Questions tagged [commas]
The comma is a punctuation character that is placed on the baseline and looks similar to a single quotation mark.
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Non-restrictive clauses and commas
Do I need the comma in this sentence? If so, what is the grammatical basis behind it?
The significance of the color blue in the poem has long been a point of focus for scholars, largely due to the ...
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Comma usage with the word “Actually” at the beginning of a sentence [migrated]
Actually, do you think it’s appropriate.
OR
Actually do you think it’s appropriate.
Which one is correct? Do you use the comma or not?
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Parenthetical sentence (double commas) followed by definition in parenthesis - where to put commas?
I am working with legal texts a lot and I was wondering about the following phrase that will show up in most US related prospectuses:
"according to the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the ...
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Should I use a comma with a phrase and clause modifying the same noun?
There were things strewn on the floor which the child could have put in his mouth.
Should I use a comma here? Without one, it looks like it's saying the child could have put the floor in its mouth.
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What grammar rule is this? (Commas)
a detective club consisting of teens specializing in solving mysteries → each teen is great at solving mysteries
a detective club consisting of teens, specializing in solving
mysteries → the detective ...
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Comma before 'but'
According to grammarly,
You should put a comma before but only when but is connecting two independent clauses.
Then, I am wondering how this example sentence from Longman dictionary could be ...
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Comma Usage with "Not... But Rather"
Just wanted to ask this because I feel like I haven't found any answers for this particular issue, but should there be a comma in a sentence that uses a "not... but rather" construction? For ...
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The usage of commas with the word "additionally"
Could you please tell me if one should opt to insert a comma before and after the word "additionally" in this sentence?
Referring back to my school, it had a strong policy in terms of ...
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The usage of comma on clarity and non-essential parts
Is it fine if in my writing I consider everything essential, the usage of comma being considered to be just for clarity, and all additional/non-restrictive things being placed between parantheses? For ...
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Should a comma be used when ending with in my opinion?
Which sentence is correct?
1- She was a great singer, in my opinion at least.
2- She was a great singer in my opinion at least.
1- sounds correct, but I'm not sure if it is because the phrase "in ...
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Punctuation before and within an adverb clause
I have a sentence which includes two independent elements connected by 'and' within an adverb clause. Do I still place a comma before the and?
Ex:
Jett's dad died when he was seven and his little ...
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"...a wealth of additional informative information." looks somehow wrong to me - redundant to call information informative or OK? Missing comma?
Under my answer in Space Exploration SE I just added the comment:
Note: I'll point folks back up to the comments under the question and to the other answer(s), both of which contain a wealth of ...
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Comma between prepositional phrases
Would there be a comma after the year here? As this is a series of prepositional phrases, I am uncertain about whether the comma should be inserted.
The composer was alleged to have said this to his ...
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Can/should I put a comma before a phrase's time specifier?
For instance, consider the sentence, "I ate lunch today." Is it necessary or acceptable to put a comma before "today?"
Generally speaking, some of these time phrases look wrong to me when used with a ...
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Are commas required when saying 'separate but interlinked'? [duplicate]
In a sentence such as
This forms three separate but interlinked questions.
should there be commas round 'but interlinked'? Or no commas at all? I'm assuming a single comma after separate is ...
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Comma before a moved verb
I can't seem to find a definitive answer for this, and my colleague and I are disagreeing on it:
Your next obsession, found.
Your next obsession found.
It was an advertisement, as in something like ...
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How can I say "usually one, sometimes multiple" at the end of a sentence?
I'm struggling with this sentence fragment: “...and produces usually one, sometimes multiple, binary outputs.” Is this grammatically correct? Is there a better way to structure this?
Here is the ...
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A colon or a comma in alternative questions
Which punctuation mark should be used before the second part of the alternative question? Should it be a colon or a comma?
Eg:
What do you like best: pears or apples?
or
What do you like best, pears ...
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Is there a comma before "and why?" at the end of a question?
If so, would I also put commas if a question ended with "why or why not?"
Ex: Are you going to bake cookies, and why, or why not?
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Comma before a with-prepositional phrase. Which one should I choose?
It also broke down racial prejudice with the crossover appeal of its music.
It also broke down racial prejudice, with the crossover appeal of its music.
Apparently, the correct one was sentence 2 but ...
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adverbial phrase with comma
In the following sentence
He didn't read it, not even the abstract.
'not even the abstract' looks like an adverbial phrase used to modify 'read'.
I am confused about the comma, what is the purpose ...
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Comma Usage in "At COMPANY-NAME we are committed to providing the highest level of customer service." [duplicate]
Should there be a comma after COMPANY-NAME in the following sentence:
At COMPANY-NAME we are committed to providing the highest level of customer service.
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Comma uncommon usage
At the beginning of The Magician's Nephew, CS Lewis wrote:
In those days Mr. Sherlock Holmes was still living in Baker Street and
the Bastables were looking for treasure in the Lewisham Road. In ...
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Comma before "either" at end of this sentence
Please help me determine whether or not to include a comma at the end of the third sentence:
"I won't be talking to my ex at the party tonight."
-"But what if she talks to you?"
"I won't ...
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Is the comma after "practices" in that sentence correct?
A lot of people care about the environment, and a lot don’t. Which side are you? It’s your practices that tell. For those who don’t, there must be a way to make them aware of their bad practices, and ...
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Is omitting the definite article in this case grammatically correct (and preferable)?
I had written the following sentence in a manuscript:
After each transaction, the balance of the sender account equals their balance immediately before the transaction minus the amount of funds ...
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if and because in compound-complex sentences
I am confused about compound-complex sentences that begin with if and because. In general, if a compound-complex sentence begins with an introductory phrase and contains two dependent clauses, all ...
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Comma placement for a parenthetical after "and"?
I find myself writing sentences like this often:
A. Here's a summary of our discussion, and if needed, more detail can be found at www.website.com.
I'm not sure if the commas there look quite ...
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Comma after a coordinating conjunction preceding a parenthetical at the start of the sentence
Although similar questions have been asked before, I am still not clear as to official or, at the very least, preferred position from punctuation rules point of view on comma after coordinating ...
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Comma Rules - It sounds weird in my head without the Comma, but can't tell what's wrong about not having one either
I was marked wrong for this - Do we or do we not use commas to separate two nouns that come like this:
From the couch, Alice continued, "I will speak to..."
I thought From the couch would ...
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Ellipsis in complex lists
How is this construction correct?
The drawing-room began to look empty: the baccarat was discontinued
for lack of a banker; more than one person said goodnight of his own
accord, and was suffered to ...
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Do you use a comma after the word "and" when it is the first word in a sentence and then you address someone? [duplicate]
Please know that my question is not regarding what I write. It's what I hear as a court reporter and put into written form. Also know this question pertains to how an answer (A.) begins. There's no ...
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How do I punctuate a sentence with multiple questions when each of them are in quotes?
This is the sentence I am referring to:
Instead of asking “Will I get the job?”, consider asking, “What can I do to align myself with my career aspirations?”
Is this correct? I am specifically ...
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Comma usage in compound-complex sentence [closed]
Which sentence is more appropriate?
Even if the budget allows for certain expenses, and we can prioritize some projects, we cannot fund them all.
or
Even if the budget allows for certain expenses ...
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How to use for with commas, and, or in sentences [duplicate]
"Machines for the reception, conversion and transmission or regeneration of data."
What is the meaning of this sentence?
A. Machines for either reception, having both conversion and ...
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"Oh, dear!" vs. "Oh dear!"
Which is correct, "Oh, dear!" or "Oh dear!"?
My understanding is that the word oh is an interjection, and should thus be followed by a comma. However, is the second usage the correct one because the ...
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Bracketing comma and placement [duplicate]
Which of the following shows the correct use of bracketing commas?
"The last chapter of the first section is set, in contrast to the preceding ones, in the couples' home."
OR
"The last ...
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Better to put interrupting phrase before or after that-conjunction?
Which sentence is either correct or better than the other? Are they both valid?
Then she eagerly dug into every basket and confirmed that, to her pleasant surprise, they were all loaded with good ...
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Comma with Em-dash after Subordinate Clause [duplicate]
Consider the sentence:
When rebounding becomes important -- as is the case when playing the
Lakers -- we need to have John in the game.
Is there a need for a comma after "important" to ...
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Punctuation Breakdown: Examining Commas in a Sentence
I'm hoping to get a breakdown of the punctuation in the following sentence:
It has a wider-reaching impact because, arguably, in addition to being of use to vehicle owners, it also benefits the ...
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Comma after "that" before parenthetical clause: optional?
I've noticed I'm coming across a lot of sentences that look like this, with a parenthetical clause surrounded by commas and preceded by a "that" that functions as a conjunction opening a ...
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Why should there be a comma in this sentence before "because"?
It was supported by stating that a reliable fabric supplier has been found and that a major competitor is no longer making alpaca overcoats, because of which demand will be high.
Why is there a comma ...
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Does a comma go there? [duplicate]
I'm having a hard time figuring out whether or not to use a comma in the type of situation shown in the examples below:
Jane was concerned that running by herself she might get mugged.
Jane ...
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Comma in “As a professor(,) I am [ … past participle … ]” [duplicate]
On the Web, I see contradicting examples of the comma usage:
[…], and as a professor I am committed to creating such a positive impact in the lives of my students as well.
(Source: http://sites.cs....
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Do Swiss place names have a comma before the canton, or is the canton in parentheses?
Is it "Bern, BE" like American place names, or "Bern (BE)" or "Bern BE"?
Or does it depend on whether it's American/Canadian/British/Australian/etc. English, or perhaps ...
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What is this comma called? [duplicate]
A room furnished comfortably and tastefully, but not extravagantly.
Is there any special name for this comma before 'but' and will the sentence work if we don't use it?
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Do the commas between these phrases change the meaning?
Do the commas (or lack of) change the meaning between these two sentences:
In the beginning, when the house was sold, it didn’t bother me too much.
In the beginning when the house was sold, it didn’t ...
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Is a comma needed after an italicized thought as it is with a prototypical quote?
I'm trying to sort out whether the same rules apply to thoughts as quotes in this context. Also curious to know if using italics for this in the first place is proper.
I wish I knew how to write ...
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Comma or no comma before "in part because"?
"Running outdoors burns about five percent more calories than running on a treadmill, in part because there is greater wind resistance outdoors."
I was taught that you shouldn't put a comma before '...
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Confused on how to use "instead" in the middle of a sentence
I am dumbfounded on why the man does not spring for Walton’s help, instead, he makes sure the vessel is headed North.
I'm confused on how to use "instead" in the middle of my sentence.
Is that ...
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