How To Use Comma Conjunctions

Because it had been raised in captivity the rabbit wasn t afraid of humans.

How to use comma conjunctions. Use a comma before a conjunction that joins two independent clauses an independent clause is a clause that could stand alone as a sentence. Most commonly used punctuation is certainly a comma however semicolon. The punctuation used to mark a division in a sentence like the separation of words phrases a clause or a sequence. It is often tempting to throw in a comma between a set of correlative conjunctions. Correlative conjunctions are pairs of conjunctions that work together.

Notice the use of the comma when a coordinating conjunction is joining two independent clauses. Let s start with a rule that everybody agrees on. Using commas with correlative conjunctions. After all you know what a comma is. Use a comma to join two independent clauses when two standalone sentences or independent clauses are joined together using a conjunction e g and but or the conjunction should be preceded by a comma.

The rules for using a comma before and or any other conjunction such as and or and but depend on how the conjunction is used. Some examples are either or neither nor and not only but also. The general rule of thumb is not to split the sets up. Using punctuation in writing can be very confusing especially in longer sentences that also include lists of items. This article will attempt to make this issue that so many inexperienced writers struggle with somewhat easier by presenting some rules and examples of correct usage of punctuation with conjunctions.

Only use a comma to separate a dependent clause at the end of a sentence for added emphasis usually when negation occurs. Exceptions occur when the sentence structure is grammatically incorrect without the comma or there is a non restrictive clause in play. When to use a comma with a subordinating conjunction. When you do put a comma before the final conjunction in a series it is referred to as a serial comma or an oxford comma despite the fact that it is recommended by the oxford university press style manual most writers of british english do not use it. And commas often accompany a conjunction which is a word that connects phrases clauses or sentences e g and because but and however or any other words or expressions that provide a similar.

Here s another example sentence. This sentence contains a comma and a dependent clause because it had been raised in captivity and the subordinating conjunction is again because.