When the second independent clause in a sentence begins with a coordinating conjunction, a comma is needed before the coordinating conjunction: Trying to account for punctuation with a lot of grammatical gobbledegook is a fool’s errand. This is the pattern: Main Clause + , + Coordinating Conjunction + Main Clause. Can a comma be used in conjunction with an em dash? If you have a list of independent clauses (standalone sentences), then you would use a comma before the 'and'. An Oxford Comma is a comma used before the last list item in a list of three or more items. Connecting two main clauses: To separate two main clauses, place a comma then the conjunction between each clause. A comma after “then” is also necessary when it is preceded by a semicolon. Actually, most of the time you can skip the comma after an opening coordinating conjunction. Coordinating conjunctions are the FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. There is no definitive answer to your question because . 1. Today, such a sentence is considered over-punctuated. and then would require following the rule of "don't use a comma before a conjunction (and, or, but...) if the part that follows the conjunction could not stand alone as a sentence. The dictionary goes on to note that when then is used as conjunction, a comma is needed before it, which is different from how conjunctions like and function. Here are some guidelines on whether you need to use a comma before the word “but” and some examples of best practices. The good news about the comma. Now you know the answer. When you insert a comma before as, its meaning changes to “because.”. Comma-then is a disease specific to modern prose narrative with lots of action verbs. College can be a great learning opportunity = main clause; So = coordinating conjunction The position of a comma can often reflect the sense in which the word is being used. I wanted pie, or I wanted nothing at all. The longer the clause preceding the conjunction, however, the greater the need for a comma – I asked him several times in the course of the afternoon to turn down the When “then” functions similarly to a coordinating conjunction, there should be a comma before it. Comma with conjunctions. The conjunction but joins two independent clauses, and in this example the comma is optional; it does no harm, but the sentence is sufficiently short to cope without it. It is a construct which ensures the absolute clarity of the scene at hand. Conjunctive adverbs as introductions. When there are three or more list items, then those following “US convention” should use a comma (often called an Oxford Comma) with the conjunction (usually “and” or “or”). as it frequently introduces a dependent phrase, however, a comma would be placed at the end of the independent phrase or clause which precedes it. There is a comma before the conjunction (but), and the nonessential comment (in the end) is set off with a pair of commas. Comma & Conjunction Challenge. Clause + semicolon + conjunctive adverb + comma + clause (more formal) - Hamburgers are fattening; therefore / thus they should be eaten in moderation. Where should the Oxford comma go in a sentence? It rained for twenty days in a row, so … When a coordinating conjunction is used to join two independent clauses, you should use a comma before the coordinating conjunction. The seven coordinating conjunctions used as connecting words at the beginning of an independent clause are and, but, for, or, nor, so, and yet. Coordinating Conjunction. You can use the same three-part rule for a sentence with and, or, yet, and so. "Then" can be a conjunctive adverb when used to join two independent clauses—clauses with both a subject and a predicate. Sometimes, it is okay to use “but” without a comma. An overuse of commas in these situations may confuse or irritate readers, making them aware of the foundations of the story rather than keeping them involved with the story itself. Sentence + full stop + conjunctive adverb + comma + clause - Hamburgers are very fattening. We can use the FANBOYS conjunctions to connect two independent clauses; usually, they will be accompanied (preceded) by a comma. Comma Use. Too many students think that then works the same way: "Caesar invaded Gaul, then he turned his attention to England." You can use a semi-colon, or you can use a conjunction plus a comma. Conjunctive adverbs are often used as introductory terms; in this case, these words should be followed by a comma for clarity: Therefore, all of the test animals were re-examined.. -- You use a comma to separate the list items except for the last one because the conjunction does the separation for you. January 1, 2014 -. Click to expand... basically, i said "you shouldn't put a comma before a conjunction before a dependent clause" Overall, a comma after “then’ is not required, however, there are a couple of occasions in which you might deem necessary. The English language offers many different rules about when & how to use commas. To me, this is the same situation as an oxford comma. The rules for using a comma before "and" (or any other conjunction such as "and," "or," and "but") depend on how the conjunction is used. I have more good news for you. If you want to join them together in a compound sentence, you could write the first independent clause, use a comma and a coordinating conjunction, then include the second independent clause at the end of the sentence. Use a comma before the conjunction when the sentence halves can stand alone. Here is an example: While I am at work, my dog Floyd sleeps on the bed, and my cat Buster naps in the bathtub. We'll show you how to use conjunctions, clauses, relative pronouns, and the proper way to use a comma after "and" with our comma cheat sheet. Jim C. writes: In the Ann Coulter post, you wrote:. 1. Sentences infected with it are almost always found in the company of other short, declarative sentences with an and in the middle of them. 2. The answer, therefore, is that no comma is needed before the but. If you can replace while with as, then it shouldn't have a comma before it. If the conjunction precedes an independent (main) clause, use a comma: “Jack tried a new diet, but he still gained weight.”. If you can replace while with whereas then you should use a comma before it because it is being used as an adverb of concession. In this situation, you will often need commas to separate the conjunctive adverb from … On Monday we’ll see … Then can be used as an adverb, conjunction, noun, and an adjective. The lack of a comma before the conjunction is the biggest difference between AP style rules on commas and standard English grammar. in which the then acts as an adverb and the halves of the compound predicate are linked by the coordinating conjunction and. Yes, some guides would call this use of a comma-then as a comma splice and forbid it along with all other comma splices. Conjunctions do not normally cause major grammatical errors. Since 'milk' is not an independent clause, it doesn't need a comma before the conjunction. When you connect two main clauses with a coordinating conjunction, use a comma. Commas before or after conjunctions. Quiz Yourself On The Oxford Comma! A Comma before a Conjunction. Then is a conjunction, but it is not one of the little conjunctions listed at the top of this page. Adding the comma did not change the meaning of any words in the sentence except for one: as. Additionally, if “then’ is used as a conjunction, placing a comma after it is not considered to be grammatically correct. The use of a comma … Comma Before And That Joins Two Independent Clauses. You can use them to begin sentences, but they are connectors; make sure you choose the one that makes sense for what you want to say. If there are four clauses in the sentence, we need just three conjunctions to connect them. Use commas to separate independent clauses when they are joined by any of these seven coordinating conjunctions: and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet. We can use the FANBOYS conjunctions to connect two independent clauses; usually, they will be accompanied (preceded) by a comma. College can be a great learning opportunity, so students should take advantage of this option after high school. The cat ate a bowlful of tuna; then, to the squirrels' delight, the fat feline fell asleep in the rocking chair. I used to be a werewolf, but I’m much better naaaoowwwwwww! There was a time when this sentence would be punctuated exactly this way. In English, we need just one conjunction to connect two clauses. A comma is not used before a coordinating conjunction when the conjunction joins two words or phrases or two clauses that are not independent clauses. Taking the word but for example, if it is being used to join two independent clauses together then there should be a comma before but. In sentences with the structure of our example, if there is no comma before as, then as means “in the way that” or “while.”. A conjunctive adverb will also introduce, interrupt, or conclude a single main clause. For example, you should put a comma in the following sentence. For instance, if commas are necessary to offset a nonrestrictive clause, then they may be used between the correlative pairs of … In this sentence, you are late and you will fail the class are independent clauses, and if…then is the correlative conjunction. In 2012, I wrote about coordinating conjunctions and the criteria a word currently needs to meet to be considered one.... Then doesn't meet the full criteria of a coordinating conjunction. He studied, and they went to the grocery store to buy ice cream. before the conjunctions “and” or “or”. However, the use of the comma-then is widespread among authors for its clarity. Incorrect: There were no clouds in the sky, I went for a jog. In both cases, there is a comma separating the first two items, but there is no comma before the conjunction. Does the comma go before or after but? However, students sometimes incorrectly use two conjunctions to connect two clauses. When a conjunction joins the last two elements in a series of three or more, a comma—known as the serial or series comma or the Oxford comma—should appear before the conjunction.” Chicago strongly recommends this widely practiced usage, blessed by Fowler and other authorities, since it … The word and is a conjunction, and when a conjunction joins two independent clauses, you should use a comma with it. I told you it was super easy. After all, “but” is a conjunction that can join together different parts of a sentence. or. It is just a normal subordinating conjunction. When it’s followed by rising intonation, which is what a comma stands for in written language. When to put a comma before “then” Use a comma with “then” when it’s at the start of a conditional clause, part of a coordinating conjunction, or at the end of … Here’s a sentence in which a comma is needed: If you are late, then you will fail the class. before the … In short, a comma precedes and, and every other conjunction, when said conjunction joins two complete sentences (independent clauses). Then is a conjunction, but it is not one of the little conjunctions listed at the top of this page. There are two schools of thought on how best to lighten the punctuation of such a sentence. Second, your example: ... then perhaps we can get punctuation to make more sense to future generations of writers. 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. 1. If the comma serves another grammatical function in the sentence, then it should be used, whether or not it separates parts of a correlative conjunction pair. An independent clause contains a subject and a verb and could stand alone as a sentence. Today, I want to talk about some of the rules surrounding when you should and shouldn’t use a comma before (or after) the word “then”. Unlike the required punctuation for most conjunctive adverbs joining two independent clauses, when using "then," one doesn't need to use a semicolon preceding it and a comma following it. It’s that simple. … Question 1 of 6. Pattern 2 — Connecting two items (There are other coordinating conjunctions, but these three are by far the most common.) The rule for but is the same as that for the other six coordinating conjunctions: and, for, or, nor, so, and yet. Clause + comma + coordinating conjunction + clause (neutral) - I ate a hamburger, so I am full. This grammar challenge will focus on one specific comma usage, which I consider to be one of the most important ones: how to use commas to prevent run-on sentences. Words like "and," "or," and "but" are known as coordinating conjunctions. A comma with a correlative conjunction. Coordinating conjunctions join equal phrases , ideas, or parts of speech. You have mastered the rule. a comma goes before a coordinating conjunction that separates two independent clauses. Rule #9: Don’t Use a Comma Between Two Independent Clauses (Without a Conjuction) If you have two independent clauses, you can’t just use a comma to join them. You don’t need a comma after the word 'but' at the beginning of a sentence. after the conjunction “because”. Consult p. 502-504 of our textbook. The proper place for the comma is before the conjunction. If this woman … is considered by the conservative movement to be one of the most important conservatives in America,—and she is so considered—then conservatism is a joke.

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