Why comma is used

A comma is needed in a sentence before the conjunctions and, but, for, nor, yet, or, so to separate the two independent clauses.

If the information about who is speaking comes before the piece of direct speech, you should use a comma before the first quotation mark. If the information about who is speaking comes after the direct speech, you should use a comma at the end of the dialogue. The comma should go inside the quotation mark. Some longer sentences are made up of more than one clause, a comma is used to separate these clauses.

These type of sentences are referred to as complex, and contain a main clause and one or more subordinate clauses. A main clause contains a subject and a verb, and expresses a complete thought that makes sense on its own. As you can see, there are a lot of rules concerning commas, and learning them can help you to improve your writing. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.

The toilet paper is soft but strong. The comma is a useful and multifunctional part of English grammar, it can help the flow of a piece of text and provide a small break for the reader. Read more of our blogs here. What is a comma and when do I use it? When to use them Some parts of grammar are easy to understand.

Comma After Introductory Phrase When you are introducing a sentence, you will most often use a comma. Here is an example: When the show is over, Richard will come home. Using them with Subjects and Verbs A comma should not separate a subject and its verb. Comma Splices A comma cannot be used to join independent clauses.

Comma Before But If you are joining two independent clauses, use a comma before the word but. View our Cookie Policy. Close Privacy Overview This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website.

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You can view our cookie list here. Cleo will sing, and play the banjo. Cleo will sing and play the banjo. Cleo spotted the man who entered the diner, and waved. When you want to join two independent clauses, you need a conjunction or a semicolon. This kind of mistake is called a comma splice.

We were out of milk, I went to the store. We were out of milk, so I went to the store. We were out of milk; I went to the store. We were out of milk. I went to the store. Grammarly can save you from misspellings, grammatical and punctuation mistakes, and other writing issues on all your favorite websites. Try Grammarly for free. Grabbing her umbrella, Kate raced out of the house.

As a rule of thumb, if the phrase is longer than about four words, use the comma. You can also use a comma with a shorter phrase when you want to emphasize it or add a pause for literary effect.

After the show, Cleo will be signing autographs. Behind the building there is enough space to park two limousines. Without knowing why, I crossed the room and looked out the window. In life was very different. Suddenly, an angry black cat sprang from the shadows. Before eating the family said grace. Before eating, the family said grace. This box is lighter, than that box. This box is lighter than that box. Hardcover books are more expensive, than paperback books.

Hardcover books are more expensive than paperback books. Interrupters are little thoughts that pop up in the middle of a sentence to show emotion, tone, or emphasis. A parenthetical element is a phrase that adds extra information to the sentence but could be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence. Both interrupters and parenthetical elements should be set off with commas.

The weather I was happy to see was beginning to clear. The weather, I was happy to see, was beginning to clear. It was sadly the last day of camp. It was, sadly, the last day of camp. Mary unlike Anne is very organized. Mary, unlike Anne, is very organized. A question tag is a short phrase or even a single word that is added to the end of a statement to turn it into a question. Writers often use question tags to encourage readers to agree with them. A question tag should be preceded by a comma.

I know, right? Hello, Chester. An appositive is a word or phrase that refers to the same thing as another noun in the same sentence. In numbers four digits long, a comma is optional.

Commas Eight Basic Uses. Commas Eight Basic Uses To better understand the use of the comma, begin by learning the following eight basic uses. Use a comma to separate independent clauses Rule: Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction and, but, yet, so, or nor, for when it joins two complete ideas independent clauses.

He walked down the street, and then he turned the corner. You can go shopping with me, or you can go to a movie alone. Use a comma after an introductory clause or phrase Rule: Use a comma after an introductory clause or phrase. When Evan was ready to iron, his cat tripped on the cord. Near a small stream at the bottom of the canyon, park rangers discovered a gold mine. Use a comma between all items in a series Rule: Use a comma to separate each item in a series; a series is a group of three or more items having the same function and form in a sentence.

We bought apples, peaches, and bananas today.