Commas Before and in a Series. Whenever you use it after a coordinating conjunction (e.g. The Oxford comma reduces ambiguity in lists. The joining comma is only slightly different from the listing comma. Commas are used to separate clauses, coordinate adjectives and items in a list. It’s also called the Serial comma. When the information that follows the relative pronouns is essential to the sentence, you do not use a comma. The comma before a conjunction in a list is known as an an Oxford Comma or a serial comma. However, I am not so sure with the combo of "and that" because "that" makes it dependent, doesn't it? Here's another example: Jackhammers that don't have noise-dampening technology are on sale. Add your own answer! You don't put a comma before "so that" or so if it is used to indicate the purpose of the action in the first clause, but you can put a comma before the so or so that if it is used to show the result or effect of the action just stated. Fortunately, nobody at all thinks you need a comma after the word “and” in a list. These words are called relative pronouns. After going over my own work, I've started to doubt myself in some circumstances where I use or omit the comma before the word "as" in a sentence. I know the general rule that when you have a "comma before as", it's usually an action happening concurrently with another one. When the information is extra and the sentence is clear without it, you put a comma before the relative pronoun. Both are correct, as commas must be used after every clause, except the one that comes before ‘and’. Find the clause beginning with that or which. Tom’s second book, which he spent ten years writing, is now a best seller. Read more about commas in lists. Can you use thereby at the beginning of a sentence? When the answer is “yes,” place a comma before the word. Read more about the Oxford Comma. Writers use it to separate the last item in a list to avoid uncertainty or misunderstandings. When that final list item is preceded by “and” or “or,” though, you run into what’s called the serial or Oxford commadebate. Common starter words for introductory clauses that should be followed by a comma include after, although, as, because, if, since, when, while. Rule #3: Use a Comma Before a Quotation. If the clause begins with a which, continue to step 2. a. a. In English language punctuation, a serial comma, or series comma (also called an Oxford comma or Harvard comma), is a comma placed immediately after the penultimate term (i.e. For instance: "The M5 Author talks about the Orion Reptile Queen, and she is known as the most powerful Reptilian in the ranks." There came a clap of thunder. Name Email Answer. In both the examples you provided (there are 2 instances of ", and that": 1 in the first link and 1 in the second), I believe the comma is superfluous. If that’s the case, omit the comma. – Edwin Ashworth Feb 7 '18 at 9:48. add a comment | 0. Using a comma before 'because' helps reduce confusion. I think that you should let the matter rest. You're veering to the territory of restrictive and nonrestrictive clauses. Commas are needed before coordinating conjunctions, after dependent clauses (when they precede independent clauses), and to set off appositives. Recent Questions. Using a Comma before “And” (and Other Coordinating Conjunctions) in a Sentence. So use a comma before and to signal the start of a new clause. Always place a comma before or when it begins an independent clause, but if it begins a dependent clause, don’t. People often get muddled about whether to place a comma before conjunctions like and, so, because, and or. In general, the comma shows that the words immediately before the comma are less closely or exclusively linked grammatically to those immediately after the comma than they might be otherwise. It is used to join two complete sentences into a single sentence, and it must be followed by a suitable connecting word. The last example above is a real example from a newspaper. and), use the past or present tense. If the number of page visits is a reliable indicator, this topic—using a comma before and —is on the minds of many people. A nonrestrictive clause doesn't. Submit Answer. Look at both sentences carefully please. The clause "who live in the same village as us" is just additional information about Sarah's parents. A restrictive clause limits the meaning of a sentence when you remove it. Here are two examples of how AP might treat the need for a comma before and from the blog AP vs Chicago: I … Here are two examples (forgive the passive voice): Restrictive: The rules of grammar that are obsolete should be ignored. A further discussion and additional examples of correct comma usage can be found in Magnum Proofreading’s Guide to Proper English Grammar and Language Usage. Let's examine it in more detail. Adding a comma can change the meaning of a sentence. And a comma before a coordinator where the main clauses are lengthy helps readability. As a rule of thumb, you don't use a comma before a clause that begins with that. Help others by answering this question! Typically, you use a comma before each item in a list. The second sentence is still grammatical, but it isn’t logical. These commas … Using a comma before “who” for additional information. Follow four steps to decide: 1. Now, … Without the comma, it could be misconstrued that the parents were god and Ayn Rand. Use commas after introductory a) clauses, b) phrases, or c) words that come before the main clause. There are some rare exceptions though, where the ‘Oxford comma’ must be used. Whether to use a comma before or after which in a sentence is a dilemma that many people face when writing. Comma Before "And That"? This grammar guide will teach you when you should and shouldn’t place a comma before which. In each of these cases, we can remove what comes between the commas (or what comes before the only comma) without damaging the basic sentence – They discussed the problem for hours but found no solution. Comma before and in AP style. Therefore, a comma is required before "who.") Because clauses that aren’t restrictive are basically optional, commas are used to provide a visual cue to the reader that he or she can skip what follows. Putting a comma before as in this sentence is a mistake. If the clause begins with a that, omit the comma. It is grammatically correct to use a comma before "and" (and other coordinating conjunctions such as "but", "or", "nor") only when it splits two independent clauses (i.e. You should always put a comma immediately before a quotation: He said, “It’s warm today. The third most oft-visited on this site, this page garnered close to 10,000 hits in the past thirty days. I know that we should use comma before "and" if the clause is independent. To make matters more complicated, sometimes it’s appropriate to place a comma after the word “so.” In this article, we’ll give examples of all of the comma rules for the word “so,” along with a few other handy shortcuts. Whether or not you need a comma in front of that final list item is a seriously contentious issue. If it’s asking a question, the only way you would need a comma before “who” is if there is a phrase or clause coming before it. Restrictive elements aren't surrounded by commas. If “who” is not acting as a restrictive clause, the most likely use of it in a sentence is to provide additional information. Forums Grammar & Sentence Structure 1 1,008 + 0. There are three ways that "and" can be used in a sentence: - To separate two independent clauses, i.e. In sentence 1, thereby follows the comma; however in sentence 2, there is a coordinating conjunction before thereby. Larks fly higher than most other birds. Here are a few more examples of sentences that require a comma before which: My mother’s house, which is in a nice neighborhood, needs a new coat of paint. The English language is fluid, evolving and highly subjective. Interactive Exercise Here are three randomly selected questions from a larger exercise, which can be … This is when if you don’t use the comma, the meaning of the sentence changes. In American English usage, many writers and editors feel that a comma should precede and with three or more items in a series. Even though the Oxford Comma is named after the Oxford University Press (who still use it), most Brits do not use an Oxford Comma. Deciding whether to use a comma before which, where, or who means determining the function of the relative clause. Example: I would like to order a salad, a sandwich, and dessert. Comma before As Does anyone know of any good articles on this matter? AP is a journalistic style, so it is focused on brevity, but it also needs to ensure accuracy, so it leaves the decision up to editors. Example of "that" clause: The only way that Fred could determine the way home was by tracking the position of the sun. The purpose of punctuation is to help the reader understand the grammatical structure of a sentence, and a thoughtfully placed comma will do just that. Because her alarm clock was broken, she was late for class. Answered 6 minutes ago by Barrie England with 1 upvote. I don't think there really is an "exact rule" [binding rule] that covers this situation and tells you whether a comma is required to be (or not to be) put there. The connecting words which can be used in this way are and, or, but, while and yet. 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. While I was eating, the cat scratched at the door. Flawless spelling & grammar are just the beginning. “Who” can be either a relative pronoun or an interrogative pronoun. Are you using “so” as a subordinating conjunction? The comma performs a number of functions in English writing. The comma should be placed after the first clause and before the coordinating conjunction. That comma is optional. if you remove the "and" you will be left with two complete sentences), or if you're using it as an Oxford comma. Rob tripped over his shoes, which he had left lying in the middle of the floor. George clearly cleaned the house while he listened to the radio, not because he was listening to the radio. 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. ” John Smith told us, “You can’t come in after ten o’clock.” Rule #4: Use a Comma to Separate a Dependent Clause That Comes BEFORE the Independent Clause. We can't get rid of the words “that don't have noise-dampening technology” because then we'd be saying all jackhammers are on sale, not just the special ones; so that means the phrase is restrictive. One classic example that is often quoted is, to my parents, Ayn Rand, and God. Here are some examples: Norway has applied to join the EC, and Sweden is expected to do the same. b. A comma helps to make meaning clear by separating words, phrases or clauses in a sentence. The comma before the word and in a list of three or more things is the Oxford comma. Therefore, there should be a comma before "who." It basically comes down to how the author wants the sentence to read. 1 Answer. 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