When to use a comma before and in a sentence depends on several factors:
- Whether the and is linking two independent clauses
- If the and is separating items in a list or series
- Whether you’re using an Oxford (or serial) comma
- If a pause is necessary
- What style guide you’re following
Does comma go before or after and?
So, if the comma is part of a parenthetical, the comma comes before. If “so” comes before and is separate from the parenthetical, the comma comes afterward. Part of a parenthetical (comma before): “She walked out the door, so angry at what he’d said she couldn’t speak.”
Is it grammaticaly correct to place a comma after "and"?
Is it grammaticaly correct to place a comma after "and"? If, for example, the word 'and' precedes a clause beginning 'although', you usually put a comma after it and, if it precedes a conditional clause, you normally insert a comma as well. Yes, but only in certain circumstances, which most people get wrong.
Do you use a comma before or after otherwise?
If you can take part of the sentence out without changing the coherence of the rest of it, you should place a comma before and after it. Alternately, if the parenthetical expression is at the end of a sentence, you simply place a comma before it.
What are the rules for using commas correctly?
Where to use a comma in a sentence?
- Before a coordinating conjunction that joins two independent clauses– and, for, so, yet, but, or, nor You can come with me to the party, or you can go home with ...
- After each item in a list Eggs, fruits, and milk are all good breakfast foods.
- Before a quotation begins She said, “I will not be able to come to the workshop today.”
Comma Before “And”: Here’s The Golden Rule + 23 Examples
If there was a word we use more than any other, I’d probably be willing to put money on that word being “and”. You’ve probably said it at least 10 times today, without even thinking about it.
Is it grammaticaly correct to place a comma after "and"?
Yes, but only in certain circumstances, which most people get wrong. 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 ...
When to Use A Comma Before "Or" | Grammarly
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.. That said, advocates of the Oxford comma do have a strong argument when it comes to the clarity. Consider the longer series of coordinating items in this sentence; within the series itself, there is a phrase with a necessary or.
When to use a comma in a sentence?
Use a comma when “And” is a connective between two independent clauses. Examples of “and” separating two independent clauses. Don’t use a comma when “and” separates and independent clause from a dependent clause. Examples of “and” separating an independent and a dependant clause.
When you separate an independent clause, do you always use a comma?
When you’re separating an independent clause, make sure to always use a comma. If you’re wondering whether or not it’s an independent clause, try this…
When separating a dependent clause from an independent clause, do you use a comma?
When separating a dependent clause from an independent clause, never use a comma before “and”. When separating two independent clauses, always use a comma. And at the end of a list, well… that’s up for debate. Video Player is loading.
How to make it clear you're talking about a word and not using "and" as a connective?
To make it clear you’re talking about a word and not using “and” as a connective, the best idea would be to put it into quotation marks.
Is "and" a noun?
Well, it depends . The word “and”, when spoken about as a word, is a noun. Therefore the context decides whether it needs a comma after it.
Do you put a comma before "and"?
Most English teacher’s will tell us that you shouldn’t put a comma before “and” at the end of a long list. They will tell you off if you write, “I got eggs, milk, and bacon”.
When should you not put a comma before "and"?
Places when you should not use a comma before “and” are when it connects two individual words, when it connects two phrases (groups of words that do not stand alone) and when it is part of a list or series. There are two possible times that the use of a comma is either optional or dependent upon your style guide.
Why do we put a comma in a sentence?
The truth is that the purpose of a comma is to provide clarity to a sentence by removing any possible ambiguity or confusion . In other words, to figure out the correct way to use a comma with a specific word, you need to understand what that word is doing in a sentence and why.
What is a coordinating conjunction?
How coordinating conjunctions work. Technically speaking, the word “and” is a coordinating conjunction, used to connect two parts of a sentence. That is, “and” can be used to connect anything from a pair of individual words to a phrase or loose group of words, to two complete sentences.
What does it mean to learn commas?
With most words, this means learning comma rules is a simple matter of learning one or two parts of speech and how they might be used in a sentence. Some words, though, are complicated, and can use commas in many different ways. Some words, like “and,” fall somewhere in the middle.
When are commas not necessary?
The other case where comma aren’t completely necessary is when you have two very short independent clauses being joined by “and.”
What is the optional part of a sentence?
The optional part of the sentence is what’s being affected by the action word (the object). As for independent and dependent clauses, the difference has to do with whether each clause can stand alone. If the clause makes sense by itself, it’s an independent clause.
How many times can you use a comma?
To be truthful, though, there are actually two times when using a comma is an option.
When to use a comma before and?
In general terms, a comma falls under the category of a punctuation mark. It’s often used to indicate a pause in a sentence or to separate items in a list. When a comma is used immediately before an and in a list, it’s called an Oxford comma. Others may refer to the comma before and as a serial or Harvard comma.
When to put a comma before a conjunction?
When a conjunction (for example: and, or, and but) links two independent clauses, you need to put a comma before the conjunction. He walked through the building, but he didn’t turn on any lights. Note: An independent clause must have a subject and verb. It should express a complete thought.
What is a comma in a sentence?
A comma is a form of punctuation that indicates a pause in a sentence and separates items in a list.
When creating a list of three or more simple words, items, or concepts, use a comma?
When creating a list of three or more simple words, items, or concepts, use a comma to separate each word or word group.
When to use serial commas?
Serial commas are used after the next-to-last item in a list and before the and. The AP Stylebook doesn’t advocate the use of the Oxford comma. Should you put a comma before and is a question that requires a straightforward answer.
When addressing a person, do you use a comma?
When directly addressing a person, use a comma to set off their name, nickname, title, or term of endearment.
Is there a comma before "and"?
The answer is C. The Oxford comma comes immediately before an "and" in a list. Others refer to it as a serial comma or Harvard comma.
What is the comma before "and"?
The comma before the word “and” in the sentence above is known as a serial comma. It’s also called an Oxford comma and a Harvard comma. That comma could be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence.
When to omit comma in short independent clauses?
Some stylebooks add an exception to this rule. When you combine two short independent clauses, you may choose to omit the comma.
How to join two independent clauses together in a compound sentence?
If you want to join them together in a compound sentence, you could write the first independent clause, use a comma followed by a coordinating conjunction, then include the second independent clause. He studied, and they went to the grocery store to buy ice cream.
When do you use a coordinating conjunction?
When you want to join two independent clauses , you can either use a coordinating conjunction or a semicolon. You may find it helpful to memorize FANBOYS, the mnemonic device to help you recall the coordinating conjunctions.
Do commas prevent misunderstandings?
Common Questions. Comma rules may seem arbitrary, but the proper use of commas can prevent misunderstandings. Sometimes English teachers describe commas as short pauses in the middle of a sentence. In contrast, periods indicate a full stop.
Can you separate two independent clauses with a comma?
Never separate two independent clauses with just a comma. As mentioned above, you can only separate two independent clauses with a comma and a coordinating conjunction or with a semicolon.
Do you put a comma before "and" in a sentence?
Therefore, only the first sentence requires a comma before the word “and”.
When to use a comma before "and"?
The main situations where you should use a comma before “and” are when it is serving as a conjunction between two independent clauses, when it is a serial comma at the end of a list, and when it is at the start of an interrupting clause.
Why do we put a comma in a sentence?
The comma helps the reader’s mind break the sentence up into sections of discrete meaning , and aiding quick comprehension. Without the comma , though the sentence wouldn’t necessarily be open to misinterpretation, it wouldn’t be as easy to parse.
What is the meaning of "and" in a sentence?
The word “and” is a coordinating conjunction—a word that joins two parts of a sentence together. Like with other conjunctions, when “and” joins two independent clauses—that is, phrases that could function as a complete sentence on their own—it should be preceded by a comma.
Is there a comma after "and"?
The phrase after the “and” is now simply “California in April,” which does not make sense on its own—it is a dependent clause, an object without a subject or a verb. In these situations, you should not use a comma after and.
Do you use parentheses or dashes in "and not for the first time that week"?
You could use parentheses or dashes, too, though commas are acceptable; they may in fact be preferable, as parentheses and dashes can feel disruptive and choppy.
Do you need a conjunction and a comma?
Both the comma and the conjunction are necessary—if you stuck with the comma but omitted "and," you would have what's called a comma splice.
Can you omit a comma in an independent clause?
Like with our first example, here we have two independent clauses joined together by “and.” However, the difference is that both the clauses are very short. Most style guides agree that, as long as there is no potential for misinterpretation, it is acceptable to omit the comma in cases like this.
An Introduction To Comma
Comma appears in different languages and makes the writers’ articles or blogs clearer to their readers. It is punctuation and looks the same as a possession indicator/punctuation ‘apostrophe’. Comma also has the same shape as quotation marks (single closing).
Uses of Comma
So, first, let’s roll our eyes to the major purposes or uses of commas in any text.
Conclusion on Comma Before And
Independent clauses always stand alone and keep their meaning individual. When it comes to using the comma before “and,” we must use it in this case. We have shown you other aspects, like where you have to use a comma and where not to.
What is the comma before "and" in a list?
The second thing is the clarity of the sentence. If you are writing in a style that does not normally require a comma before “and” in a list, there may still be sentences in which ...
Which style of writing has a comma before "and"?
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.
Why do you need a comma in the third sentence?
In the third sentence, a comma would always be needed regardless of style for reasons of clarity. If you remove the comma, the meaning of the sentence becomes unclear.
Where does the Oxford comma come from?
The name “Oxford comma” comes from its use in the “The Oxford Style Manual.”. Oxford style is used by Oxford University Press and a number of international organizations. Here are a couple of examples of sentences containing the Oxford or serial comma. She ordered a cheese sandwich, a side salad, and a glass of orange juice.
Is there a comma before "and"?
The comma before “and” is more common in American English than it is in British English—despite the fact that it is often called “the Oxford comma.”. However, you cannot entirely rely on this since some American style guides recommend against using the comma and some British style guides recommend using it.
Do you put a semicolon before "and"?
In sentences with list items that contain commas themselves, the items should be separated by semicolons, and there should be a semicolon before “and.” This is necessary for clarity.
When to use a comma before a word?
Use a comma before the word but if it is joining two independent clauses:
When to use a comma in a list?
When you have a list that contains more than two elements, use commas to separate them. Julie loves ice cream books and kittens. Julie loves ice cream, books, and kittens. Julie loves ice cream, books and kittens. (The comma before the and in a list of three or more items is optional.
What does a comma mean in a sentence?
While a period ends a sentence, a comma indicates a smaller break. Some writers think of a comma as a soft pause—a punctuation mark that separates words, clauses, or ideas within a sentence.
When do you need a conjunction?
When you want to join two independent clauses , you need a conjunction or a semicolon. A comma alone isn’t strong enough to join them. This kind of mistake is called a comma splice.
Is a comma a subject or verb?
With few exceptions, a comma should not separate a subject from its verb.
When writing a date in month-day-year format, do you put a comma?
When writing a date in month-day-year format, set off the year with commas.
When addressing another person by name, do you put a comma?
When addressing another person by name, set off the name with commas.
Coordinating Conjunctions
Serial Commas
- When writing, authors must make some stylistic choices. For example, comma usage can sometimes be a matter of opinion rather than proper use. Some grammar guides recommend a serial comma, and others don’t. As a writer, you will have to decide whether to include a final comma before “and” and “or” in a list of three or more items. Let’s look at a si...
Other Grammar Rules
- Now that we’ve covered the two main scenarios where you may need to introduce commas before the word “and,” we can move on to some of the general rules for comma usage. Some of these rules won’t be relevant to the word “and,” but other rules do apply.
Additional Resources
- For more information about the proper use of a comma, check out this article: “When to Use a Comma: Tips and Tricks.” To learn how to use a comma with the coordinating conjunction “but,” read this article: “Where Does the Comma Go—Before or After ‘But’?“