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I was using a grammar correction software to review an article. The software suggests to insert a comma in the following text:

In each part, the warping function creates feature maps of the input data and the wavelet filters extract higher frequency information from the input and propagate it forward.

The comma is suggested between and and data in data and the wavelet. I was not sure why it is suggested, if it is a correct one, and what type of comma it is.

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  • Like with most cases of to insert or not to insert the comma, the use of comma here is optional. A comma signifies a pause— that's all. It won't drastically change the meaning of your sentence, whether you retain it or omit it.
    – user405662
    Commented Dec 18, 2020 at 14:44
  • It's a compound sentence, so some writers might put a comma before the conjunction.. "The wavelet filters" is the subject of another independent clause. It might be better as 2 seperate sentences...
    – Cascabel_StandWithUkraine_
    Commented Dec 18, 2020 at 14:45
  • @Cascabel— Were the two clauses separated by a comma only, that would have amounted to a solecism (comma splice). But it's perfectly alright to separate the clauses of a compound sentence with a conjunction, rendering the comma redundant at best.
    – user405662
    Commented Dec 18, 2020 at 14:49
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    I didn't say "a comma only"...I said a comma before the "and". @user405662 I also said it was optional. See: Comma before "and" in compound sentences
    – Cascabel_StandWithUkraine_
    Commented Dec 18, 2020 at 14:51
  • 1
    No problem...I just woke up myself.
    – Cascabel_StandWithUkraine_
    Commented Dec 18, 2020 at 14:58

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I agree with the software. The comma helps you avoid a "garden path" parse of the sentence.

As written, you'll start parsing the main clause as

the warping function creates feature maps of the input data and the wavelet filters

so it seems like "wavelet filters" are also included in the feature maps. Then you encounter the verb "extract", which doesn't fit this parse, so you have to backtrack to realize that "the wavelet filters" is the subject of a new independent clause.

Inserting a comma before "and" makes it clear that this is not a list of the contents of the feature maps.

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