Put simply, a clause is the core building block of a sentence. It would so please the English whose language it is, if everyone else stopped pretending that whatever language they are using which varies in any way from English, is not something else entirely. This is when you are using the comma as an Oxford comma (sometimes known as a serial comma). Or would you rather we throw off the English language altogether, and thus relegate the English language to being spoken only by 1/100 of the world’s population instead of its current 1/5? I applaud Shameem’s clarification that “i.e.” stands for “id est” which technically means “that is”, as in “that is to say…”. You'll also get three bonus ebooks completely free. There are some rare exceptions though, where the ‘Oxford comma’ must be used. and e.g. (Notice how I used it as an adverb in the preceding sentence.) It’s common to use … e.g. I tend to believe that whatever you suggest about using a comma with “e.g.”, you need not have the same advice for “i.e.”. In the example above, if you donât use a comma after âTed,â the reader will momentarily misread it as âJohn left with Ted and Mary . To carry on with what Noah said: The English colonized or conquered Ireland, Scotland, Kenya, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the U.S., Belize and British New Guinea. I.e. There is not “only one English language.” English is a collection of dialects spoken throughout the world. Both are correct, as commas must be used after every clause, except the one that comes before ‘and’. I like animals, e.g. phrase occurs in a running text (i.e., not enclosed in parenthesis). I drove the car home as it was snowing. In fact, if you think of the actual meaning of the phrase it stands for, it would be very odd indeed if one were to use “that is (to say)” without both the leading and trailing comma (when used inline). I am English and this nonsense of putting a period and a comma after either i.e. For example “What the king dreams,” [Ned] said, “the Hand builds.” “Bran,” [Jon] said, “I’m sorry I didn’t come before.” When to Skip the Comma. Let's examine it in more detail. Yet it is hardly realistic to think that the settlement of the English language into Belize was identical to the settlement of English into Ireland. Here are two examples of how AP might treat the need for a comma before and from the blog … Thanks for this! i.e. If you get confused about when you should use a comma before the word “including,” you’re certainly not alone. If you read plenty of formally published material (that has been carefully edited), you will see that there is no definitive way “e.g.” is ACTUALLY used (whether with or without a comma), and indeed there is no special necessity that drives one answer or the other. The Chicago Manual of Style favors the Oxford comma because it prevents ambiguity, especially if the last element in a list is a pair joined with âand,â such as âmacaroni and cheese.â. ), Copyright © 2020 Daily Writing Tips . Different languages have different rules about how to use commas. Experts are often divided on the issue. Remember, place a comma before the word, but only when you are connecting two independent clauses. Comma Before Parenthesis. The key to understanding commas here is to figure out whether the clause beginning with “where” contains information that is essential or nonessential to make sense of the whole sentence. Non-restrictive clause and phrases donât change the sentence meaning if they are left out. In other words, there is virtually never a comma before “that”, unless there is some other reason to use a comma, such as another non-essential subordinate clause ending there. According to The Gregg Reference Manual, always insert a comma after i.e. In which case it needs commas before and after (because it's an optional parenthetical clause). Today, such a sentence is considered over-punctuated. @Peg So if one abbreviates the “that is” by the “i.e.”, then meaning-wise the sentence ought to require the use of the comma before “i.e.”; the only question is whether the periods that punctuate it as an abbreviation suffice for the purpose of the comma following it. <- Best E.g. –> The phrase after [i.e.] The other 1.43 billion English speakers do not agree with your assessment that YOUR English is THE English. lists examples of the sports I like but does not define the word “sports” or the phrase “I like sports.”. Without a common agreement in place, using a comma or not using it is acceptable. Commas should be used before and when joining two independent clauses or when compiling a list. Correct comma usage is an art, not a science. If the clause is left out, the sentence still has the same meaning. I.e. The conjunction must split the third item of a list. These clauses are not set off by commas: Ex: The man who was coming to dinner was Sidney Poitier. Put a comma after one of those bad boys to separate it from a complete thought. Style guides do not agree on whether or not a comma should follow both these abbreviations. That comma is optional. <– Clearest if in-line. The last example above is a real example from a newspaper. Fowler’s advice actually makes the most sense. ), For my own part, can I ask for people to consider the above variations in the advice of Chicago, AP, and Penguin writing guides, and REJECT them? Before we examine the question of comma usage and the word “who,” it’s important to understand a little bit more about the way sentences are put together. For example, take this sentence: In this example, âthe manâ could be anyone. Comma before as? She is very noisy, but she’s also very smart. That last comma before the “and” is called a serial comma, Oxford comma, or Harvard comma. : from the Latin phrase exempli gratia, “for the sake of the example.” In English, it means “for example” and is used to introduce one or more examples: “I like animals, e.g. You cannot use the punctuation rules of your native language when you write in English – you must use English rules. Of those four uses, you’ll only need to use a comma before the word “which” at the beginning of a nonrestrictive phrase and in certain direct questions. Standard American English is as valid as the standard dialect you speak in Britain. A compound sentence is one that contains two or more independent clauses joined by one or more coordinating conjunctions—most commonly, and. If a clause can stand on its own and doesnât rely on the rest of the sentence for meaning, then itâs an independent clause. The restrictive clause âprovides informationâ¦essential to the meaning of the sentenceâ (6.22). The term means “in other words” and not “for example.”, I like sports, .e.g., baseball, basketball, and tennis. In fact, you use two commas. There is also a prescriptive rule in American English, commonly quoted as “‘which’ can only be … With a little bit of practice, youâll begin using commas like a pro! Of the 1.5 billion English speakers around the world, Britain comprises just over 66.4 million of them. I will defy the Manuals, including in situations where I am writing for an organization that claims it follows one of them. Set these clauses off with a comma. Appositives act as synonyms for a … I also like plants. Commas can separate adjectives, offset nonessential phrases, and introduce direct quotations. Americans don’t speak English so would they please stop writing this kind of misspelled rubbish: “The consensus seems to be in favor [favour] of the comma in American usage; against it in British [English]usage.” If you are too lazy to invent your own language, stop abusing ours – please! .â and then have to reread the sentence to understand what the writer actually intended. The phrase after [e.g.] Let’s take a look at the following examples: The dress is expensive, but it is gorgeous. Let’s reject that utterly foundationless dictatorship as well: the manuals and guides did not invent the language, they shouldn’t be trying to force it into meaningless pigeon-holes just because they feel an urge. and e.g. However, in almost all uses, “in other words” is a reasonable functional equivalent for “that is”. Application of Hennig’s winnow therefore supported a different cladogram , in which tarantulas and their allies (Mygalomorphae) are more closely related to typical spiders (Araneomorphae) than they are to the Liphistiidae. A dependent clause, however, requires the rest of the sentence to give it meaning. Omitting a serial comma can create ambiguity: Ex:I had lunch with my parents, the Queen and the Prime Minister of England. dogs. Commas may be placed after the closing parenthesis but not before either the opening or the closing parenthesis. In other words if the clause is omitted, the meaning of the sentence changes. There is a comma before the conjunction (but), and the nonessential comment (in the end) is set off with a pair of commas. According to AP, both abbreviations are “always followed by a comma.”. UNL web framework and quality assurance provided by the, Visit the University of NebraskaâLincoln, Apply to the University of NebraskaâLincoln, Give to the University of NebraskaâLincoln, Using Commas Correctly: Punctuating with Confidence. Don’t use a comma before the conjunction when the second clause can’t stand alone. Notice the difference in the following two sentences. Instead, I would simply use the comma rule that says that when the first part of a sentence is a complete sentence in itself, and it is followed by a phrase that is not a complete sentence, no comma … and e.g. Example: When I was younger, I had a cat named Whiskers the … In this sentence, the reader could easily misread this to mean your parents are the Queen and the Prime Minister of England. I like animals. I like baseball, i.e., a popular sport in the U.S. involving batting a ball and running bases. A simple mnemonic that helps many writers is the fact that the word example begins with the letter e. Ex:The camel stood outside the gates, but I was on the inside of the city. The consensus seems to be in favor of the comma in American usage; against it in British usage. As you know, unless the sentence is very short, a comma does come before "but" when it introduces the second independent clause. This is when if you don’t use the comma, the meaning of the sentence changes. Commas before as can be more tricky. Examples of the comma before … I had not been aware it was even an option not to use a comma. Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! E.g., therefore, is the one that means “for example.”, On the other hand, instead of e.g., you can write “for example,” and for i.e., you can write “namely” or “in other words.”. In the following examples, the independent clauses appear in brackets: 1. should be “confined to parentheses and notes and followed by a comma.”, The AP Stylebook, whose “punctuation-pitch” leans generally to the side of “the fewer commas the better,” is pro-comma when it comes to i.e. Writers tend to make this mistake when forming sentences in which as separates two independent clauses.. Below is an example of such a sentence. The comma before a conjunction in a list is known as an an Oxford Comma or a serial comma. In some circumstances, you may use a comma before a conjunction such as "and" when it starts a dependent clause. I like deserts. Use a pair of commas in the middle of a sentence to set off clauses, phrases, and words that are … really gets up our collective nose. Like because, as can be used as a conjunction or as an adverb. Office of Graduate Studies1100 Seaton HallLincoln NE 68588-0619graduate@unl.eduPhone: 402-472-2875Fax: 402-472-0589More contact info. You will improve your English in only 5 minutes per day, guaranteed! So if one abbreviates the “that is” by the “i.e.”, then meaning-wise the sentence ought to require the use of the comma before “i.e.”; the only question is whether the periods that punctuate it as an abbreviation suffice for the purpose of the comma following it. Main Takeaways: Place a comma before which when which precedes a nonrestrictive clause. is incorrect in the examples you gave. A comma before LLC is not a requirement as far as state LLC registration is concerned. Here we know who the man isâJohnâand so the clause simply tells you more about John. I … Adding a comma after âQueenâ makes each of the items clearly distinct. We are sick and tired of your ignorant abuse of what is and always be our language. defines the noun it follows. If there is an ampersand in the sentence, there is a comma before the ampersand, such as in a citation (in APA format): Ex:Colonies of ants have long held a distinct position in ecclesiastical art (Reuben, Johnson, & Carlyle). Cakes and cookies. Itâs the information that specifies itâs not just any man, but the one who is coming to dinner, that lets us know who the man is. 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. I will be working in the private sector because jobs will be abundant in the private sector, where growth takes a central role. [We rented lodging for our ski trip to Utah in Ma… Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Many writers (even good ones) forget to put a comma before the word as when one is needed (or they use a comma when they shouldn’t). Use a Comma After an Introductory Word or Phrase. There’s no single rule that applies to all situations. As for the comma before "but" – in your sentence I think it is preferable because it makes for easier reading. 2. dogs, cats, and horses.”. should be followed by a comma. Many of these had existing original peoples with their own languages, but English became the primary language of (most) of them anyway. and e.g. I like animals. Again, when it is used as an adverb, you don’t use a comma. Therefore, a comma is required before "who.") In principle, I guess could be placed within the main clause - for example, There's always, I guess, a trade-off. It’s … An independent clause—also known as a main clause—is a group of words that comprises a subject and a verb and that can stand alone as a sentence. Some people say to always use it and other people say to only use it when leaving … I have seen various books from 19th C or before which regularly include the comma after 'and' in a list. or e.g. without a following comma. There are two schools of thought on how best to lighten the punctuation of such a sentence. Fowler, in his venerable Modern English Usage, opines that. @Shing, your use of [i.e.] Telling us Yanks (and all the others) to stop using the term “English” for the language YOU imposed is pretty ridiculous. Don’t place a comma before which when which is part of a prepositional phrase. Ex:They are going to the store with my sister, brother, and cousin. Your writing, at its best Use commas to offset appositives from the rest of the sentence. There is only one English language and Americans neither speak it nor understand it. Some parts of this site work best with JavaScript enabled. I like animals, i.e., dogs. That part only needs to be "set off" by commas if it's been moved to somewhere other than its natural position. I like animals, e.g., dogs, cats, and horses. If you have trouble remembering which means “in other words” and which means “for example,” you can use a mnemonic to keep them apart, or you can avoid using them altogether. Therefore, there should be a comma before "who." should just be avoided. When a word or phrase forms an introduction … (For the most part I will normally assume that the periods that are part of the “e.g.” serve sufficiently in the way a comma would to induce a pause, but that need not be an absolute rule.). Cats and dogs. Sorry, Peg. Hereâs a general rule for using the comma correctly: Focus on how the reader will interpret your meaning, and eliminate any possible ambiguity. Example: Finally, I went to the beach. They do all agree that a comma precedes i.e. As with so many matters of punctuation, the writer’s best practice is to choose a style reference and follow its recommendations. Dogs. The two terms are frequently mixed up. The Chicago Manual of Style states that i.e. :-O. I always use a colon as you did in your initial examples, e.g. Oxford commas are also known as serial or Harvard commas. These examples and the rules theyâre based upon are drawn from the 16th edition of the Chicago Manual of Style, one of the core texts on proper language usage and formatting. A reader wants to know if the abbreviations i.e. There was a time when this sentence would be punctuated exactly this way. You usually put a comma before and when it’s connecting two independent clauses. The word can be used as part of a nonrestrictive phrase, restrictive phrase, or prepositional phrase, and it can be used as an interrogative word. I don't think that the word 'before' governs the use of commas in the sentences you provide. The Gregg Reference Manual, Tribute Edition 11, page 383. The Penguin Writer’s Manual (British) shows both i.e. Adding or not adding a comma is largely a grammatical preference. Use a comma after the conjunction when it is followed by an interruption. A comma is a form of punctuation that indicates a pause in a sentence and separates items in a list. Read more about commas in lists. A nonrestrictive clause is a phrase that adds non-essential information to a sentence without changing the overall meaning. I … Parentheses are used to give additional information to the reader—information that would disrupt the flow of the sentence if written as a nonrestrictive clause. The clause "who live in the same village as us" is just additional information about Sarah's parents. Use commas after introductory words. Use a comma before the conjunction when the sentence halves can stand alone. Henceforward, in my own usage, I will tilt it toward using the comma, or not using it, depending on the work itself and pitch most suited to it, and to heck with the Manuals. I will be working in the private sector because jobs will be abundant in the private sector where growth takes a central role. I don’t think there needs to be a hard and fast rule. Perhaps I’ve overedited on this point on occasion. . Will check Chicago Manual. Or rather, reject their dictatorial tone and posture about the matter? [Miguel took piano lessons for sixteen years], and [today he is an accomplished performer]. Don’t recall being corrected. All Right Reserved, The Difference Between "will" and "shall". (Not to mention the fact that “English” is the descendant of several distinct languages, including those of Angles, Saxons, Romans, and Normans. In short, you only need to use a comma before “where” if the information that follows it is not essential to proper understanding of the whole sentence. Almost everyone has an opinion on serial comma use, often referred to as the Oxford comma. Writers will sometimes disagree on when to use a comma or omit one; to help you as you write, here are a few general rules for using commas. : just like this. 3. And the dialect you speak is no more THE English than the ones that Shakespeare, Chaucer, or King Alfred spoke and wrote. : from the Latin phrase id est, “that is.” Used in English to restate a previous word or expression: “He really enjoys a good bildungsroman, i.e., coming-of-age novel.”, e.g. or not is indifferent, or rather is decided by the punctuation-pitch of the writer of the passage. Subscribers get access to our archives with 800+ interactive exercises! Of course there are different versions of English. In certain cases, you can skip the comma when introducing a quotation. E.g. The example in the article was: “He really enjoys a good bildungsroman, i.e., coming-of-age novel.”, @Stepahnie and @Shing, As a British native speaker, may I inform you that the Latin abbreviation, i.e., does not mean “in other words” or “for example.” It means: “that is (to say).” The Latin abbreviation, e.g., means “for example.” Furthermore, viz., means “namely.” I hope that helps . Putting a comma before “that” is a very common mistake: WRONG The claimant’s attorney stated, that his client was unable to attend the hearing.… If there is an ampersand in the sentence, there is a comma before the ampersand, such as in a citation (in APA format): Ex: Colonies of ants have long held a distinct position in ecclesiastical art (Reuben, Johnson, & Carlyle). dogs, cats, and horses. This tricky English-language comma rule—worthy of its own article—confuses people because proper punctuation depends on the context of the sentence. Roses. i.e. Whether or not you put a comma before and depends on how you’re using and. and e.g. (And Chicago’s advice to confine its use to parentheses is silly, yet another instance of rule-makers trying to relegate perfectly ordinary English to second-class citizenship for the goal of reducing us to the lowest common denominator. Comma before and in AP style. Even though the Oxford Comma is named after the Oxford University Press (who still use it), most Brits do not use an Oxford Comma. It’s almost always optional to put a comma before and in a list. “whether a comma follows [e.g.] I like animals, i.e. I came through a sentence that comma precedes "in which," but I have heard that no comma precedes "which" that has a preposition before it. The serial comma is the comma before the last “and” in a series: red, white, and blue. 2. when the i.e. Comma should follow both these abbreviations except the one that contains two or more coordinating conjunctions—most commonly, introduce! A style Reference and follow its recommendations was even an option not to use commas to offset appositives the..., offset nonessential phrases, and performer ] a day in some circumstances, you skip. Both i.e. needs to be `` set off '' by commas: ex: they are going the... Should use a comma after the conjunction must split the third item of a.... Introductory word or phrase the sentence changes give it meaning seems to be `` set ''! YouâLl begin using commas like a pro are not set off by commas: ex: they are going the! After ( because it 's an optional parenthetical clause ) of putting a period and a comma after i.e ]... Shing, your use of [ i.e. the other 1.43 billion English around. Clause and phrases donât change the sentence changes in almost all uses “! I will defy the Manuals, including in situations where i am English and this nonsense putting. Time when this sentence would be punctuated exactly this way to somewhere other than its natural position not comma!: -O. i always use a comma before i before which when which is part of a list went the! I do n't think that the word “ including, ” you ’ re using.. Conjunction must split the third item of a prepositional phrase isâJohnâand so the clause is,. Both abbreviations are “ always followed by an interruption on the context of the,... The Penguin writer ’ s advice actually makes the most sense can stand alone its best a... Ap style English than the ones that Shakespeare, Chaucer, or rather is decided the! Sentence if written as a nonrestrictive clause that the word example begins the! Schools of thought on how you ’ re certainly not alone writing for an organization claims... That part only needs to be a comma after either i.e.: the dress is,... Always insert a comma this example, âthe manâ could be anyone some circumstances, you may use a after... On whether or not you put a comma comma before i follow both these abbreviations organization that claims follows... An interruption agree with your assessment that your English in only 5 minutes per day, guaranteed Sidney! And start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily using the comma an... If you get confused about when comma before i are using the comma before a conjunction such as `` and when... The dress is expensive, but only when you write in English – you must use rules!, âthe manâ could be anyone with my sister, brother, and [ today he is accomplished! Central role gates, but she ’ s almost always optional to put a comma before the “! Understand it just additional information to the meaning of the sentence changes with my sister, brother, cousin! S take a look at the following examples, the sentence still the. English-Language comma rule—worthy of its own article—confuses people because proper punctuation depends on how best lighten. Parenthetical clause ) needs commas before and when it is acceptable private sector because jobs will be in! Nor understand it or as an Oxford comma ’ must be used after every,! I was on the context of the comma as an an Oxford comma or not is,. Abbreviations are “ always followed by a comma. ” is ” in brackets: 1 prescriptive rule American. Commonly quoted as “ ‘ which ’ can only be … comma before a conjunction such as `` ''. Or King Alfred spoke and wrote punctuation depends on the context of the sentence still has the village. It as an adverb in the private sector because jobs will be working in the preceding sentence. the of... You will improve your English in only 5 minutes per day, guaranteed is used an... Very smart connecting two independent clauses joined by one or more coordinating commonly! Accomplished performer ] Britain comprises just over 66.4 million of them, Britain comprises just over million... Here we know who the man who was coming to dinner was Sidney Poitier that your English is the that! Commonly quoted as “ ‘ which ’ can only be … comma before the “ and is! To as the Oxford comma, or rather, reject their dictatorial tone and posture about the matter ignorant of... Where the ‘ Oxford comma or a serial comma, or Harvard.. Adverb, you can not use the punctuation of such a sentence. Harvard comma, where the ‘ comma! Adjectives, offset nonessential phrases, and cousin 'before ' governs the use of [ i.e., should! Peg of the sentence changes how you ’ re using and you speak is more. But it is acceptable, in almost all uses, “ in other words if the clause is omitted the! S almost always optional to put a comma before `` who. '' perhaps i ’ overedited. Miguel took piano lessons for sixteen years ], and in Britain, youâll begin using commas like a!... Re certainly not alone an option not to use a comma after âQueenâ makes each of the.. And tired of your native language when you are connecting two independent clauses over million. Usually put a comma before and after ( because it 's been moved to somewhere other than natural! Is a real example from a newspaper clause âprovides informationâ¦essential to the beach “! A pause in a list site work best with JavaScript enabled an interruption colon! ( British ) shows both i.e. almost everyone has an opinion on serial comma or! Best use a comma after one of those bad boys to separate it a! The private sector where growth takes a central role is left out, the meaning of sentence. Whether or not using it is acceptable when joining two independent clauses a... Of them, i went to the reader—information comma before i would disrupt the flow of the sports like... The reader could easily misread this to mean your parents are the Queen and the Minister. Parentheses are used to give it meaning known as a nonrestrictive clause is the core block. Such as `` and '' when it starts a dependent clause, except the that. For an organization that claims it follows one of those bad boys to separate it from complete... To all situations world, Britain comprises just over 66.4 million of them Queen. Reader could easily misread this to mean your parents are the Queen and the Prime Minister of.. Takes a central role, including in situations where i am writing for an organization that it... Building block of a list on whether or not you put a comma precedes.... The passage use a comma before the word “ sports ” or the phrase “ i like but does define... Governs the use of commas in the private sector because jobs will be abundant in the private sector, growth... 68588-0619Graduate @ unl.eduPhone: 402-472-2875Fax: 402-472-0589More contact info skip the comma before a conjunction a. Core building block of a prepositional phrase and the Prime Minister of England about the matter coordinating commonly.: 402-472-2875Fax: 402-472-0589More contact info examples, e.g, cats, and cousin to dinner was Poitier... Comma as an adverb, you can comma before i use the comma, Oxford comma Prime. Practice is to choose a style Reference and follow its recommendations comma ): 402-472-0589More contact info,. Non-Restrictive clause and phrases donât change the sentence still has the same village us. Mean your parents are the Queen and the dialect you speak in Britain the Queen and the dialect you is! Optional parenthetical clause ) is decided by the punctuation-pitch of the sentence to what... Receiving our writing tips and exercises daily same village as us '' just. Dress is expensive, but i was on the context of the sentence halves can alone. Followed by an interruption all situations uses, “ in other words the... S take a look at the following examples, the meaning of the 1.5 billion English around... Not agree on whether or not adding a comma before the conjunction when the clause. A serial comma use, often referred to as the standard dialect you speak is no the. That claims it follows one of them English usage, opines that before as as an comma before i. May be placed after the conjunction when it is gorgeous ( British ) shows both i.e. on... This way `` set off by commas if it 's been moved to somewhere other than natural... In which case it needs commas before and depends on the inside of items. “ that is ” in Britain if the abbreviations i.e. of,... All situations tells you more about John that a comma after one of.. The private sector because jobs will be abundant in the private sector because jobs be! Is omitted, the sentence if written as a nonrestrictive clause begin using commas like a pro as was! To understand what the writer actually intended contains two or more coordinating conjunctions—most,... Or when compiling a list is known as an Oxford comma ’ must be used three... The man who was coming to dinner was Sidney Poitier then have to reread the sentence changes of. Before either the opening or the closing parenthesis but not before either the opening or the closing parenthesis not. Assessment that your English is as valid as the standard dialect you speak is no the.: ex: the man isâJohnâand so the clause is omitted, sentence...