well trained, and good natured. If that’s not the case, you can omit it. More specifically, some lists contain a comma that’s known as the Oxford comma. Rule #1: Use Commas to Separate Items in a List. If two clauses in a sentence joined by the word, and, can stand alone, you should use a comma. Do not use a comma. Sometimes we may see a comma before and(or another coordinating conjunction) that is appropriate for a reason unrelated to that conjunction. And that no, you don’t enjoy cooking your friends and cats. The dog is young, well trained and good natured. You have been successfully subscribed to the Grammarly blog. In other words, there is virtually never a comma before “that”, unless there is some other reason to use a comma, such as another non-essential subordinate clause ending there. They may be removed from a sentence without altering its meaning. Use commas after introductory a) clauses, b) phrases, or c) words that come before the main clause. The argument of economy raises questions of confusing the reader with unnecessary punctuation. The Chicago Manual of Style, section 6.21, says that although you use serial commas in Chicago style, you don’t use a serial comma in a company name if the “and” is written as an ampersand instead of as the word “and.” The serial comma is the comma before the final “and” in a series. More importantly, you can make it clear that you enjoy cooking, your friends, and cats. Commas Before and in a Series. A sentence can contain two independent clauses if they’re linked by a conjunction such as and, or, and but. The answer is B. If you are using the day-month-year format, however, commas are unnecessary. It is, furthermore, out of my … If you follow the AP style, you would probably delete the comma it out of economy. When a word or phrase forms an introduction … For example: For example: I am going … There is a comma before the conjunction (but), and the nonessential comment (in the end) is set off with a pair of commas. This is because the sentence is talking about a particular person John. Although it’s not technically incorrect to include it, you risk having a choppy sentence. Comma Before And That Joins Two Independent Clauses The word and is a conjunction, and when a conjunction joins two independent clauses, you should use a comma with it. You should only use the comma in series of three or more. 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”? Many writers (even good ones) forget to put a comma before the word as when one is needed (or they use a comma when they shouldn’t). If you join them together with only a comma, they form a comma splice. The dog is well trained and good natured. The sentence is correct with or without the comma before and. A simple test is to put a period after each clause and see if it makes sense as a standalone sentence. The answer is TRUE. The word can be used as part of a nonrestrictive phrase, restrictive phrase, or prepositional phrase, and it can be used as an interrogative word. Commas are also used to separate independent clauses (phrases that can stand on their own) when a conjunction (like and) is used, as in the compound sentence: Mark went to the store, and … Commas can be confusing. If you are referencing a day of the week and a date, use a … These may include expressions such as by the way, after all, and nevertheless. A comma is required after the final word of the first clause, before and (or whatever conjunction you’re using). We can put a comma before and in a list where we list three or more items. 2. Whether it comes before and or elsewhere in a sentence, following basic comma rules can make using this misunderstood punctuation mark a breeze. When it comes to grammatical conundrums, commas are often the culprit. Thankfully, learning when to use a comma before and after which is actually pretty easy when you follow several … They’re also important. “Whereas” is also used in legal documents in the sense of “because of the … Case 2 The answer is C. The Oxford comma comes immediately before an "and" in a list. When you have two independent clauses joined together by and, most style guides say that it’s OK to leave the comma out as long as the two independent clauses are very short and closely connected. 2. By understanding when to use a comma before and, you can add structure and clarity to sentences. The Comma. Commas are almost always used to separate items in a list or series that contains three or more things. There was a time when this sentence would be punctuated exactly this way. When creating a list of three or more simple words, items, or concepts, use a comma to separate each word or word group. It’s almost always optional to put a comma before and in a list. (By the way, you can tell they’re independent clauses because each one could stand on its own as a complete sentence.). The word “thereby” could be used … Others refer to it as a serial comma or Harvard comma. Joining two independent clauses. Sam tossed the ball and watched the dog chase it. Sam, and Sarah take excellent care of their pets. We could ar… Today, … But the second clause, watched the dog chase it, can’t stand by itself as a complete sentence. Exactly why this particular quirk of comma usage stirs such passions is hard to say; it’s just one of those things. That means it’s a dependent clause, so we should not use a comma before and. Last year, PLC provided the material; and we, L&S Ltd, built the road. Grammarly catches misplaced commas and other writing issues. The comma here improves legibility and is a better representation of spoken language (there is usually a pause before “whereas”). That comma is optional. Well, appropriately enough, the Oxford Dictionary has the answer. The use of a comma with independent clauses is more straightforward. Certain grammatical situations require the use of a comma before and. Some people (mostly, but not exclusively, Brits) consider the Oxford Comma to be a waste of ink, while others … Despite popular belief, the rules for using commas in a sentence don’t depend on what comes before or after a specific word.. Another common misconception is that you need a comma any time you would pause when speaking. Once again, we have two independent clauses: It’s cold outside plus I can’t find my coat. Note that some style guides would not add the comma after the word “eggs”. Whether or not you put a comma before and depends on how you’re using and. Eliminate errors, get topic ideas, increase productivity, and outrank your competition with the #1 smartest content editor — INK. Using a comma before “who” for additional information If “who” is not acting as a restrictive clause, the most likely use of it in a sentence is to provide additional information. From Linguistics and History to puns and memes, she's interested in the systems we create to share our ideas with each other. (Without the conjunction, two independent clauses typically form a run-on sentence). Writing, grammar, and communication tips for your inbox. In fact, the Oxford comma is a hotly debated point in modern grammar, and ultimately, it comes down to a stylistic choice. The answer is A. AP Stylebook recommends using Oxford comma only when necessary to preserve a sentence's meaning. Removed from a sentence by removing any possible ambiguity or confusion clause is a dependent clause, that is furthermore... Removing any possible ambiguity or confusion when to use a comma before and a complete sentence answer isn ’ t enjoy cooking your friends and... T enjoy cooking your friends, and good natured interrupt the flow of a comma before is! Is A. 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