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Commas Colons and Semicolons

Commas, colons and semicolons are commonly used punctuation marks. Commas are commonly used in listing items or after a phrase while colons are used to introduce or announce. Semicolons are used to create breaks or pauses.

1,988 Questions

What word can go before 'bag' 'drunk' and 'line?

The word that can go before 'bag,' 'drunk,' and 'line' is 'paper.'

Does a comma come after a connective?

When connecting two independent clauses with a connective like "and" or "but," a comma is often used before the connective to separate the two clauses. If the clauses are closely related and short, a comma might not be necessary. It ultimately depends on the style guide you are following or your personal preference.

How do you see if a sentence has a comma splice?

A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are incorrectly joined by a comma without a coordinating conjunction. To identify a comma splice, look for sentences where two standalone thoughts are separated only by a comma. This error disrupts the flow of the sentence and is best corrected by either adding a coordinating conjunction or using a stronger punctuation mark like a semicolon or period.

Where does the comma go after or before which?

The short answer: you don't need one.

The long answer:

Which is a subordinating conjunction, meaning that when it starts a clause, it makes a dependent clause which is an incomplete sentence.

Grammar dictates the following comma placement in the pairing of clauses:

(Independent Clause = IC, Dependent Clause = DC) IC DC or DC, IC

Since which will start a dependent clause, provided that you put the independent clause first, you need not place a comma on behalf of the word which. If, however, the dependent clause goes first, you must place a comma after the entire clause, not just the word which.

Should comma be used after regards?

Yes, a comma should be used after "Regards" when writing a formal email or letter. For example, "Regards, John Smith."

Is this a fragment comma splice or a run on sentence Jay went sightseeing on his own and caught up with the group later?

Actually, it's none of the above. It's a perfectly normal compound sentence if you add correct punctuation: Jay went sightseeing on his own, and (he) caught up with the group later. Yes, you need a comma to separate the two clauses, but I don't see a comma splice or a fragment. The pronoun "he" is understood in the second part of the sentence. Usually, comma splices involve linking two independent sentences together with a comma, which is wrong-- you need to use a period.

Here's a fragment: waiting for the train. Here's a comma splice: Jay was waiting for the train, it came early and he missed it. (You have two complete sentences there, and you can't splice them together with a comma.) And here's a run-on sentence: Jay was waiting for the bus but it came early and he missed it and he was late for school and he got in a lot of trouble because he had been late before and his teacher was really upset with him.

Should a comma come before or after or?

Not necessarily. Where a comma goes is entirely a matter of sentence structure. There is no word or phrase in English that requires a comma.

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In separating clauses and phrases, the comma (when necessary) comes before the or, as a pause.

Was this the biggest mistake in all of human history, or the greatest success?

Otherwise, the or seems to join history and success.

The only time the comma comes after the or is when there is what may be called a parenthetical expression, or interruption, as for a clarification.

Will they quit or, fearing humiliation, continue to fight?

The conjunction or is connecting quit to continue.

Can you put a comma after a question mark?

No, punctuation rules dictate that a comma is not used after a question mark. Each punctuation mark serves a specific purpose and should be used independently in a sentence.

Where do you need a comma The children squealed playing happily on the slide.?

A comma is needed before "playing" to separate the two independent clauses in the sentence: "The children squealed" and "playing happily on the slide." This helps to clarify the meaning and improve readability.

Should you put a comma in the phrase as of today?

Yes, you should put a comma after "today" in the phrase "as of today" to indicate that the phrase is specifying the present moment.

Do you need to use a comma before the rd although?

Basically, a comma is a direction from the writer to the reader to give a little pause while reading. If the sentence begins with the word 'although, no comma is required. If the sentence has although in the middle, a comma may be place after it.
I helped him, although he had never helped me.

What is the meaning of inverted commas?

Inverted commas, also known as quotation marks, are punctuation marks used to indicate direct speech or a quotation in writing. They are placed at the beginning and end of the quoted text to show that the words inside the marks are from another source.

How would you see ia a sentence had a comma splice?

A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are joined by only a comma. If each of the two parts separated by the comma can stand on its own as a complete sentence, then you have a comma splice.

Example: I did not get any sleep before my early flight, I slept on the plane.
Each of the two parts can stand alone as a sentence: "I did not get any sleep before my early flight." "I slept on the plane."

When these two parts are joined by only a comma, the result is a comma splice.

When do you put a comma after the word SINCE?

A comma is typically not used after the word "since" when it is used to indicate time ("since 2010"). However, a comma may be used after "since" when it is being used as a conjunction to introduce a dependent clause ("Since you are here, let's get started").

Do you use a comma after the word fortunately?

Commas are a feature of sentence structure. There is no word or phrase in English that requires one. Whether a word has a comma after it depends on the word's function in the sentence.

For example:


Fortunately for you, the train is on time.

Fortunately, the train is on time.

The train was fortunately on time, so I caught it.

When do you use single inverted commas?

She said "I thought 'Gone with the wind' was a good film".

Otherwise, without using single quotes, the sentence would look like this:

She said "I thought "Gone with the wind" was a good film".

Why is it important to correct comma splices and fused sentences?

Correcting comma splices and fused sentences is important because they create confusion and can make the writing difficult to understand. These errors also affect the flow and coherence of the text, leading to a lack of clarity in the writer's message. By fixing these mistakes, you can improve the overall quality of your writing and effectively convey your ideas to the reader.

Should there always be a comma after the word hopefully?

No, there should not always be a comma after the word "hopefully." It depends on the sentence structure. When "hopefully" is at the beginning of a sentence, it is often followed by a comma, but if it is used within a sentence, a comma is not necessary.

Can you put comma after the word said?

Certainly, I can add a comma after the word "said," as requested.

Do you need a comma after a time connective?

Yes, a comma is typically used after a time connective when it is at the beginning of a sentence to separate the introductory phrase from the main clause. For example: "After lunch, we went for a walk in the park."

Is there a comma after why?

Yes, a comma is needed after "why" if it is used to introduce a subordinate clause. For example: "I don't understand why he left, it doesn't make sense to me."

When do you put a comma in front of a conjunction?

Always use a comma between two clauses if both clauses are independent clauses.

Otherwise, the word following the conjunction (part of a different clause) might be mistakenly read as part of the first clause.

For example - there should be a comma before these conjunctions:

His house is built of wood and brick in many varied colors, mainly red and brown, is used in the garden planters.

He was a friendly fellow but a serial murderer, wanted in several states, almost took advantage of his helpful nature.

Which word is not a coordinating conjunction and because for or nor?

Because is not a coordinating conjunction. It is a subordinating conjunction used to introduce a subordinate clause that explains the reason for the main clause. The coordinating conjunctions are for, or, and nor, which connect words, phrases, or clauses of equal importance.

Does a comma go after Also?

It depends on how the word is being used.

A comma is placed anywhere a natural breaking point in speech would be used. It creates a pause, or hesitation to clarify what is coming next.

For examples:

I also would like to go with you.

This does not require a comma.

I would like to order this steak; also, I would like a side of vegetables.

This requires a comma.