When should you use a comma - Writers often ask whether they should put a comma before a conjunction (e.g., "and," "or," "but"). Use a comma before a conjunction that merges two sentences into one. Also, use a comma before the conjunction in a list of three or more items, but only if that's your local convention. (1) Use a comma before a conjunction if …

 
1. Use a comma to separate independent clauses. Rule: Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction (and, but, yet, so, or nor, for) when it joins two complete ideas (independent clauses). He walked down the street, and then he turned the corner. You can go shopping with me, or you can go to a movie alone. 2.. Protein oatmeal

Aug 27, 2019 ... When to use a comma · I bought apples, pears, oranges, and kiwis from the fruit vendor. · I spend my free time watching old movies, listening to ...When you write a date, you should use a comma to separate the day from the month, and the date from the year, e.g. He was born on October 8, 1977. or …When and connects two independent clauses, you should use a comma. In a list of three (or more), the use of a comma before and is optional. Writers often ask whether they should put a comma before a conjunction (e.g., "and," "or," "but"). Use a comma before a conjunction that merges two sentences into one. Also, use a comma before the conjunction in a list of three or more items, but only if that's your local convention. (1) Use a comma before a conjunction if you're merging two ... A comma is a punctuation mark that can be used in many different ways. Mainly, it's used to separate things —for instance, two thoughts in a sentence, multiple adjectives, or items in a list. …This rule is important. When you see a comma used, you know that the information following its placement is separate (albeit related) to the phrase or clause that preceded it. For example: We weren’t convinced there would be rain, and I made sure to watch the radar to avoid prematurely canceling the event. In this sentence, the comma ...With interrupters or parenthetical elements. Interrupters are thoughts injected in the middle of a sentence to …When modifying a verb, you should put a comma before “then” at the end of a sentence, e.g. “I will go, then.”. You should put a comma before “then” in the middle of the sentence when “then” connects independent clauses, e.g. “If you want to go, then you should go.”. If you can’t already tell, “then” is a very versatile ... 4. My friend John is a good painter. Both these sentences are correct and convey the same thing. The rule is – either have the commas both before and after a name, or don’t add it at all. This is because the sentence is talking about a particular person John. The addition of commas gives extra emphasis to the name." As a general rule, in British English (BrE), the convention is to place the comma after the closing quotation mark, but the comma comes before it in American English (AmE). That said, a comma after a quotation, be it before or after the closing quotation mark, is only necessary when the quotation is followed by an indirect or nonrestrictive ...A comma is used before “but” because it's a coordinating conjunction. Coordinating conjunctions are the glue that holds your sentence together. In other words, ...Adverbs are words that modify verbs or even whole sentences. They often end in "-ly". Examples include quickly, frequently, slowly.You can see that they add some information to a verb or the sentence that they are modifying. Some adverbs don't end "-ly", e.g. sometimes or often. When an adverb modifies an entire sentence …You are correct that, at least traditionally, a comma is used with Jr. In fact, if Jr. appears in the middle of a sentence, a comma is used before and after it: “The abbreviations etc. and jr. are always preceded by a comma, and except at the end of a sentence, followed by one.” (Strunk and White, The Elements of Style) . To answer your …Do Not Use a Comma After "Dear". There is no comma after the word "Dear" when it is used at the start of a letter or an email. You should, however, use a comma after the salutation. For example: Dear Michael, …In algebra, the roster method defines sets by clearly listing each of the individual elements of the set. The elements of the set are enclosed in curled brackets and each of these ...In algebra, the roster method defines sets by clearly listing each of the individual elements of the set. The elements of the set are enclosed in curled brackets and each of these ...Do we need a comma after “Happy birthday?”. Generally, yes, we do need a comma after writing or typing “Happy birthday” when the message is directly intended for a specific person, a pet, a plant, and so on. This is what we call a “direct address” wherein we talk directly “toward” a person, as opposed to only talking “about ...One common grammar mistake is incorrectly using commas around the common phrase “such as.”. This mistake is understandable, because “such as” sometimes needs a comma and sometimes doesn’t. For example, look at the two uses of the phrase in the above paragraph—one is correctly using commas, and one is correct without them. In fact ...Commas are not used if a part of a date is not present in a written sentence. Do not put a comma after the year if the day is missing. Also, don't use a comma after the date if the year is missing. The general rule of thumb … Also on that wiki page you can find lots of links to certain style guides. Comma use is something of a grey area though, and everyone has his own style. Pick what reduces ambiguity. Language log has an interesting article on how reading comprehension can be improved with comma use, including this type. Oct 6, 2022 ... Comma before or after but? Use a comma before "but" when connecting two independent clauses and use it after "but" when it's an interrupter.When you write a date, you should use a comma to separate the day from the month, and the date from the year, e.g. He was born on October 8, 1977. or …Use a serial comma (also called an Oxford comma, Harvard comma, or series comma) between elements in a series of three or more items. Factors of personality include extraversion, conscientiousness, openness to experience, agreeableness, and neuroticism. If one or more items in the series already contain a comma, use semicolons between …Numbers with multiple digits are separated by commas into groups of three called periods. From right to left, each period contains a place for ones, tens and hundreds. Starting fro...Updated on June 10, 2020 Grammar. I.e. and e.g. are both Latin abbreviations. E.g. stands for exempli gratia and means “for example.”. I.e. is the abbreviation for id est and means “in other words.”. Remember that E is for example (e.g.) and that I and E are the first letters of in essence, an alternative English translation of i.e.When should we place a comma before “like”? “Like” is punctuated with a pre-comma when it is used as a filler word, used after an introductory expression, introduces a parenthetical remark midway or at the end of the sentence, as well as when it appears after a mid-sentence parenthetical interruption. Whereas, no comma should come ...In most circumstances, "because" is a subordinating conjunction, so when it starts a dependent clause after the main clause, it shouldn't be preceded by a comma. However, there are two exceptions to this rule: when the independent clause that comes before "because" contains a negative verb (e.g. don't, couldn't, wouldn't) when the independent ...A quick trick for deciding if you need a comma before “so”. If you are unsure if you should place a comma before so in the middle of your sentence, try replacing so with “therefore” or “so that.”. If your sentence seems to work with a replacement of “therefore” without changing the meaning of the sentence, then so is a ...Brittney, Grammarly’s resident style maven, puts it this way: “Oxford commas are like the Ugg boots of the punctuation world. People either love them or hate them or don’t know what they are.”. Brittney notes that Grammarly is pro-Oxford comma, in part because many long-timers (“the OG Grammarly users”) have voiced fondness for it.Sep 16, 2015 ... If removing the phrase would change the meaning of the sentence, then it is restrictive and a comma should not be used. On the other hand, if ... This is an indication that the sentence is over. However, a comma will indicate that you should take a smaller break. And, might also be referred to as a soft pause. It can separate ideas within a sentence, clauses, and words. There are a few rules about how to use a comma and a few factors that can help you choose if you should use one or not. With figures of four or more digits, use commas. Count three spaces to the left to place the first comma. Continue placing commas after every three digits. Important: Do not include decimal points when doing the counting. Examples: 1,054 people $2,417,592.21. Note: Some choose not to use commas with four-digit numbers, but this practice is not ...As Well As Comma. The phrase as well as creates one of those situations where you may have to make a judgment call about comma usage. As a general rule, you don’t need a comma before as well as . Here’s a tip: Commas can be tricky, but they don’t have to trip you up. Grammarly’s writing assistant can help you make sure …10 Ways to Use Commas Mastering commas is an essential part of becoming a competent writer. There is no generic rule that covers how to use commas. In other words, you cannot learn a simple rule like "a comma is used for a slight break." There are, in fact, 10 ways to use commas. (1) After setting the scene at the start of a sentence. For example:8. Use a comma to separate the elements in a full date (weekday, month and day, and year). Also separate a combination of those elements from the rest of the sentence with commas. Rebecca Aydin ...When should we place a comma before “like”? “Like” is punctuated with a pre-comma when it is used as a filler word, used after an introductory expression, introduces a parenthetical remark midway or at the end of the sentence, as well as when it appears after a mid-sentence parenthetical interruption. Whereas, no comma should come ...Use commas to separate independent clauses when they are joined by any of these seven coordinating conjunctions: and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet. Use commas ...Aug 12, 2022 · Write with Grammarly. There are several types of introductory phrases, including prepositional phrases and appositive phrases. Sometimes a comma is necessary after an introductory phrase. Other times, the comma is optional, and there are also times when a comma should not be used. It is important to note that a comma should always be used if ... The major styles in which you are supposed to put a comma before “and” are Chicago, MLA, APA and Oxford. The first three are American, and Oxford is British. MLA is an academic style used for topics in the humanities, such as literature. APA is also an academic style, used for education, psychology and science.When the day of the week is provided before the month, the day of the week should be followed by a comma. When the date appears in the middle of a sentence, …When and connects two independent clauses, you should use a comma. In a list of three (or more), the use of a comma before and is optional. As long as you include a name after “thank you,” you need a comma: Thank you, Mary. Thank you so much, Marcus. You can place the comma after “thank you” or when you’ve completed the entire appreciative phrase (i.e. “thank you so much”). You should place a comma after “thank you” with the direct address portion when you are ... Aug 12, 2022 · Updated on August 12, 2022 Grammar. Use a comma before which when it introduces a nonrestrictive phrase. Don’t use a comma before which when it’s part of a prepositional phrase, such as “in which.”. Don’t use a comma before which when it introduces an indirect question. Commas can be tricky, but they don’t have to trip you up. A general rule of thumb for comma before with. A good rule to follow is to ask yourself “Is the phrase after “with” describing the word before “with”. Here, we don’t add the comma because we are describing his friend. It’s his friend who has the broken leg, not Blake. “Blake helped his friend, with a broken leg”.For up-to-date guidance, see the ninth edition of the MLA Handbook. Unless a place name is at the end of a sentence and followed by sentence-ending punctuation, whenever you list a city and a state or a city and a country, place commas around the state or the country. The rule applies even when the country or state name is [email protected]: Omitting the comma makes the condition ("if you need me") essential. The comma induces a slight separation of the condition, which softens it. To see this more clearly, consider stronger punctuation: "You can call me—if you need me".Use commas to separate independent clauses when they are joined by any of these seven coordinating conjunctions: and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet. Use commas ...Apr 19, 2023 · The Oxford (or serial) comma is the final comma in a list of things. Please bring me a pencil, eraser, and notebook. The Oxford comma is the one right after eraser. The use of the Oxford comma is a matter of style, meaning that some publishing styles stipulate its use while others don’t. In other words, it’s not incorrect to use the Oxford ... It depends. When a slash signifies alternatives between only two words, don’t use spaces before or after. When using slashes to signify alternatives between phrases or multi-word terms or compounds, a space before and after the slash makes text easier to read. Another time it’s acceptable to use a space after a slash is when breaking up ...Use commas to connect 2 or more principal clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (‘and’, ‘or’, ‘but’, ‘so’). If they have different subjects, use a comma before the coordinating conjunction. Do not use this rule to create a sentence of more than 25 words. Shorter sentences are easier to read. Example.Jan 24, 2023 · For example, the Associated Press says not to use a comma before designations such as “Jr.” and “ Sr.” and specifically does not include a comma in the name “Martin Luther King Jr. Day.”. The Chicago Manual of Style says the comma is not required before “Jr.,” and also writes the holiday name without it. It’s still a style ... And, never use a comma with any other subordinating conjunction other than because. When since is being used to replace the word because, only place a comma before it if the preceding clause is negated by the new clause. Since is a very versatile word that can be used in many ways. However, only some of its uses require a comma.Wrong. In business emails, the most formal way of ending a salutation is with a colon. So instead of “Dear Mrs. Johnson,” you should write “Dear Mrs. Johnson:” and then continue with the body of the message. In some cases, it might not be a faux pas to use a comma at the end of the salutation. You might write a … Commas vs. Semicolons in Compound Sentences. For more information on semicolons, please see the "90-Second Semicolon" vidcast series on the Purdue OWL YouTube Channel. A group of words containing a subject and a verb and expressing a complete thought is called a sentence or an independent clause. Sometimes, an independent clause stands alone as ... Examples of When NOT to Use a Comma Before Which. Example 1: “This is the prison cell in which a famous monarch spent the last days before her execution.”. The word “which” is part of the prepositional phrase “in which.”. You never need to use a comma before “which” if it’s part of a prepositional phrase. Example 2: “I don ... But using commas for 1000 and larger (except years) is not considered bad style. However, you should be consistent. For year numbers, commas should never be inserted, except possibly for years in the extremely distant future or past. This can be a useful tool for removing ambiguity: "2016 coins" versus "2,016 coins". 10 Ways to Use Commas Mastering commas is an essential part of becoming a competent writer. There is no generic rule that covers how to use commas. In other words, you cannot learn a simple rule like "a comma is used for a slight break." There are, in fact, 10 ways to use commas. (1) After setting the scene at the start of a sentence. For example:You should use a comma after that when it closes a parenthetical phrase. A parenthetical element adds additional information and color to a sentence, but isn’t essential to the overall meaning. For example: Georgina, that girl …Usage guide. Don’t use a comma before or after the word that, either as a relative pronoun (when it introduces information essential to meaning) or as a conjunction (when it introduces a relative clause).The word which is also used as a relative pronoun, but it generally presents an optional description, which you should enclose in commas … The semicolon is the colon's quirkier sibling. While the colon is simply two dots stacked : the semicolon is a dot hovering over a comma ; The semicolon does jobs that are also done by other punctuation marks, but puts its own spin on the task. Like a comma, it can separate elements in a series. Like a period or colon, it often marks the end of ... When using a comma before “unfortunately,” you must always include a comma after. This turns it into something called a parenthetical element (using parentheses just like this). Sometimes, you might not include the comma directly after “unfortunately.”. In these cases, it’s because there’s more to add to the parenthetical element ... Use commas to separate two or more coordinate adjectives that describe the same noun. Be sure never to add an extra comma between the final adjective and the noun itself or to use commas with noncoordinate adjectives. Example: The big, hairy monster glared down at me. Use commas to set off all geographical names, items in dates (except the ...The rulebooks tell us to put commas between coordinate adjectives—that is, adjectives that are equal in meaning—but it is not always easy to tell when adjectives are coordinate. Apply two simple tests to be sure: First, place the word and between the two adjectives. Second, reverse them. If, in both instances, …Commas have quite a few uses in English: 1. Separating items in a list of three or more 2. Connecting two independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction 3. Setting apart non-restrictive relative clauses 4. Setting apart nonessential appositives 5. Setting apart introductory phrases 6. Setting … See moreThe answer is simple. You should use a comma if you are joining two independent clauses (separate ideas). Alan is a good singer, but he’s a sensational guitarist. The jury debated for the whole afternoon, and they eventually came to a unanimous verdict. Do not use a comma if you aren’t joining …Dec 20, 2023 ... The meaning of the sentence does not change no matter which way you write it. For this reason, you should place a comma between ripe and grown.Use commas to connect 2 or more principal clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (‘and’, ‘or’, ‘but’, ‘so’). If they have different subjects, use a comma …The Basic Rule on Commas Before Conjunctions. If you’re looking for a general guideline, we recommend using a comma before coordinating conjunctions such as and, or, and but when they join two independent clauses. An independent clause is a group of words that include a subject and a verb and can stand alone as a complete thought.Dec 20, 2023 ... The meaning of the sentence does not change no matter which way you write it. For this reason, you should place a comma between ripe and grown.Sep 30, 2019 ... 5. A comma is used after certain words that introduce a sentence, such as well, yes, why, hello and hey. Yes, ...A comma (or set of commas) is needed when you use “such as” with nonessential information. The comma indicates that the information is not needed for the overall understanding of the sentences but is there to simply add detail. “Such as” does not need comma usage when it precedes information that is important to the overall ...When Not to Use a Comma. Just as omitting a necessary comma can cause confusion, inserting an unnecessary or poorly placed comma can also cause …The major styles in which you are supposed to put a comma before “and” are Chicago, MLA, APA and Oxford. The first three are American, and Oxford is British. MLA is an academic style used for topics in the humanities, such as literature. APA is also an academic style, used for education, psychology and science.Updated on June 10, 2020 Grammar. I.e. and e.g. are both Latin abbreviations. E.g. stands for exempli gratia and means “for example.”. I.e. is the abbreviation for id est and means “in other words.”. Remember that E is for example (e.g.) and that I and E are the first letters of in essence, an alternative English translation of i.e.Sep 16, 2022 · Commas are one of the most common punctuation marks. A comma looks like this: , They’re also among the most commonly misused punctuation marks. A comma indicates a pause in a sentence, either between phrases, clauses, or items in a list. This is what can make them tricky—the points where you’d pause in a spoken sentence aren’t always ... Use commas to separate three or more items in a list. Keep in mind that items can be nouns, verbs, or adjectives. o I need to buy kiwis, coconuts, ...The term “as well as” should be preceded by a comma when it introduces a nonessential clause that will end the sentence. You only need to use two commas when a sentence continues after being interrupted by an aside. For example. Don’t forget to run to the bank after work, as well as drop the book by the library.When Should I Not Use A Comma After “Please? You do not need to place a comma after “please” in many cases. If it’s at the beginning of a sentence, a comma can be omitted to remove the direct emphasis of “please.”. If it’s in the middle of a sentence, it just means that “please” is used as a conjunction or verb.If the question refers to commas in a list of things, the answer is no. Some people put the comma before the "and" while others leave it out, but it definitely ...The Oxford comma is a punctuation mark whose use is hotly debated among certain English language writers, reporters, teachers, and academics. The use, or lack thereof, of the Oxford comma may cause confusion, depending on ... Personally, I think you should always use it to avoid confusion before it becomes …

Common uses of colons. 1. To announce, introduce, or direct attention to a list, a noun or noun phrase, a quotation, or an example/explanation. You can use a colon to draw attention to many things in your writing. The categories listed below often overlap, so don’t worry too much about whether your intended use of the colon fits one category ... . Cold plunge with chiller

when should you use a comma

Writers often ask whether they should put a comma before a conjunction (e.g., "and," "or," "but"). Use a comma before a conjunction that merges two sentences into one. Also, use a comma before the conjunction in a list of three or more items, but only if that's your local convention. (1) Use a comma before a conjunction if …Using Commas With Dates. When a date includes two or more parts, use a comma after each item. An exception to this rule is when you use a month followed by a day or a year. For Example: The assignment was due on Monday, April 26, and had to be turned in online. The class trip to Greece departs on November 16, 2023.Nov 28, 2016 ... The easiest way to determine whether or not to use a comma is to read your sentence out loud. If there is a natural pause as you read, ...Mar 5, 2023 ... When to use a comma before “or” ... You can recognize that the conjunction “or” is connecting two independent clauses (and thus needs to be ... In some circumstances, you may use a comma before a conjunction such as "and" when it starts a dependent clause. This is when you are using the comma as an Oxford comma (sometimes known as a serial comma). The conjunction must split the third item of a list. e.g. I ate, slept, and dreamed of England. Examples of When NOT to Use a Comma Before Which. Example 1: “This is the prison cell in which a famous monarch spent the last days before her execution.”. The word “which” is part of the prepositional phrase “in which.”. You never need to use a comma before “which” if it’s part of a prepositional phrase. Example 2: “I don ... Use commas to separate a series of three or more items, actions, words, or phrases. Oxford Comma (in a Series) Use a comma between coordinating adjectives. Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction when it joins two related independent clauses. Use Commas After Introductory Subordinate Clauses, Dependent Clauses. Sep 16, 2022 · Commas are one of the most common punctuation marks. A comma looks like this: , They’re also among the most commonly misused punctuation marks. A comma indicates a pause in a sentence, either between phrases, clauses, or items in a list. This is what can make them tricky—the points where you’d pause in a spoken sentence aren’t always ... Just to try to explain why option (1) is easier to read: The expression 'for example' is very often used postpositively, thus a sentence like. " (3) It is common practice to do recalibration between trials, for example." would be a natural thing to expect. Using the second comma as in option (2) sort of creates a 'garden path sentence', because ...The Oxford comma (also known as the serial comma or Harvard comma) is the use of a comma before the conjunction in a list of three or more …Oct 6, 2022 ... Comma before or after but? Use a comma before "but" when connecting two independent clauses and use it after "but" when it's an interrupter. Use a comma to separate two adjectives when the order of the adjectives is interchangeable. Example: He is a strong, healthy man. We could also say healthy, strong man. Example: We stayed at an expensive summer resort. We would not say summer expensive resort, so no comma. One common grammar mistake is incorrectly using commas around the common phrase “such as.”. This mistake is understandable, because “such as” sometimes needs a comma and sometimes doesn’t. For example, look at the two uses of the phrase in the above paragraph—one is correctly using commas, and one is correct without them. In fact ...1 Place punctuation marks inside quotation marks. When using a period, comma, or exclamation mark with quotation marks, place the punctuation inside the quotes. “We won!” …The rulebooks tell us to put commas between coordinate adjectives—that is, adjectives that are equal in meaning—but it is not always easy to tell when adjectives are coordinate. Apply two simple tests to be sure: First, place the word and between the two adjectives. Second, reverse them. If, in both instances, …You use a comma before but when you connect two independent clauses. This means that each clause has a subject and verb. However, there is no comma before but when you join an independent and dependent clause. In this case, the second clause has no subject or verb. The last rule is that you only need to use a comma after but when it’s ...Jun 20, 2023 · The general answer is no. A semicolon should be followed by a capitalized word only if the word is a proper noun or an acronym. We can go to the museum to do some research; Mondays are pretty quiet there. Remember, semicolons are not interchangeable with commas or periods. Instead, they’re somewhere in between: stronger than a comma but not ... This rule is important. When you see a comma used, you know that the information following its placement is separate (albeit related) to the phrase or clause that preceded it. For example: We weren’t convinced there would be rain, and I made sure to watch the radar to avoid prematurely canceling the event. In this sentence, the comma ...Jan 24, 2023 · For example, the Associated Press says not to use a comma before designations such as “Jr.” and “ Sr.” and specifically does not include a comma in the name “Martin Luther King Jr. Day.”. The Chicago Manual of Style says the comma is not required before “Jr.,” and also writes the holiday name without it. It’s still a style ... The government will either increase the interest rate or keep it as is. The important rule to remember when it comes to correlative conjunctions is that you want to maintain parallelism between what comes after “either” and what comes after “or.”. In other words, if “either” is followed by a verb phrase, then “or” should also be ...In short, you’ll typically only use commas after the date or year in the American date format, not the British date format. But you should always use a comma after the day of the week, unless you’re using “the” + ordinal number. Commas don’t have to be tricky. Avoid missing and misplaced commas in dates ….

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