Can you use a comma to separate two independent clauses?
Commas are used to separate two independent clauses
. An independent clause can stand on its own as a sentence. They usually occur with coordinating conjunctions and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet.
Do you need a comma between two clauses?
Rule:
Use a comma between two independent clauses when conjunctions such as and, or, but, for, nor connect them
. Example: I have painted the entire house, but she is still working on sanding the floors. Rule: If the clauses are short (your call), then leave out the comma.
Can you separate two complete sentences with a comma?
You can only connect two complete sentences with a comma if there’s a coordinating conjunction (For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So or FANBOYS), between them
. Use a comma to link an incomplete sentence with a complete sentence. Use the Oxford comma.
Do you use a comma to separate an independent and dependent clause?
Do you need a comma before and with two independent clauses?
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. if you remove the “and” you will be left with two complete sentences), or if you’re using it as an Oxford comma.
What are the 8 rules for commas?
- Use a comma to separate independent clauses. …
- Use a comma after an introductory clause or phrase. …
- Use a comma between all items in a series. …
- Use commas to set off nonrestrictive clauses. …
- Use a comma to set off appositives. …
- Use a comma to indicate direct address. …
- Use commas to set off direct quotations.
Is a comma splice wrong?
It is incorrect to join two independent clauses with a comma
. This error is called a comma splice.
What is a gapping comma?
The gapping comma is very easy. We use a gapping comma
to show that one or more words have been left out when the missing words would simply repeat the words already used earlier in the same sentence
.
What is the first comma rule?
Rule 1:
Use a comma after an introductory clause
. When he had tired of the mad pace of New York, he moved to Dubuque. Omit the comma if no ambiguity would result unless it would slow comprehension.
When joining two independent clauses with a comma a blank needs to accompany the comma?
When a coordinating conjunction joins two independent clauses,
a comma is used before the coordinating conjunction
(unless the two independent clauses are very short). Conjunctions that are not followed by non-essential elements should never be followed by commas.
What are the comma rules?
- Use commas to separate independent clauses when they are joined by any of these seven coordinating conjunctions: and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet. …
- Use commas after introductory a) clauses, b) phrases, or c) words that come before the main clause.
Do you always put a comma before and?
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.
Do you always put a comma before but?
Comma Before But
If you are joining two independent clauses, use a comma before the word but
. Where the but is not joining two independent clauses, do not use a comma. 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.
How do you use commas examples?
Use commas to separate words and word groups in a simple series of three or more items. Example:
My estate goes to my husband, son, daughter-in-law, and nephew
. Note: When the last comma in a series comes before and or or (after daughter-in-law in the above example), it is known as the Oxford comma.
What are the examples of comma?
- The pet store has cats, dogs, hamsters, fish, and turtles. Listing things.
- I really wanted cereal this morning, but I didn’t have any milk. Connecting clauses.
- Well, if you really want pancakes, I guess I can make them. Creating pauses.
What are the 5 uses of a comma?
- Separating the main elements of a sentence from each other.
- Setting off a parenthetical element from the rest of the sentence.
- Separating elements in a series.
- Setting off dialogs or quotations.
- Other uses of the comma.
What is a split comma?
A COMMA SPLIT occurs
when you put a comma where it doesn’t belong in a sentence
. Many people put commas where they don’t belong because they think there’s some sort of natural pause in the sentence — and therefore it needs a comma.
Is the Oxford comma?
The Oxford comma is
the comma placed before the conjunction at the end of a list of things
. For example, in “the flag was red, white, and blue”, the Oxford comma would be the one appearing before “and”. Proponents of the Oxford comma say it’s necessary for removing ambiguity in sentences.
What are the 4 types of commas?
There are four types of comma:
the listing comma, the joining comma, the gapping comma and bracketing commas
.
What is gapping and example?
“Gapping … describe[s]
a transformation which creates gaps in a sentence after a conjunction by deleting a verb which would otherwise reappear
, e.g. Caroline plays the flute and Louise (plays) the piano. Gapping can work forwards, as above, or backwards as in the deletion of the first mention of the word.
What is an upper comma called?
The serial comma is also known as the
Oxford comma, Harvard comma, or series comma
. Although less common in British English, its usage occurs within both American and British English. It is called the Oxford comma because of its long history of use by Oxford University Press.
What are the 12 comma rules?
- Use a comma to separate items in a list (but beware of the serial comma). …
- Use a comma to join independent clauses. …
- Use a comma to join a dependent clause and an independent clause. …
- Use a comma following an introductory word group. …
- Use a comma to interrupt a sentence or to provide additional information.
Do I need a comma?
Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, for, nor, yet, so) that connects two complete sentences (independent clauses)
. Use a comma after an introductory element (like a dependent clause or a long phrase) to make the sentence easier to read.
When should a comma be used to separate elements in a series?
COMMA RULE #1 – THE COMMA IN A SERIES: Use commas
to separate items in a series
. What is a ”series”? A “series” is a list of 3 or more items, the last two of which are joined by and, or, or nor.
Can you use a comma in a simple sentence?
Simple sentences
A simple sentence contains only one independent clause and no dependent clauses. When a simple sentence contains a conjunction, you might be tempted to insert a comma before the conjunction, as you do with a compound sentence. With a simple sentence, however,
the general rule is to omit the comma
.
Can you put a comma after and?
Some people put the comma before the “and” while others leave it out, but
it definitely does not go after
. It is possible to follow an “and” with a comma that serves another function: “He walked into town and, while he was there, enjoyed a curry.”
Why do some people put a comma after and?
If, for example, the word ‘and’ precedes a clause beginning ‘although’, you usually put a comma after it
and, if it precedes a conditional clause, you normally insert a comma as well.
What is a independent clause example?
An independent clause is the combination of at least one subject and predicate. It expresses a complete thought. For example:
The waves crashed onto the sandy shore.
What example would not use a comma?
Where are commas placed in a sentence?
Use commas
after introductory a) clauses, b) phrases, or c) words that come before the main clause
. 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.
Do not use a comma before a coordinating conjunction that separates two independent clauses?
They can be made into one compound sentence with a semicolon alone between the two independent clauses. The semicolon has more strength than the comma. Thus, it can separate two independent clauses by itself;
a comma cannot separate two independent clauses unless it is followed by a coordinating conjunction
(FANBOYS).
How do you separate clauses in a sentence?
What are the comma rules?
- Use commas to separate independent clauses when they are joined by any of these seven coordinating conjunctions: and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet. …
- Use commas after introductory a) clauses, b) phrases, or c) words that come before the main clause.
Can you have two dependent clauses in a sentence?
A dependent clause is dependent because it has a word out in the front of it that “introduces” it.
When two (or more) dependent clauses are joined by a coordinate conjunction, it is very common for the introductory word for the second clause to be omitted
. This is a standard pattern in English.
Do you have to use a comma in a compound sentence?
In compound sentences,
both a comma and a coordinating conjunction are needed
. They act as a signal to let “the readers to know that another complete sentence is coming” (Kolln, Rhetorical Grammar 48).
