In this case, John and Jane are married and are the parents. Using the serial comma can create ambiguity, too — as pointed out in the top and accepted answer, and in the top comment on that answer, and in some of the other answers, and on the Wikipedia page linked from them. The politician seemed stupid, possibly even moronic. This is quite unusual. Incorrect: I was born on Saturday October 8, 1977. We used all of this data to build our list and to train the automated comma checker in our free grammar checker. 1.000,01 or 1 000,01 instead of 1,000.01. Incorrect: We must wait, although you're ready. It is more common in America outside journalism, and much less common in other English speaking areas of the world. Should I use a comma at the end of a quotation, before the closing quotation mark? While is a subordinating conjunction, but in some circumstances it can act as an adverb of concession as well. We’ve tried to build an exhaustive list of every possible case where you might need a comma. If the quote is not a question or exclamation, use a comma and not a period before the second quotation marks. Nevertheless, there are specific rules for when you should and shouldn't use commas. Normal! With coordinate adjectives you can put "and" between them and the meaning is the same. Should I use a comma before and after vocative? to be better, to win at tennis, to save money. I don't like Oxford commas and I think the meaning is clear. They can't form a sentence on their own, but they add information to the main clause, usually some form of condition, e.g. You should also use a comma after the last item in the name unless it comes at the end of the sentence in which case you should use a period (or question mark if it is a question). For example: The long, metal pole. Oxford comma because it was traditionally used by printers, readers, 100,01 instead of 100.01. To the extent that it's useful, consistency of application may be desirable. when the independent clause that comes before "because" contains two elements and it is unclear which one "because" refers to. Incorrect: We can begin, if you're ready. Note: sometimes participle phrases can be disguised if there is an adverb on the front, e.g. Last year was the worst year of my life. For longer phrases, you should always use a comma. Incorrect: Yesterday there was no new news. I live in Liverpool, England. In these cases, the sentence would be syntactically correct without the quotation marks, and you are just using the quotation marks to show that the quote is a direct quote. We also need to include a comma of omission when we have removed a coordinating conjunction (usually "and"). A colon or maybe a dash seems appropriate. Incorrect: I was born on Saturday October 8 1977. The comma makes absolute the distinction of the final item in the list, regardless of the "and." It becomes only slightly less ambiguous, but a whole lot more awkward. Incorrect: Five hundred years ago there were no grammar books. Incorrect: The bright, yellow jacket looked amazing. I live in Miami, Florida. Correct: The man left the restaurant, while [whereas] his partner stayed. How do I add commas to a number for clarity? The main times when geographical names are composed of two or more entities are: between a village/town/city and a state, e.g. These contrasting elements often start with "not": e.g. In the US, many style guides suggest that you should use "that" rather than "which" for restrictive clauses, e.g. For participial phrases after the main clause, put a comma before the participial phrase. I thought you sent me flowers because I saw you yesterday. Correct: Apparently, he doesn't have a clue. (emphasis), Correct: I too like being with you. Some adverbs don't end "-ly", e.g. Use a pair of commas in the middle of a sentence to set off clauses, phrases, and words that are not essential to the meaning of the sentence. In these circumstances it should have a comma before it. How to use an Oxford (or serial) comma. Retaining the serial comma after ferret clearly wouldn't do, but omitting it wouldn't get us out of the woods either. From a comma perspective you only need to worry about ones that function as adverbs. Use a comma also before the concluding conjunction in a complex series of phrases: The main points to consider are whether the athletes are skillful enough to compete, whether they have the stamina to endure the training, and whether they have the proper mental attitude. if you took the "and" away then you wouldn't have two sentences. Cumulative adjectives aren't equally important and so they are not separated by a comma. Do I need a comma after a subordinate clause? Correct: Carrie mimicked his tilted head, [and] then laughed. Nobody would get confused by "To Ayn Rand, God, and my mother". In American English, the serial comma is standard in most non-journalistic writing, which typically follows the Chicago Manual of Style. Correct: I waited at the door, whereas Katy waited in the street. For comma usage, the most important usage is as a conjunction. (as an Oxford comma) Note: you might also find these prepositional phrases in the middle of sentences after a conjunction, e.g. The holidays in Spain, of which there are many, are mostly religious. non-journalistic writing, which Incorrect: The fruit which everyone found tasty was my best idea. Is it because leaving out the comma seems to group Jane and Carol together? Correct: It wasn't the traffic that meant I couldn't come, it was because my car broke down. Commas are one of the most frustrating grammatical concepts, even for native English speakers. In UK usage, you can choose. there is a danger of misunderstanding (tea, bread and butter, It's a tradeoff—sometimes you avoid an ambiguity by using or not using it, and sometimes you create one. The biggest issue, as you will see, is where we will store all the extra components. I like rice, beans, and plantains. The reality is that there are many more rules for using commas. Correct: I was born on Saturday, October 8, 1977. What, Harry, is your title? In styles that use a serial comma, an exception is made before an ampersand, which is a display element, not a word. usually follow the AP Stylebook, which if you remove the "and" you will be left with two complete sentences), or if you're using it as an Oxford comma. Incorrect: The fruit, which everyone found tasty was my best idea. Example: I went to bed, then I started dreaming. Correct: We love it, Louise. Did your teacher have special exclusive access to a special 11th commandment on comma usage issued by God? The legend of removing the comma originated back in manual typesetting days when newspaper print space was at a premium, and that particular comma became expendable. She was sad, yet relieved. This is known as the serial comma. Cumulative adjectives build on each other and cannot be re-ordered or split with "and," for example: bright yellow jacket. Other examples of which in a prepositional phrase are "on which" and "of which.". The fourth dot is always a period. Correct: There were no grammar books five hundred years ago. We are ready to help you with any type of work. To separate city and country/city and state. e.g. My solution to the problem was to rework the sentence to relieve the overmatched comma (and its stripped-out doppelganger) of the burden of clarifying the relations between the named parties: He and his wife have two pets: a ferret and a cat who thinks she is a ferret. Notice in the revised example above that the reader’s benefit “refunded money” is placed at the beginning of the sentence, rather than at the end. You should always use a comma when a FANBOYS conjunction connects two … (There is no comma before the "and" here because "were exhausted afterward" is not a complete sentence. A time phrase is something that gives details of the time that something happened. In short, the strict serial-comma system runs into ambiguity problems with certain appositive constructions, while the strict no-serial-comma system runs into ambiguity problems with certain appositive constructions, with certain series that contain one or more integral elements requiring a conjunction (as AP puts it), and with series whose elements are sufficiently complex. Do WordPress' cron's clean up expired transients? "Using comma before the last item" would make it clearer. Although some writers view the comma between the last two items as optional, most experts agree that it is better to put it in because its omission can result in ambiguity or "crackers, cheese and some soda." Is it grammatically correct to put a comma before "then"? A restrictive clause is one where its removal would alter the meaning of the sentence. In some circumstances, you may use a comma before a conjunction such as "and" when it starts a dependent clause. @Daniel δ: LOL - I hope that was sarcasm. In that case then it follows the rules for "because" outlined above, i.e. Enumerations and conjunctions “and” and “or”, time-sensitive documents, goods, articles or cargo, Including a comma at the end of a list before a dependent clause. The general rule for subordinating conjunctions states that you shouldn't use a comma before a subordinating conjunction that comes after the main clause. It is less often only include a comma before "since" when the verb in the independent clause that precedes it is negated and this might cause confusion. So, where do commas go in a sentence? If it does, you want to include it. Correct: He ate dinner, slept all night, and awoke refreshed. When should you use a comma before a coordinating conjunction? When yet is used to set off a contrasting element of a sentence then it should have a comma before it, just like with not. The comma rules you need to know for participle phrases are: For participial phrases before the main clause, put a comma after the participial phrase. Incorrect: He didn't take the exit because of the fog. Items in a series may be single words, phrases, or clauses. I came in, I saw the package, and I opened it. between a county and a country, e.g. Incorrect: The fruit which everyone found tasty, was my best idea. This is similar to the rule about using a comma before a quotation as you can imagine the indirect question being surrounded by quotation marks. Incorrect: The value of Pi is 3.141,59 to five decimal places. Don't despair though. When a word is omitted intentionally for stylistic reasons. When "which" appears in a prepositional phrase, it should not be preceded by a comma. Tony went to the supermarket and bought tomatoes, onions, mushrooms and potatoes. On the other hand, you could say that's great news as you'll never be wrong. An appositive is a word or phrase that helps to further identify a noun. Do I need a comma when I omit a word for stylistic reasons? This construction is fairly rare. So how do you punctuate a subordinate clause? This is the definitive list: Before a coordinating conjunction when it separates two independent clauses. We use a comma every third digit from the right. Can you please expound on your last point? Do I need a comma after a participle phrase? He currently lives with his wife; one ferret and a cat who thinks she is a ferret. That's the origin of this errant "omission rule" that, I believe, has made it into the AP style book. This sentence implies that each niece would receive 1/3 of the estate. e.g. Example: I opened the boot [and] saw the spare tyre. Oxford comma It's known as the used in British English. It can stand on its own as a sentence. Here is some more specific guidance on when you don't need to use a comma: Should you follow an introductory phrase with a comma? When a number uses a decimal point, we never place commas to the right of the decimal point. My favorite drinks are Long Island Iced Tea, Bloody Mary, vodka and Jack and Coke. only include a comma before "for" when the verb in the independent clause that precedes it is negated and this might cause confusion. This comma of omission is often seen when parallel structures are used, such as two sentences taking the same form. "Which" can also appear as part of a prepositional phrase, e.g. walking, hoping. Incorrect: This is great, Joe, I love it. the end of a list: We sell books, videos, and magazines. When using a vocative in the middle of a sentence, make sure that you're not actually creating a comma splice by joining two independent clauses. When please is used at the start of a sentence then you can choose to use a comma depending on if you’d like to emphasize it. and green. Eric Wimp, living at 29 Acacia Road, Nuttytown, eats a banana to transform into Bananaman. This is, in my opinion, the most important issue. Too is an adverb. To separate out a parenthetical element of a sentence. How should I use a comma with a subordinate clause? Notice that in the first example, we use commas around the appositive, but in the second example we don't. If "too" comes in the middle of a sentence then you should either have two commas or no commas. In the first sentence, replacing "This" with e.g. The comma every third digit is sometimes known as a “thousands-separator.” Make sure you don’t include a space on either side of this comma. Incorrect: The suit to be fair suited him. When you include quoted material or dialogue in a sentence then you should proceed it with a comma unless it fits into the flow of the sentence seamlessly, e.g. Incorrect: There was no new news, yesterday. You know what I mean though, right? Should you have a comma before "because"? Example: Frank, hoping to get promoted, applied for the role. An exclamatory sentence, or exclamation, is a more forceful version of a declarative sentence.In other words, an exclamatory sentence makes a statement (just like a declarative sentence), but it also conveys excitement or emotion. If you're uncertain who your audience will be then it's best to always place your commas inside of quotes. Where more than two words or phrases or groupings occur together in a sequence, a comma should precede the, Possibility of ambiguity if you make the wrong decision. if you do this, whenever you see him. Should I use a comma before or after “please” in a sentence? Do you need a comma to separate the day from the month, and the date from the year? After all, just as one might describe a person as "a genius and a madman who knows he is a genius," one might (foolishly) refer to one's spouse as "a ferret and a cat who thinks [he or she] is a ferret.". There are strict rules that govern when you can (and can't) use commas. It can get confusing as many other countries (such as Spain) use commas in numbers instead of a decimal point, e.g. typically follows the Chicago Manual A run-on sentence isn’t one that goes on and on, seemingly without an end. It might appear as: Many people use a comma where they would pause naturally in a sentence. In this case, the entire sentence gets qualified by "also". Incorrect: The man left the restaurant, while [as] it was raining. Commas are often used to set off a contrasting element in a sentence. There are arguments for and against which usually come down to comprehension. Incorrect: Although you're ready we must wait. languages (e.g. When an adverbial infinitive phrase finishes a main clause then you shouldn't use a comma before it: Incorrect: The suit suited him, to be fair. A comma doesn't seem appropriate to me. Correct: "I'll come along later," said Mary. I'm not sure if anyone really drinks a vodka+Jack+Coke, but it could happen! Before "which" in nonrestrictive phrases. Why did Adam think that he was still naked in Genesis 3:10? Let’s look at an example of when there are two elements in the independent clause that precede “because” and the dependent clause could refer to either one. Correct: The value of Pi is 3.14159 to five decimal places. What programming languages were most commonly used on the AS/400 in the 90s? The 'Oxford comma' is an optional comma before the word 'and' at Example: Anne applied for the role, hoping to get promoted. comma A punctuation mark (,) indicating a pause between parts of a sentence or separating items in a list. :). If you are using it because your style guide prefers it, then use it wherever the style guide says to. As I noted a year ago in my answer to a post about Serial commas in quotations, AP makes two important exceptions to its normal no-serial-comma rule: Put a comma before the concluding conjunction in a series, however, if an integral element of the series requires a conjunction: I had orange juice, toast, and ham and eggs for breakfast. The ellipsis would then look like it has four dots. It is often to do with time or location, e.g. The basic question here is about disambiguation. Sometimes the serial comma is necessary to delineate the final two items in the list when the final item is a compound item (containing the word "and"). Example: I loved playing tennis; my brother [loved] volleyball. After an initial/introductory adverb that modifies a whole sentence or independent clause. e.g. He was born on October 8, 1977. or Today is Tuesday, August 8, 2019. Also on that wiki page you can find lots of links to certain style guides. If you put the day of the month first, e.g. ", it is clear to me that the parents are not Ayn Rand and God. Its use is purely written style and optional. All the information below is built into our grammar checker so that every time you make a mistake you can see why. An independent clause is part of a sentence that has its own subject and verb. The words "whereas" and "although" are subordinating conjunctions. Should I use a comma with a participle or gerund phrase? It's funny, Mari-Lou—one of the things that bothered me most about the original sentence was the seemingly temporary living arrangement with his wife. There are three ways that "and" can be used in a sentence: This last example shows that sometimes contrasting elements can be disguised with an adverb before them. The fruit that we bought was tasty. Likewise, the writer of the second example might be referring to three personages (one parent, one mortal author, and one Deity) or to two (a parent who happens to be a mortal author, and a Deity). It is necessary for understanding the meaning of the sentence. I spent yesterday playing cricket, listening to jazz records, and talking about the meaning of life. Incorrect: To be the best you must practice. For example: Two of the kidnappers re-entered the room at exactly 4 o'clock. Harvey forgot his lunch yesterday and again today. To produce this list, our team of linguists analyzed thousands of sentences and classified every comma in each sentence according to its use. Should I use a comma before a subordinate conjunction? I'm afraid your 1 is subjective and argumentative — a random, unverified, and likely unverifiable claim — while your 2 is simply dishonest. Infinitive phrases begin with an infinitive (to + the simple form of the verb), e.g. If you have determined it is possible to delete the rest of a sentence or a whole sentence, you need to add the period that would have been there after the ellipsis. In this case, it is acting as an interrupter: Correct: The suit, to be fair, suited him. My favorite drinks are Long Island Iced Tea, Bloody Mary, vodka, and Jack and Coke. They add extra context. publishers use it, but it can clarify the meaning of a sentence when If I wrote instead: "He is great and works hard," this is an independent clause and a dependent clause, because "works hard" is not a complete sentence. The comma before the "and" is called an Oxford comma or a serial comma. Before a coordinating conjunction when it separates an independent and dependent clause as an Oxford comma. Conservation of Energy with Chemical and Kinetic Energy. When should I use a comma to separate numbers? between a county and a state, e.g. Could a Mars surface rover/probe be made of plastic? You can do as you please. Incorrect: There were no grammar books, five hundred years ago. 12 May 2012, then there is no need to include commas in the date. After an introductory prepositional phrase. The practice of omitting the comma, as noted, is an anachronism from a bygone era in newspaper layout, not one of grammatical correctness. Incorrect in US: "I'll come along later" said Mary. There are a few cases where it can avoid ambiguity, but otherwise if you don't have a style-guide dictating on the matter, it's up to you. Is it grammatically correct to put a comma before "and"? add one if the following phrase is an independent clause. general rule (e.g. The latter example is known as the serial comma, Harvard comma or Oxford comma, these last two names coming from the style guides of Harvard University Press and Oxford University Press insisting upon it.

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