Where to put commas.

May 15, 2023 · Updated on May 15, 2023 Grammar. Whether or not you put a comma before and depends on how you’re using and. There’s no single rule that applies to all situations. You usually put a comma before and when it’s connecting two independent clauses. It’s almost always optional to put a comma before and in a list. Give your writing extra polish. 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 …A follower of my blog questioned whether to include a comma between an informal greeting and the person’s name: Hi Brad or Hi, Brad. Hello Brad or Hello, Brad. Good morning Brad or Good morning ...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. The tricky thing about commas is that most people struggle to know where to put commas in sentences. There is some flexibility but knowing the comma rules will help you take away the guess work and build confidence in your placement of commas. There are many and varied comma rules; however, the following 8 …

A contraction is a shortened form of a word or group of words that omits certain letters or sounds. In a contraction, an apostrophe represents missing letters. The most common contractions are made up of verbs, auxiliaries, or modals attached to other words: “He would” = “He’d.” “I have” = “I’ve.” “They are” = “They ...Learn how to use commas to separate and punctuate different elements of sentences. Find examples, detailed rules, and exceptions for various types of clauses, phrases, and …The most common usage for the comma is when separating different parts of a sentence to help the reader understand the correct meaning.There are a few common ...

Place a comma between day and year in dates written in the American date format (month-day-year). No comma is needed in the British date format (day-month-year). American: The highest temperature ever recorded on Earth was on July 10, 1913, at Furnace Creek, California. British: The warmest day in …A comma is advised if the where -clause can be removed without altering the meaning of the main clause. For example: A comma is not advised if the where -clause cannot be removed. For example: They also live in Argentina, Bolivia and Ecuador, where they reside mainly on estuaries, lagoons, mud flats and salt lakes.

In American English, you should always place a comma or period inside the quotation marks. That means the comma should always come right before the closing quotation mark, even if it’s not part of the quoted material. For example, you would write: “I’m going to the store,” said my sister. In British English, you can …However meaning “no matter how”. When it’s not being used as a conjunctive adverb, “however” can instead be used to mean “no matter how,” “in whatever way,” or “to whatever extent.”. In this use, it’s not followed by a comma. If the “however” clause comes first, it’s separated from the following clause with a comma.Mar 21, 2023 · Examples of when to use a comma before “which”. “Which” introducing a nonrestrictive clause (comma) “Which” introducing a restrictive clause (no comma) My car, which is a blue Ford Focus, was stolen last week. The car which was reported stolen was a blue Ford Focus. I can’t wait for Christmas, which is my favorite holiday. 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.Feb 15, 2013 ... Here's an easy example to help you remember the difference between restrictive and nonrestrictive appositives. If I have one sister, and I write ...

When writing out an address in a sentence or paragraph, use a comma after the street and after the city. When the address is stacked for a mailing address on an envelope or package, use a comma after the city only: 2. Use Commas Between Items in a Series. In a list, two items never require a comma.

In American English, you should always place a comma or period inside the quotation marks. That means the comma should always come right before the closing quotation mark, even if it’s not part of the quoted material. For example, you would write: “I’m going to the store,” said my sister. In British English, you can …

Jun 9, 2009 ... In this lesson, I look at comma use in the English language. If you are looking to get into university, or simply want to improve your ...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. Learn how to use commas correctly in English with this comprehensive guide. Find out when to use commas to separate words, clauses, phrases, and more, and avoid …Meet the comma. David and Paige introduce you to the comma! The comma is a punctuation mark that separates sentence elements, such as lists, dates, and clauses. It's the superhero of punctuation, but it has one weakness: commas can't go at the end of sentences. Rules for using commas. Use a comma when a series of two or more adjectives modify a noun. Sal’s band plays loud, abrasive, complex music. Use a comma to separate three or more items in a series. Anna’s grandmother is good at making fudge, nursing hurt animals, tending fruit trees, telling stories, and playing Scrabble. Adding Commas to a Paragraph. This exercise offers practice in applying the rules for using commas effectively. Before attempting the exercise, you may find it helpful to review this article on comma usage . In the following paragraph, insert commas wherever you think they belong. (Try reading the paragraph …

Commas to Separate a City and State. Rule – Use a comma to separate the city from the state, and always put one after the state, also. Example: I lived in Denver, Colorado, for 20 years. NOTE: The U.S. Postal Service’s two-letter capitalized abbreviations (e.g., CO for Colorado, IL for Illinois) are not recommended in …A quick answer to the question above is…it depends. A comma most likely appears after however rather than before it. But, when this conjunctive adverb is used as an interrupter in a sentence, called a parenthetical expression, a comma must always come before it. More prevalent than the above scenario, a comma …The simplest way to check this is by removing the clause with “where” in it. If the sentence makes sense, then “where” needs a comma beforehand: I will be there, where they can’t find me. I will be there. However, if it doesn’t make sense, then there should be no comma around “where:”. This is where I do my laundry.Learn how to use commas correctly in English with this comprehensive guide. Find out when to use commas to separate words, clauses, phrases, and more, and avoid …Because. : How to Make Your Meaning Clear. Determining when to insert a comma before a phrase or clause that begins with because requires thoughtful analysis. In this post, I’ll walk you through two kinds of examples: sentences with positive verbs and sentences with negative verbs. The …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.

Jun 28, 2023 · Before we get into the details, here’s a quick overview of when to use a comma before or after but: Before but: when but is used as a coordinating conjunction to connect independent clauses. After but: when but is used as an interrupter, usually at the beginning of a sentence. No comma with but: when but is used to connect phrases but not ...

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".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. There are many rules …As a general rule, to write a date in the middle of a sentence, include a serial comma (i.e., final comma or Oxford comma,) both before and after the year: Example: Stan’s arrival on Saturday, January 11, 1988, was a huge relief for the whole family. When a date appears in the middle of a sentence with only the month and year, …In certain cases, you can skip the comma when introducing a quotation. First, skip the comma if the quotation is introduced by a conjunction like “that,” “whether,” or “if.”. Following that guidance, I might write sentences like this: Eddard Stark is constantly reminding people that “winter is coming.”.A comma is almost never used after the word “and,” barring a few exceptions, but it is commonly used before when you combine two complete sentences into a compound sentence or when listing more than two items. It is important to use commas properly to avoid overuse and help ensure writing clarity.Save to My BitesizeRemove from My Bitesize. Full stops and commas are punctuation marks. A full stop ends a sentence. A comma shows a pause, breaks up a list or separates part of a sentence. Play ...1. Do not use a comma just because your sentence is long. This is a common mistake; sometimes, people will see a long sentence and put in commas to “break it up” even if the sentence is grammatical without them. The length of your sentence has nothing to do with whether or not it needs commas.

Comma before “but” connecting independent clauses. You should include a comma before “but” when the two clauses it connects each have their own subject and verb.. This is the case even when the second subject is a pronoun referring to the same person or thing as the first clause, or when the second …

Mar 5, 2023 ... Use a comma before “or” when it joins independent clauses (“I may go out, or I may stay home”). Otherwise, don't (“I may go out or stay ...

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-...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".If it is part of a non-restrictive or unessential clause or phrase, you need a comma. On the other hand, if “including” is the start of a phrase that is essential to your sentence’s meaning, you should not add a comma. Although this rule is simple, it can be a bit tricky as the word “including” is ambiguous. One way …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.A comma is almost never used after the word “and,” barring a few exceptions, but it is commonly used before when you combine two complete sentences into a compound sentence or when listing more than two items. It is important to use commas properly to avoid overuse and help ensure writing clarity.Learn how to use commas to separate clauses, phrases, words, and adjectives in sentences. Find out when to use commas with coordinating conjunctions, introductory …If a comma is placed after a name or title, it is because it is placed in such a manner that it is being used as part of an introductory phrase or clause. This is a comma rule separate …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. Four ways to use commas. 1. Writing a list. When you're writing a list, use commas between each item in your list. Use and between the last two items, instead of a comma. For example: Today I need ... 1. The comma isn't needed because you have a second verb: compose. It's clear that you're tracking the monetary and material donations and that you're composing the letters. Wouldn't make sense to be tracking (a) monetary donations, (b) material donations, and (c) composing letters. Composing letters is a separate action not a …

Sometimes, you might include the day of the week. In this case, use a comma after the day of the week and before the month. Tuesday, June 19, 1990. Tuesday, June 19. We use the same rules if we place a date within a sentence. You will also place a comma after the year in a sentence if there is a day of the week …The answer depends on how you are using or. Always place a comma before or when it begins an independent clause, but if it begins a dependent clause, don’t. In a series (or list) of three or more items, you can use a comma before or, but this is a preference, not a rule. People often get muddled about …Mar 5, 2023 ... Use a comma before “or” when it joins independent clauses (“I may go out, or I may stay home”). Otherwise, don't (“I may go out or stay ...Inverted commas are punctuation marks used to show where speech or a quotation begins and ends. ‘ Inverted commas can be single – ‘x’ – or double – “x”. They are also known as quotation marks, speech marks, or quotes .’. – Oxford. In American English, inverted commas are called quotation marks. In British English, we use ...Instagram:https://instagram. arkham gamesfurnace wont ignitemissiusayoga seattle As can be seen in the examples above, a comma (,) is used at the end of the quotation, before the closing speech mark. A comma is also used before the quotation if we start the sentence with the reporting clause. In this case the terminal full stop (.) comes before the closing speech mark: She added, "Don't expect me before 11." when is the best time to visit italywhy do charities ask for dollar19 a month 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 … most fuel efficient truck Comma Rules: When a month, day, and year are listed, place a comma between the day and year: July 22, 2018. If the month, day, and year come in the middle of a sentence, place another comma after the year: I will celebrate July 22, 2018, as my birthday. In an address, place a comma after the street and between the city and …However: A Conjunctive Adverb. However is often used as a conjunctive adverb in academic and other formal writing. It introduces a contrasting idea and usually starts a sentence. When using it mid-sentence, you should put a semicolon before it and a comma after it if the two parts are stand-alone … These nonessential elements, which can be words, phrases, or clauses, are set off with commas. Rule: Use commas before and after nonessential words, phrases, and clauses, that is, elements embedded in the sentence that interrupt it without changing the essential meaning. If you leave out the element or put it somewhere else in the sentence ...