Should a comma always precede the word but?

Should a comma always precede the word but?

You should put a comma before but only when but is connecting two independent clauses. I would go for a walk, but it’s raining outside. That means they’re independent clauses, so you need to use a comma before but. When you don’t have two independent clauses, leave the comma out.

Why do we use commas in punctuation?

Commas and periods are the most frequently used punctuation marks. Commas customarily indicate a brief pause; they’re not as final as periods. Rule 1. Use commas to separate words and word groups in a simple series of three or more items.

Should there always be preceded by a comma?

Often, a coordinating conjunction will connect two independent clauses — like the word “but.” But — and it’s a big but — your middle school teacher may have told you to always throw a comma before “but.” Don’t do that! You should only put a comma before “but” when connecting two independent clauses.

What is the difference between a comma and a semicolon?

Commas are used especially as a mark of separation within the sentence; semicolons are used to connect independent clauses.

How do you punctuate Not Only But Also?

It’s correct to write the sentence this way, with no comma: When writing, Ann considers not only her topic but also her audience. But if you really want to show special emphasis, you can add a comma: When writing, Ann considers not only her topic, but also her audience.

Does the comma go before or after or?

Always place a comma before or when it begins an independent clause, but if it begins a dependent clause, don’t. In a series (or list) of three or more items, you can use a comma before or, but this is a preference, not a rule.

What are the different types of commas?

There are four types of comma: the listing comma, the joining comma, the gapping comma and bracketing commas. A listing comma can always be replaced by the word and or or: Vanessa seems to live on eggs, pasta and aubergines.

When to use a comma at the beginning of a sentence?

Commas almost always follow phrases at the beginning of sentences; use the comma to separate the phrase from the independent clause. This means use a comma after a participial phrase, an absolute phrase, an infinitive phrase, and a prepositional phrase.

Do you put a comma after but at the beginning of a sentence?

According to editors and grammarians, there is no comma after the word but at the beginning of a sentence. There is really only one comma rule that mentions conjunctions: a comma goes before a coordinating conjunction that separates two independent clauses.

Is there an Oxford semicolon?

Because the list items contain commas, we want to use semicolons as “second-order commas”, a pretty standard but somewhat rare usage. Now, when the guy who was writing this section of the paper wrote it, he only used one semicolon, separating CFA and CCA.

Do you need but also with not only?

You can start a sentence with not only, but it must be followed by not also. This is because the expression not only..but also is a correlative conjunction that helps create parallelism, or balance, in a sentence.

When should you use a period instead of a comma?

If you can, use a period instead of a comma Never use a comma or a hyphen if using a period in its place wouldn’t change the sentence’s intended meaning. Following this rule will help you avoid several grammar mistakes. Consider these examples: Incorrect: “I don’t know why he’s singing, he’s next-level awful.”

What are the most common punctuation marks used in English?

Commas and periods are the most frequently used punctuation marks. Commas customarily indicate a brief pause; they’re not as final as periods.

What are the rules of punctuation in writing?

There are rules of punctuation that have to be followed; but there are also punctuation conventions that give writers greater choice. Punctuation: capital letters (B, D) and full stops (.) We use capital letters to mark the beginning of a sentence and we use full stops to mark the end of a sentence:

Do you punctuate poorly and not realize it?

There’s a good chance you punctuate poorly and don’t realize it. This page will fix your mistakes. It covers the top ten rules of punctuation. But let’s first consider why you should care about punctuation: