When should you use a comma

The Oxford Comma — sometimes also known as the serial comma, the Harvard comma, or the Chicago comma — is an optional comma that appears before the final item in a list of three or more. This punctuation is commonly used for stylistic reasons or to clarify a sentence. For example, “She bought a pen, some paper, and scissors.”.Commas to introduce a sentence. If you introduce a sentence with a transition word (e.g., …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.A period, or “full stop,” is a punctuation mark in English that expresses the end of a sentence and sometimes abbreviations. It is one of the most used punctuation marks and the most common way to conclude a sentence. Period usage may seem easy enough, but there are a few rules that can get confusing, such as where to put periods in ...A comma signals a pause between parts of a sentence. When writing a list of three or more, the use of an Oxford comma before and is optional, but often recommended. They visited Portugal, Spain, and France. They visited Portugal, Spain and France. When and connects two independent clauses, a comma should be placed before it.The symbol “、” is called [読点] {とうてん}. It is used to denote a semantic separation or a pause. Compared to comma in English, the usage of 読点 in Japanese is less governed by the grammatical rules. In other words, in Japanese, the author is free to use or not to use 読点 in any place where a separation makes sense.This form of since does not need a comma. We can also use since as a subordinating conjunction to mean because. This is where the comma rule gets tricky. We only use a comma before since if the preceding clause is negated by the new clause. A good rule of thumb is if the preceding clause contains a negative verb, use a comma.If you're preparing for the exam, you're in the right place. Make sure to read our community rules first and take a look at the pinned posts. Also, posts older than …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 ... 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 ...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 ...When you use "thank you" in this way, you don’t need to place a comma after it. In the first example, there is a comma after "thank you," but that is because of the sentence structure, not the phrase. If we add "note" to this sentence, you can see that the comma moves to fall after "note": "I sent him a thank you …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 …Grammarly looks at 11 writing scenarios where you’ll want to use commas—with examples. Comma rules. Colons. Colons can be tricky for writers to understand. That’s why Grammarly has provided a roundup of helpful advice on how and when to use them properly. ... There are plenty of important punctuation rules, but here are five you should ...Feb 23, 2022 ... A comma can be used to join two or more independent clauses together. If we use a comma this way, we follow it with a coordinating conjunction ( ...When “which” introduces sentence-final, nonrestrictive information. The nonrestrictive clause may also come at the end of the sentence, and likewise, a pre-comma should be placed before “which” in this structure. The keys are in the blue purse inside my bag, which is on the countertop. The which-clause provides further information about ...You only use commas around a name or title if they are being used as nonessential details within the sentence. You can check your understanding of this by …Sep 30, 2019 ... 5. A comma is used after certain words that introduce a sentence, such as well, yes, why, hello and hey. Yes, ...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 …This form of since does not need a comma. We can also use since as a subordinating conjunction to mean because. This is where the comma rule gets tricky. We only use a comma before since if the preceding clause is negated by the new clause. A good rule of thumb is if the preceding clause contains a negative verb, use a comma.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 … Add a comma after thus when it works as a coordinating conjunction or at the beginning of a sentence. Add a comma before thus when introducing a gerund or a gerund phrase. Add a comma on either side of thus when it interrupts an independent clause as a strong break or when thus comes between a helping and main verb. 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 …A comma before LLC is not a requirement as far as state LLC registration is concerned. Adding or not adding a comma is largely a grammatical preference. Experts are often divided on the issue. Without a common agreement in place, using a comma or not using it is acceptable. The choice to use or not use …Rule #1: ALWAYS use a comma before which when it introduces a nonrestrictive clause. A nonrestrictive phrase adds detail to a sentence, but it is considered non-essential information and unnecessary for the overall understanding of the sentence. When a nonrestrictive phrase begins with the word which, comma usage is necessary to indicate the ...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 …Most of the time, you should not use a comma before because when it connects two clauses in a sentence. Because is a subordinating conjunction, which means that it connects a subordinate clause to an independent clause; good style dictates that there should be no comma between these two clauses.An exception can and …As with many other rules in English grammar, the comma-after-introductory-clauses rule comes with an exception. When the introductory clause is short, the comma may be omitted as a matter of style. See the example below: Grabbing her umbrella, Kate raced out of the house. Grabbing her umbrella Kate raced out of the house.A few basic rules for comma usage include the use of commas to separate independent clauses in a sentence and the use of commas after introductory clauses or phrases. Another basic...Mar 29, 2022 · The 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 independent clauses. Add a comma after thus when it works as a coordinating conjunction or at the beginning of a sentence. Add a comma before thus when introducing a gerund or a gerund phrase. Add a comma on either side of thus when it interrupts an independent clause as a strong break or when thus comes between a helping and main verb. When you are explaining a particular word or phrase by using quotations around it, or identifying the name of a book, song or movie, you will not necessarily need to use a comma before the item. In these cases, the quotations are used to support the primary meaning of …According to CMOS 6.44, Commas are not required with Inc., Ltd., and such as part of a company’s name. A particular company may use such commas in its corporate documentation; articles and books about such companies, however, should generally opt for a consistent style rather than make exceptions for particular cases. The trick in running ...Rule #1: ALWAYS use a comma before which when it introduces a nonrestrictive clause. A nonrestrictive phrase adds detail to a sentence, but it is considered non-essential information and unnecessary for the overall understanding of the sentence. When a nonrestrictive phrase begins with the word which, comma usage is necessary to indicate the ...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 ...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 ... Sep 30, 2019 ... 5. A comma is used after certain words that introduce a sentence, such as well, yes, why, hello and hey. Yes, ... 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. Confused on how to use commas? You're not alone. Read about 10 completely wrong ways to use commas at HowStuffWorks. Advertisement Some say proper grammar is on its way out. Rapid-...It depends on the style guide you follow. There are lots of guides and they differ on many things. The Chicago Manual of Style says "no". However, if it's your company, do what you want. The style guides don't dictate how you should label your business. Just be consistent.In favor of American English, style guides such as the American Psychological Association, Associated Press Stylebook, and Chicago Manual of Style, concur on using a comma after e.g. Whereas, British English …As long as a pronoun comes after “yet,” a comma should come before it. You may also find the comma comes before “and yet,” which is a variation of the standard “yet” term: I told you not to come here, and yet here you are. Conceptually, the comma works the same. You should place it before “and” rather than “yet” to …As the MLA Handbook (sec. 1.5) explains, when writing dates, you should “be consistent in your use of either the day-month-year style ( 12 January 2014) or the month-day-year style ( January 12, 2014 ). In the latter style, the comma before the year has to be balanced by one after if there is no other punctuation after the year.”. The ...The distinction probably emerges from their different meanings in Latin, which grants them different usages in writing. E.g. (exempli gratia in Latin, meaning “for example”) should be generally followed by a list of examples. Thus, adhering to proper English style usually requires commas to follow e.g. to delimit the beginning of that list.. I.e. (id est in …As the MLA Handbook (sec. 1.5) explains, when writing dates, you should “be consistent in your use of either the day-month-year style ( 12 January 2014) or the month-day-year style ( January 12, 2014 ). In the latter style, the comma before the year has to be balanced by one after if there is no other punctuation after the year.”. The ...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.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...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 ...Commas to introduce a sentence. If you introduce a sentence with a transition word (e.g., …With interrupters or parenthetical elements. Interrupters are thoughts injected in the middle of a sentence to …8. Use commas to set off phrases at the end of the sentence that refer to the beginning or middle of the sentence. Such phrases are free modifiers that can be …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 ...This form of since does not need a comma. We can also use since as a subordinating conjunction to mean because. This is where the comma rule gets tricky. We only use a comma before since if the preceding clause is negated by the new clause. A good rule of thumb is if the preceding clause contains a negative verb, use a comma.Nov 29, 2023 ... Commas are like breaths in a conversation; they guide the reader through a sentence, indicating pauses and separating ideas for better clarity ...Too in the middle of a sentence. The only time commas with too are a grammatical requirement is when it is inserted in the middle of a sentence; it needs to be set off by a pair of commas so that readers don’t trip on it. In this way, the word follows the same rule as adverbial phrases; when it interrupts the logical flow of the sentence, you ...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 …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 ... 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 …Rule #1: ALWAYS use a comma before which when it introduces a nonrestrictive clause. A nonrestrictive phrase adds detail to a sentence, but it is considered non-essential information and unnecessary for the overall understanding of the sentence. When a nonrestrictive phrase begins with the word which, comma usage is necessary to indicate the ...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 ...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 …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 ...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 ...In very formal circumstances, you could follow your salutation with a colon. For example: When the salutation in your email starts with Hello or Hi, you should put a comma before the name of the ...The first thing to know is that there are generally only two correct options: two commas, one before and one after the name/title, or no commas at all. While a comma after the title may be correct on rare occasions (which don’t concern us here), a comma only before a name or title is wrong. If you learned in school that you should always put ...Oct 22, 2023 · Comma Rules. We use commas to separate a series of words. To separate a series of phrases. To connect two independent clauses. To set off introductory phrases or clauses. Used after certain words that introduce a sentence. To separate the parenthetical elements. To separate coordinate adjectives. Revised on November 29, 2022 by Jack Caulfield. Quotation marks (also known as quotes or inverted commas) are used to indicate direct speech and quotations. In academic writing, you need to use quotation marks when you quote a source. This includes quotes from published works and primary data such as interviews.Add a comma after thus when it works as a coordinating conjunction or at the beginning of a sentence. Add a comma before thus when introducing a gerund or a gerund phrase. Add a comma on either side of thus when it interrupts an independent clause as a strong break or when thus comes between a helping and …Grammarly looks at 11 writing scenarios where you’ll want to use commas—with examples. Comma rules. Colons. Colons can be tricky for writers to understand. That’s why Grammarly has provided a roundup of helpful advice on how and when to use them properly. ... There are plenty of important punctuation rules, but here are five you should ...In the American style of writing, a comma is inserted before and after i.e. However, in the British style of writing, a comma is inserted before but not after i.e. It seems that the use of comma is found more often in American English, and even there, it is not always required. Nevertheless, even though I prefer the comma and have sources to ...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 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 … You only use commas around a name or title if they are being used as nonessential details within the sentence. You can check your understanding of this by removing the name or title and seeing if the sentence still makes sense. Never include commas if the name or title is required for the understanding of the sentence. If you use a conjunction and a semicolon to link main clauses, it is technically incorrect. You need one or the other, not both. My aunt makes the best ...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.Introductory bits (small-medium-large) Setting off introductory words, phrases, or clauses …Mar 7, 2023 · 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 items (e.g., the comma before “and” in “paints, brushes, and canvas”). The name comes from the fact that it’s recommended by Oxford University Press. The Oxford comma is optional —it’s not a ... Dec 9, 2018 ... This video reviews some of the situations in English writing in which a comma must be used. Note that this is merely an overview and there ...Jun 19, 2011 · The simplest rule-of-thumb, one that will rarely lead you wrong, is always to avoid comma after "So" at the start of a sentence, immediately after a semicolon, or immediately after a comma. That applies regardless of what "so" means there or what grammatical term you think would describe it. Use commas after introductory a) clauses, b) phrases, or c) words that come before the main clause. Use a pair of commas in the middle of a sentence to set off …If you use a conjunction and a semicolon to link main clauses, it is technically incorrect. You need one or the other, not both. My aunt makes the best ...In the American style of writing, a comma is inserted before and after i.e. However, in the British style of writing, a comma is inserted before but not after i.e. It seems that the use of comma is found more often in American English, and even there, it is not always required. Nevertheless, even though I prefer the comma and have sources to ...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 …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 …Comma rules confuse many writers, especially with words like then. Sometimes, a comma before or after then is necessary, but it depends on the situation. You should generally only use a comma before then when it connects two independent clauses or when it acts like an interjection. Only put a comma after then when it acts as …Mar 18, 2023 · When it’s used in this way, there should be no comma before “so.”. Again, a good test is to try replacing “so” with “therefore” and “so that” to see which one matches your intended meaning. For example, take the sentence “I ducked so I could pass under the branches.”. Replacing “so” with “therefore” results in a ... 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 ...Waterfowl such as geese swim as well as fly. In all these contexts, you may optionally add a comma before “as well as.”. If the phrase following “as well as” is not the end of the sentence, you should also add a comma after it. By default, a phrase that comes after “as well as” has less emphasis on it than the phrase that comes before.A. Punctuation is not so simple that you can make a rule that a comma “always” follows a given word or phrase. Commas depend on syntax as well as pacing, tone, and personal preference. Two examples with next : Next comes the scene where he buries the toenails. Next, since he was still breathing, she worked a crossword puzzle.Oct 23, 2020 · A comma before LLC is not a requirement as far as state LLC registration is concerned. Adding or not adding a comma is largely a grammatical preference. Experts are often divided on the issue. Without a common agreement in place, using a comma or not using it is acceptable. The choice to use or not use a comma in the LLC name is not required in ... 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, …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 …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.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 …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 ... | Cdfnyvgntcoj (article) | Mliun.