I am confused as to when commas are supposed to be used before the conjunction and.    answers it but I am still a bit confused.   For instance the following two sentences:         I am going to buy apples, oranges, and bananas at the store.    I am going to buy apples, oranges and bananas at the store.       Which of the above sentences is the correct usage of a comma?
6386
Should I put a comma before the last item in a list?     I would like crackers, cheese and some soda.   I would like crackers, cheese, and some soda.
75188
What is the correct way to punctuate the end of a sentence before a quote that directly supports the statement? I assume either a colon or a semicolon, but I have no idea which is correct.  For example:     Waldo is a better hide-and-seek player than Clem; "Waldo was   the winner of the past ten annual hiding awards" (Where's Waldo 13).      Waldo is a better hide-and-seek player than Clem:  "Waldo was   the winner of the past ten annual hiding awards" (Where's Waldo 13).   (Excuse the silly example, but I didn't have a better one.)
4654
I can’t for the life of me figure out where to use a and where to use the — and where there is no article at all. Is there a simple rule of thumb to memorize?   The standard rule you always hear:     “If a person knows which item you are talking about then use "the"   . . . doesn’t clear things up for me, as I have no idea whether or not they know.
12655
states:     If a dependent clause, or an introductory phrase requiring to be set off by a comma, precedes the second independent clause, no comma is needed after the conjunction.   Strunk's example illustrates the point:     The situation is perilous, but if we are prepared to act promptly, there is still one chance of escape.   However, I would be tempted to put a comma after the "but," like this:     The situation is perilous, but, if we are prepared to act promptly, there is still one chance of escape.   So, I know you're thinking, "Well, Strunk's Rules of Usage says that you're wrong. No comma."   But is Rules of Usage really the best source? I'd like to see this rule in a more contemporary and authoritative source, like the Chicago Manual of Style.  There are many instances —  — where the comma is included before a parenthetical comment that comes after a coordinating conjunction.  Any authoritative source on the issue?
2920
Here, Cambridge doesn't use a comma.  I am confused. Example in Cambridge Dictionary: Unfortunately we can't come this evening after all.    On different pages i found some rules telling there needs to be a comma. Examples follow:  We do usually put a comma after adverbs like 'unfortunately'. They are called 'sentence adverbs' because they modify the whole sentence and often give the opinion of the speaker/writer.  A parenthetical phrase adding detail to the main clause. Initially placed parentheticals are normally set off by a comma.  Cause I'm studying for my Level 2 graduation, i want going crazy reading here and there comma rules followed by looking in the Cambridge Dictionary without finding them there.   HELP me out please !
45465
What is the correct rule for placement of a pair of parenthetical commas in a sentence? Let me explain the problem with the following example sentence wherein any person would find the people placing the parenthetical commas at two different places:   The CSI, in its email, has informed us that ...  The CSI has, in its email, informed  us that ...    Now, the question is: which of the two is correct? Or, better? Are they equally good? Can I write the sentence either way? I have googled the problem, but to no avail. Can anybody shed some light?
100450
I noticed the following sentence, taken from Mark Twain's "The Awful German Language:"     Fifthly, I would do away with those long compounded words; or require the speaker to deliver them in sections, with intermissions for refreshments.   What is the grammatical function of the semicolon here? I would have expected a comma to be appropriate here, as to me it coordinates a dependent clause, and that would be solely under the jurisdiction of a comma, as I understood.   I thought semicolons were for replacing conjunctions between independent clauses or avoiding confusion with commas when writing a list that requires commas for one of the points within.  Thank you!
24439
When I learned English at school, I was taught that I should not end a sentence with a preposition.  Is it correct to end a sentence with a preposition?     To avoid starting a sentence with a conjunction, I don't write sentences similar to "I miss you. And your kisses." Is there a similar way to avoid ending a sentence with a preposition?
106129
Consider:     This book provides a solid psychological understanding of these experiments, and adds a few expansions and conclusions of its own. It also provides …   My question regards the comma. I have been told that having the comma there is an error.  According to  this seems to be the case according to “some style guides”. The reason is that the stuff after the comma is not independent; it’s dependent on what comes before.  What do you think? It would seem to me the comma helps a lot, because those two “and”s without any comma make the sentence rather cluttered. That’s why I put the comma there. So I’m not sure.
37597
How to understand the usage of "when/while doing something" in grammar?  For example,     I am watching TV, when sitting in my   sofa.   I think "when" and "while" can never be used as prep.. They are conj. instead.  I remember seeing some explanation from a English grammar book, written for people speaking another language, which basicaly said "when/while doing something" is just a shorthand of "when/while somebody is doing something", where "somebody is" must appear in the main clause, otherwise this shorthand usage is not valid. For example, it is wrong to say     I watch TV, when sitting in my sofa.   because in the main clause there is no "be".  I would like to see if someone can concur or refute this explanation from rigorous English grammar point of view.
60040
The author used a comma in the following text; I would have used a colon. Any thoughts?     "She is one of only a few lawyers with the necessary skills to advise on such deals[:][,] a significant achievement for a mid-level attorney."
19706
Sometimes I see a comma after the proper name:     Hello Mr. Black,      In order to give you....   But my native language is not English and I think that the comma in this phrase should be placed before the proper name:      Hello, Mr. Black.      In order to give you....   What is the correct punctuation in English?
53466
I always use google with double quotes to get the answer for similar questions by looking at results number (assuming that the majority are correct), well, it is not the case here. In these days, we intensively use the statement Wish you happy New Year and Wish you Merry Christmas, Well, I have noticed, even here, that some use (a) before happy and merry and some don't. Which one is correct ? Wish you Merry Christmas / Wish you a Merry Christmas for everybody here.
115719
Rule 101 of compound sentences is that a coordinate conjunction must be accompanied by a comma most of the time when joining independent clauses, yet I stumble across sentences all that time that seem to abuse this rule. Normally, it's a case of the subject not being present in the second clause, as in the following example:      "They usually start out as an abbreviation, but turn into acronyms   when they become well known."   (taken from the Oxford Style Manual)   To me, this comma cannot be correct because the clause after the comma doesn't contain a subject and therefore cannot be independent (right?). As far as I'm concerned, it's not the 'Comma to set off a contrast rule because I can find plenty of other where 'and' is used and the subject's missing in the second clause.  what's the deal here?   Thanks in Advance for any responses I may receive!
113044
I've learned that commas must be put before and, but, so, ect. However, I came across this sentence in a reading test.      Exercise causes blood vessels to open up so blood flows more easily.   Why is there no comma before so? Must I put it there?
12570
I always stumble when using abbreviations in a sentence, as they inherently contain a period in them. How do I use a comma or a semicolon after an abbreviation? How about a period?  E.g. (This is an example of my quandary)
56732
Should you always type a comma after &quot;therefore&quot;,&quot;however&quot; etc. in the beginning of a sentence? Also, when these (and similar) words are used in the middle of a sentence, should there be a comma or semi-colon before and after the word?  Therefore, he must be killed! That man is revolting, however, some find him attractive.  Sorry for the lousy examples. I couldn't think of any better.