Correct use of commas before and after book

An appositive is a special type of parenthetical phrase. Is it grammaticaly correct to place a comma after and. Understanding the grammar rules for placing a comma before but. Commas comma rules and usage the blue book of grammar and. Before joining words some writers struggle with the question of when to put a comma before the word and. As the word acts as a natural bridge between two parts of a clause or sentence, there is almost never a need for a comma before it. How to punctuate book titles or can you ignore the rules. Use one comma before to indicate the beginning of the pause and one at the end to.

Many people think of commas as grammar s way of introducing a pause into a sentence. But you dont need a comma when youre simply listing two items. Use introductory, series, and compoundsentence commas correctly. There are other coordinating conjunctions, but these three are by far the most common. Rules about when to use and not to use commas are legion. Comma dont use a comma before a conjunction in a simple series. Colon capitalize the first word after a colon only if it is a proper noun or the start of a complete sentence. In the lawyers book of rules for effective legal writing, thomas r. The definition of an appositive is a word or word group that defines or further identifies the noun or noun phrase preceding it rule. The addition of commas gives extra emphasis to the name. Use a comma before and after certain introductory words or terms, such as namely, that is, i. Most newspapers and magazines drop the oxford comma in a simple series, apparently. 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 shouldnt. If you can reverse them without changing the meaning or eliminating sense, then use commas between them.

If youre writing a sentence and are unsure about comma omission or addition, consider the possible ways in which your sentence can be interpreted, and try to remove any ambiguity. When the noun preceding the appositive provides sufficient identification on its own, use commas around the appositive. But once you begin writing in french, theres a whole new set of basics to learn just dotting your is and crossing your ts will no longer cut it. Commas comma rules and usage the blue book of grammar. Our rule a of commas says, use commas to introduce or interrupt direct quotations. Writers frequently wonder whether a comma should go before the conjunction and in a list. Mar 29, 2021 oxford commas are also known as serial or harvard commas. But first, bookmark where you can get an outstanding help from our experts. A dangler is my term for a word located at the extreme end of a.

This probably the first use of commas you learned in. As a general rule, you should use a comma to introduce quoted material or dialogue. This typically means that the relative clause adds context or additional information that would not lead people astray if it were absent from the sentence. Use a comma before the conjunction when the sentence halves can stand alone. So, take a closer look at several conditions for using it. While that may be true for how writers and speakers read commas, you cant simply throw a comma any place you pause in a sentence. Correct use of punctuation is important, and the most common situation you need to know about is when to use a comma.

When used in a list, and and or never take a comma when the list has two items. Get a clear picture of when to use commas by exploring their usage through examples. Writers tend to make this mistake when forming sentences in which as separates two independent clauses below is an example of such a sentence. Commas with names and titles, simplified the critical reader. Commas are used after the setting the scene for a sentence, after a transitional. The menu offered a choice of bacon and eggs, pancakes, or waffles. Placed in the middle of a sentence between the subject and predicate or at the end of the sentence, however, those elements lend further detail to the words or phrases that come just.

The rule is either have the commas both before and after a name, or dont add it at all. Many new writers will misuse the comma, often using it too frequently. Often, the only commas we can ditch are the oxford comma and prepositions. When used as a conjunction it is generally a good idea to use the comma unless the phrases are very short.

Is it grammatically correct to put a comma before and. Often, the word which appears as part of a clause that isnt essential to the meaning of the sentence. Uses of the comma book summaries, test preparation. Parts for the carrier are made in tampa, fla austin, texas. Everything you need to know on how to use commas in a sentence. Using a comma before and in a series get it write online. Commas are needed before coordinating conjunctions, after dependent clauses when they precede independent clauses, and to set off appositives. My friend jane has a lot more gardening experience than i do. You should set this information off using a comma before and a comma after it. Michael wolff, reading it is perfectly fine to use a comma before and.

This is because the sentence is talking about a particular person john. Colons go outside quotation marks unless they are part of the quoted material. This is how to correctly use commas in your writing grammarly. Whether or not you use the serial comma is a style choice. There are a few exceptions that require you to use the oxford comma in a list, but they are pretty rare. Oct 16, 2020 in other words, to figure out the correct way to use a comma with a specific word, you need to understand what that word is doing in a sentence and why. In the following example, commas are used to set off the by phrase because the.

An easy guide to using a comma before and ink blog. Constantine, the fifthgrade math teacher, was a favorite among the students. Oxford commas are also known as serial or harvard commas. Dont place a comma before which when which is part of a prepositional phrase.

There is never a comma before that when it is used in this way. Aug 20, 2020 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. Sometimes, the comma indicates a pause that would occur if the sentence were spoken aloud. Here are some clues to help you decide whether the sentence element is essential. Sep 30, 2014 that comma after three is no more necessary than it is in the sentence about the dachshunds. Life after life, by kate atkinson, won several book awards.

Also notice that in this sentence from before but even if a male dog is neutered, he remains a he. Nov 10, 2020 rules for commas arent supposed to be complicated, after all. Use one comma before to indicate the beginning of the pause and one at the end to indicate the end of the pause. It directly renames or relabels the noun it describes. A particular company may use such commas in its corporate documentation. Therefore, we assume you are referring to other rules regarding commas. The clause modified by who is additional information, so this is a. Our rule 16a of commas says, use a comma before and after certain introductory words or terms, such as namely, that is, i.

British english rules state that the final comma also called the oxford comma and the serial. 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. Commas or periods always precede closing quotation marks of quoted material. Recently i saw a funny ad for tshirts that so clearly documents the importance of knowing where the commas go. The rules for using a comma before a conjunction like and, or, and.

Writing a book, if i havent put you off already, is one of the most rewarding. When it comes to using question marks or exclamation points. The correct way to use commas with names and titles we use commas while combining multiple phrases in one sentence or writing about different items in a list. I ran to the store for fresh ginger root, but they didnt have any. Colons and semicolons always follow closing quotation marks of quoted material. Fowler calls the belief that it is unacceptable to place punctuation. We cannot say that the comma will always come before the conjunction and never after, but it would be a rare event, indeed, that we need to follow a coordinating. Aug 18, 2015 and if you just want to know the rule for everyday use, the shortcut is effective in the real world as well. You can use the same threepart rule for a sentence with and, or, yet, and so. Commas before and in a series the blue book of grammar and. Both are correct, as commas must be used after every clause, except the one that comes before and. How to use english punctuation correctly with pictures.

When an appositive is essential to the meaning of the noun it belongs to, dont use commas. Keep in mind, though, that occasionally the serial comma is necessary for clarity. For even more information about the comma and other punctuation marks, i recommend the following books, which are available on amazon. Sep 04, 2019 use a comma for series that include elements containing and or or. I have seen various books from 19th c or before which regularly include the comma after and in a list. Should commas be used around by and an authors name after a. There are some rare exceptions though, where the oxford comma must be used. Should you put a comma before and is a question that requires a straightforward answer. Here are two examples from the first book in the game of thrones series.

Writing a book is only the first part of the process, but you could spend just as much time editing it. Generally, you need to use a comma before the word but when it connects two independent clauses. Apr 21, 20 commas in fiction are used as sparingly as possible, but you need to ensure you arent creating a grammatical nightmare or a neverending sentence at the same time. Just remember to be consistent and dont switch back and forth when you are writing. May 21, 2012 the basic idea is that if the name in the above example, jessie is the only thing in the world described by the identifier my oldest friend, use a comma before the name and after it as. There are strict rules that govern when you can and cant use commas. Philip roth, author of portnoys complaint and many other books is a perennial. 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. Use double quotation marks to enclose a direct quotation.

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. When the last comma in a series comes before and or or after daughterinlaw in the above example, it is known as the oxford comma. The ap stylebook doesnt advocate the use of the oxford comma. After each bullet, capitalize the first letter and use periods at the end of each item. Comma before and that joins two independent clauses the word and is a conjunction, and when a conjunction joins two independent clauses, you should use a comma with it. The most important rules for using commas without looking dumb. Yes, using correct grammar, especially correct written grammar, is important. Thats because in most types of dialogue, the quoted material stands apart from the surrounding text. While commas are normally either required or not required, theres one key instance when you can choose whether or not to use a comma and either option is equally correct. Proofreading for punctuation communication at work. Sep 03, 2020 when you use which after a preposition, you wont need an additional punctuation mark. In this document, the four uses of the comma are called the listing comma, the joining comma, the gapping comma and bracketing commas. Serial commas are used after the nexttolast item in a list and before the and.

Content marketing takes time, but it is worth the effort. No comma needed before or after a direct quotation that is not preceded by a verb. If the phrase or sentence comes before the time phrase then it shouldnt have a comma. When the last comma in a series comes before and or or after daughterin law in the above example, it is known as the oxford comma. When to use a comma before and get it write online. No, a wellrespected scientist, made an important discovery. Should there be a comma before the title, as in the book titled how i became a millionaire. Use a semicolon to clarify a series that includes a number of commas. References to style manuals and grammar reference books given below dont, in every case, signify the use of a direct quote from that manual. Dont use a comma before which when its used to pose an indirect. To test whether you should use a comma before the last adjective in a series, see if it makes sense to reverse the order of the adjectives. The first thing to know is that there are generally only two correct options.

Use commas to separate words and word groups in a simple series of three or more items. Five hundred years ago, there were no grammar books. Other times, the comma separates grammatical components of the sentence. The comma goes before but when were joining two independent clauses. When a subject or object is made up of two items and the second item is parenthetical, you can set off the second item with commasone before it and one after it. My estate goes to my husband, son, daughterinlaw, and nephew. Note that there is a rule that says to use a comma or a period next to an end quotation mark, put the period or comma before, not after, the end quotation mark. In grammatical terms, its syntactically independent. On monday well see the eiffel tower, and on tuesday well visit the louvre. When too is used in the sense of also, use a comma before and after too in the middle of a sentence and a comma before too at the end of a sentence.

The proper place for the comma is before the con jun ction. A nonrestrictive clause is a phrase that adds nonessential information to a sentence without changing the overall meaning. In your own writing, you can decide for yourself whether to use it or notjust be consistent. Commas with appositives the blue book of grammar and. I am editing a work of fiction in which the author has rigidly applied the rule. Jul 09, 2018 the house is close to stores, has a great yard and has been recently decorated. Our rule 8 of commas says, use commas to set off the name, nickname, term of endearment, or title of a person directly addressed. Starting basic french really can be as easy as abc.

Should i use a comma after a time phrase such as in the meantime. Use commas after introductory a clauses, b phrases, or c words that come before the main clause. Mar 03, 2020 the biggest mistake of this kind is putting a comma before the word and. On the front of the tshirts, there are two lines of large letters and one line of small ones. Dont switch back and forth in the same document between using the oxford comma and not using it.

For instance, the word might appear as part of a parenthetical, explanatory phrase. Place a comma before which when which precedes a nonrestrictive clause. The chicago manual of style online is the venerable, timetested guide to style, usage, and grammar in an accessible online format. The comma might be the most troublesome punctuation mark.

The most famous example of the need for the serial comma is the apocryphal book dedication. Should commas be used around by and an authors name after. If the book title is used as an appositive, it will need commas around it if it falls. This is one of those tricky grey areas of grammar where some authorities believe a comma is outright wrong, others that it is allowable. This lesson explains the correct use of commas and has examples of commas used in sentences. As kids, proper punctuation was one of the first things we learned at school, and in french, its just as important as learning to count or any of the other fundamentals of the language. The sentence is correct with or without the comma before and. Wordiness and excess prose will complicate your sentences and make the book hard to.

Put commas before and after parenthetical or nonessential words, phrases, or clauses that would leave the sentence grammatically correct if you omitted them. If the phrase or sentence comes before the time phrase then it shouldnt have a comma before it. The aim here is to show their simplicity and make it clear how and when to use them. In the following example, commas are used to set off the by phrase because the phrase is not integral to the meaning of the sentence. Each use has its own rules, but note that a comma is never preceded by a white space and always followed by a white space. Rules for comma usage guide to grammar and writing. You should not use a comma before and if youre only mentioning two items and qualities. Should there be a comma before the title, as in the book. With most words, this means learning comma rules is a simple matter of learning one or two parts of speech and how they might be used in a sentence. This is largely due to the many different ways the comma is used. Commas should sometimes be placed before and after names and titles.