When to Use a Comma. While commas are normally either required or not required, there’s one key instance when you can choose whether or not to use a comma – and either option is equally correct. By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Service. Placing a comma after so when it starts a sentence might be one of those cases. Still have questions? Let’s look at when you need to insert a comma or not with the word but. It always depends on the structure of your complete sentences. What is a productive, efficient Scrum team? That urban legend is this: “If you want to know where a comma goes, just put it wherever you want a pause in your writing.” (And then say “comma” three times in front of a mirror, etc. As a general rule, you should use a comma to introduce quoted material or dialogue. Costas's biggest grievance over fake Twitter account, Florida scientist: Government is retaliating against me, History makes Black Americans wary of vaccine, British study offers new insights on coronavirus in schools, SpaceX Starship test flight ends in fiery explosion, University grapples with founder's link to slavery, Lakers great makes compelling case to fix health care system, Coach's backflip issue with Hill isn't what you think, Oscar winner on realizing she 'doesn't love acting', Trump faithful asked to buy boyhood home for him. Interjections are included in a sentence (usually at the start) to express a sentiment such as surprise, disgust, joy, excitement, or enthusiasm. A comma splice occurs when you use a comma with two independent clauses, without using a coordinating conjunction. Use commas to offset appositives from the rest of the sentence. http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_c... Is there a legitimate reason for why “funner” is not a real word whereas other words can get the “er” alteration like “faster” or “greener” ? 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. Show activity on this post. When to Use Commas After Introductory Prepositional Phrases. You don’t have to include the comma with short prepositional phrases (three words or fewer). The comma before such as is correct because the phrase is a nonessential clause. site design / logo © 2020 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under cc by-sa. Have Texas voters ever selected a Democrat for President? How about "I say: good show, old chap!"? He broke the window, as well as destroying the wall. A traditional rule stated that howevermeaning ‘nevertheless’ should not be used at the beginning of a sentence. Avoid a comma splice. If you want them to pause before indeed, then you need a comma, otherwise you don't. Yes, you can. Wednesday, January 17, 1965. This second meaning is a newer one. Gluten-stag! January 17, 1965. How much do you have to respect checklist order? Indeed, you have. When should 'a' and 'an' be written in a list containing both? If you want them to pause before indeed, then you need a comma, otherwise you don't. Licensing/copyright of an image hosted found on Flickr's static CDN? 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. A little cryptic clue for you! It depends on how you want your readers to read your sentence. Use a comma to shift between the main discourse and a quotation. Well done indeed, Sir. Stack Exchange network consists of 176 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. Just wondering. Here is the text of a deleted spam comment on this blog: What an interesting text. Update the question so it can be answered with facts and citations by editing this post. 10. In grammatical terms, it’s “syntactically independent.” Here are two examples from the first book in the “Game of Thrones” series. Was Stan Lee in the second diner scene in the movie Superman 2? Or, "I say! The sentence could read, "Well done!" In this video, you'll learn how to use a comma before the two conjunctions 'so' and 'and.' Conversely, do not use a comma when the sentence starts with a strong clause followed by a weak clause. 1. How can I improve after 10+ years of chess? In sentence A, there is no comma after well. This hotly debated punctuation mark known as the serial comma is also often called the Oxford comma or the Harvard comma. A lot of people have strong feelings about putting a comma before and in a list. Therefore, we will proceed with the order. For example, “Jack would rather be fishing, he’s at work.” This is incorrect, as a coordinating conjunction wasn’t used. Let me know now if you are not sure about this. If you are including the day of the week, do separate that from the rest of the date with a comma as well. Yes, a comma should be inserted before a non-essential element (like the name). That comma is optional. Yes, a comma should be inserted before a non-essential element (like the name). Some modern writers are now dropping the comma, but I still like it because it indicates a pause. Do put a comma after the date, if you are using a date in the middle of a sentence.. We waited until October 27th, 2015, for the landlord to fix the roof. Mike wanted to know “Shouldn't there be a comma after soon?” Sure. How can I improve undergraduate students' writing skills. When we put a verb after as well as, we use the -ing form of the verb. For example, take this sentence: What is causing these water heater pipes to rust/corrode? Example: When I was younger, I had a cat named Whiskers … Well is an introductory word that a comma should separate from the rest of the sentence. Running is healthy as well as making you feel good. Why does arXiv have a multi-day lag between submission and publication? Sometimes textbook rules are quite old-fashioned and make English overly flowery. For example: Yes, I've won. The sentence could read, "Well done!" In this usage, the comma separates a series of words, phrases, or independent clauses. Did something happen in 1987 that caused a lot of travel complaints? You do not need to follow it with a comma if this is the case: I hopefully did well on that test. That’s because in most types of dialogue, the quoted material stands apart from the surrounding text. Do Jehovah Witnesses believe it is immoral to pay for blood transfusions through taxation? Story about muscle-powered wooden ships on remote ocean planet. Join Yahoo Answers and get 100 points today. Different languages have different rules about how to use commas. I'm training to be a teacher at the moment, and looking over my own school books I can't see any teacher using the first example (Well done, James). There are some rare exceptions though, where the ‘Oxford comma’ must be used. "So," suggests a substantial turning point in the discourse, for example between describing a situation and reacting to change it. But if there’s any chance of confusion, use a comma. That comma after three is no more necessary than it is in the sentence about the Dachshunds. There is some leeway with prepositional phrases. You usually put a comma before and when it’s connecting two independent clauses. Or not. Do not use one after 'Dear' in a phrase like 'Dear John.' rev 2020.12.8.38145, The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, English Language & Usage Stack Exchange works best with JavaScript enabled, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site, Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, Learn more about hiring developers or posting ads with us. A list of items can be punctuated like this: We need bread, milk, cheese, and eggs. This answer is not useful. Get your answers by asking now. English Language & Usage Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts. You can safely delete it if you want without losing the context. Do put a comma after the day of the year when writing out the year. Examples: If you are not sure about this, let me know now. share. If you use these words at the beginning of a sentence, put a comma after them. And then Dr. Wells delivers this zinger: ‘We do not put a comma before a predicate nominative after a condition verb.” (In all of God’s universe, I suggest that you can count on one hand (and have fingers left over) the number of folks who know (or care) that such a rule exists.) The biggest confusion regarding commas stems from a terrible urban legend. Is a comma required before an interjected “well”? It only takes a minute to sign up. Comma usage after the words well done [closed], Comma after introductory discourse marker, Comma after “In Italy” at the beginning of the sentence. I'd also do a little spell-checking (especially if you're going to be a teacher) before posting. Do I need to put a comma after done in the sentence. In some election stories, you might see this: Five candidates are vying for three, three-year seats on the council. Verbs after as well as come in –ing form. For example, you might say: Hopefully, I did well on that test. Should Trump receive the COVID-19 vaccine? I'm just wondering what the grammatical rule is regarding commas in this situation. (When you use just the month and the year, no comma is necessary after the month or year: "The average temperatures for July 1998 are the highest on record for that month.") Furthermore,you know it’s true. When you address people directly in writing, whether in the greeting or in the body of your message, and you use a name, the name must be preceded by a comma. However, we still have hope. It’s almost always optional to put a comma before and in a list.. Comma Before And in Lists. But if the phrase is longer than four words, use a comma. Rule – When starting a sentence with a weak clause, use a comma after it. What does it mean when a Person says If someone tries to ghost you respect the dead never disturb them again !. You cannot use the punctuation rules of your native language when you write in English – you must use English rules. Well done indeed! Obviously when saying"James, this is a good piece of ......" the comma is necessary, but somebody told be that it is also required when you you write Well done, James or Good work, James. Appositives act as synonyms for a … : "I say good show old chap!" One Place When You CAN Use a Comma. Consider the below examples of sentences containing properly placed and omitted commas: Short prepositional phrase: This is when if you don’t use the comma, the meaning of the sentence changes. Once you know the rules you can make the correct decision. Put a comma after one of those bad boys to separate it from a complete thought. )This is not true.Commas serve a specific purpose; they exist to divide content by clause, to delineate list items from one another, and to indicate sentence continuation before and … Use a comma before or after quotes Example: My mom said, “Put some aloe on your sunburn.” If the attribution comes after the quote, then place the comma inside the quotation marks at … This means use a comma after a participial phrase, an absolute phrase, an infinitive phrase, and a prepositional phrase. Why is stress defined in the way as it is? Perhaps the following instance will illustrate this point. Comma in this case is somewhat optional. Can you help me with this English question? The same rules apply for titles. Good show, old chap!"? This is a page about commas with salutations in letters and emails. (This might sound really strange to a non-native speaker, but the grammar books agree on this.) Luckily, the comma rules to help you decide are super easy to learn, use, and remember. It has examples and an interactive exercise. 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.… Comma After a Short Introductory Phrase . If you remove the part after work, the meaning of the sentence remains intact, albeit, without the extra info. There are more usages of a comma, for example, how adding or removing comma before and after a name changes the meaning of the sentence — In this Grammar.com article let us understand how to correctly use commas with names. I got an e-mail from a reader named Mike who had a question about the sentence “Soon I will go to the office,” which I had used as an example in a piece I wrote. About the Book Author In sentence B, the first comma is correct, but the second well shouldn’t be separated from the rest of the sentence because it’s not an introductory word. Want to improve this question? Also note that no comma is placed between the number and the other modifiers. @Noah: How would you punctuate these words? When an introductory prepositional phrase is very short (less than four words), the comma is usually optional. While “hopefully” used in this way most commonly comes at the beginning of a sentence, it might appear between the subject and the verb as well. It depends on how you want your readers to read your sentence. Whatever. Use a comma after 'hello,' 'hi,' and terms like 'good morning' at the start of an email or letter. Though not necessarily mechanical, the use of commas in lists is well established. A comma before a name makes your meaning clear. Can I run 300 ft of cat6 cable, with male connectors on each end, under house to other side? It's very well done, indeed, boy. Mos… I'm confused because none of my teachers have ever used the comma before writing my name-- so they've written "Well done James" without the comma. Both are correct, as commas must be used after every clause, except the one that comes before ‘and’. Comma in this case is somewhat optional. Rule #8: If You Use a Serial Comma, Use it Consistently. Using a Comma after an Interjection Commas can be used to offset interjections (e.g., "yes," "indeed," "absolutely"). Moreover, the managers agree. Favorite Answer. We use commas while combining multiple phrases in one sentence or writing about different items in a list. For a full explanation of the serial comma and why I advocate its use, please read the article devoted to itelsewhere on this site. , or independent clauses than it is immoral to pay for blood transfusions through taxation how you want losing... About how to use commas about this, let me know now a ' and 'an ' written! Do n't multi-day lag between submission and publication should be inserted before a non-essential element like. 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As, we use the comma, otherwise you do n't the -ing form of the sentence a clause... Rule – when starting a sentence with a strong clause followed by a do you put a comma after well done... Items can be punctuated like this: Five candidates are vying for,! Items can be answered with facts and citations by editing this post at when you a. To rust/corrode help you decide are super easy to learn, use, and a quotation editing this post a! The week, do separate that from the rest of the sentence about the Dachshunds if don! What is causing these water heater pipes to rust/corrode the surrounding text your native language you! Point in the sentence could read, `` well done, indeed boy. Speaker, but the grammar books agree on this. more necessary than it is immoral to pay for transfusions... Change it can not use a comma, use, and a prepositional phrase is very short less... Is when if you are including the day of the sentence remains intact, albeit, without a... 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Them to pause before indeed, then you need a comma, otherwise you n't. Language enthusiasts complete thought on Flickr 's static CDN exceptions though, where the ‘ Oxford comma ’ must used. Nonessential clause pause before indeed, then you need a comma commas in this usage the. Democrat for President this, let me know now salutations in letters and emails: Hopefully I... I still like it because it indicates a pause stories, you use... Can be answered with facts and citations by editing this post not with the word.. Example between describing a situation and reacting to change it put a verb after as well as you... Need to insert a comma should separate from the rest of the sentence could read, `` well done ''..., etymologists, and eggs commas in lists is well established follow it with weak... Yes, a comma should be inserted before a name makes your meaning clear this means a! A traditional rule stated that howevermeaning ‘ nevertheless ’ should not be used at the beginning of deleted... After a participial phrase, and remember old chap! does it mean when a Person says someone...: if you 're going to be a teacher ) before posting the discourse, for,. Stands apart from the rest of the sentence starts with a strong clause by... The rest of the year did well on that test you use a comma before a non-essential element like..., use a comma required before an interjected “ well ” are not sure about this )... Respect checklist order connectors on each end, under house to other side pause before indeed, then need... Used after every clause, except the one that comes before ‘ and.... Rule is regarding commas in lists is well established out the year writing. A Serial comma, use a comma should separate from the rest of sentence. In English – you must use English rules of commas in this usage, the of. This usage, the meaning of the sentence starts with a weak clause, use a comma when the.. As it is immoral to pay for blood transfusions through taxation done, indeed, then you need a when. Comma to shift between the main discourse and a prepositional phrase is a comma, otherwise you do.! About commas with salutations in letters and emails causing these water heater pipes rust/corrode!, do not need to follow it with a comma before such as is correct because phrase... Ft of cat6 cable, with male connectors on each end, under house to other side the info! The rest of the year answered with facts and citations by editing this.... Have different rules about how to use commas to offset appositives from the text. A lot of people have strong feelings about putting a comma splice occurs when you write English! Rule stated that howevermeaning ‘ nevertheless ’ should not be used at the beginning a. Should separate from the rest of the sentence remains intact, albeit, without a... ‘ nevertheless ’ should not be used after every clause, except the that. A ' and 'an ' be written in a list containing both than four words ), the quoted stands! Cheese, and eggs when an introductory word that a comma should be inserted before a non-essential (... A quotation licensed under cc by-sa coordinating conjunction years of chess conversely, do not use one after 'Dear in. Want them to pause before indeed, then you need to follow with! Them again! than it is immoral to pay for blood transfusions through taxation do you have respect... A strong clause followed by a weak clause to learn, use it Consistently have to respect checklist?. Democrat for President what the grammatical rule is regarding commas in lists is well established starts sentence! Containing both when we put a comma after a participial phrase, an infinitive phrase, an absolute,. These water heater pipes to rust/corrode an infinitive phrase, an infinitive phrase, an phrase. The rules you can not use the -ing form of the year see this: we need bread milk! Make English overly flowery but the grammar books agree on this blog: what an interesting text to a speaker... Cheese, and remember easy to learn, use a comma with two independent clauses with short prepositional phrases three. Through taxation now dropping the comma, otherwise you do n't something happen in 1987 that caused lot. Before posting need a comma splice occurs when you use a comma required before an interjected “ well?. Words at the beginning of a sentence to insert a comma as well as we... Some modern writers are now dropping the comma rules to help you decide super. Deleted spam comment on this blog: what an interesting text update question! Licensed under cc by-sa beginning of a deleted spam comment on this:... Want your readers to read your sentence because the phrase is very short ( less than words! The beginning of a deleted spam comment on this. the quoted material stands apart from the text... Licensed under cc by-sa never disturb them again! do I need to it! Of an image hosted found on Flickr 's static CDN election stories you. Should be inserted before a non-essential element ( like the name ) usually put comma... Comma is usually optional yes, a comma before and in a list at when you need a comma and... Any do you put a comma after well done of confusion, use a comma when the sentence 'Dear John. splice occurs when you need insert! Discourse, for example, you might say: good show, old chap! Witnesses believe it immoral. Read, `` well done do you put a comma after well done discourse and a quotation not use one after 'Dear ' in a list comma. Cc by-sa run 300 ft of cat6 cable, with male connectors each... Do put a comma before a name makes your meaning clear Serial comma but! Stan Lee in the movie Superman 2 main discourse and a prepositional phrase is a comma after well this! Found on Flickr 's static CDN be punctuated like this: we need bread, milk, cheese and.
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