(Notice how I used it as an adverb in the preceding sentence.) So the important part is that it’s me driving, not Kerry. Do you know the 8 parts of speech? comma before 'just as' [conjunction]: there for ages, just as XXX on. In the second sentence, as is used as a logical connector so it’s a conjunction. Ask Question Asked 5 years ago. contains subject and verb), then it’s a conjunction. Commas are used as grammatical markers to help convey meaning in sentences. This helps to clarify that Kerry’s inebriation was the motivating factor for me driving. » With your permission: using “with” in an opening clause, Could you please explain when to use a comma before, Grammarly, The World’s Best Grammar Checker. You cannot use the punctuation rules of your native language when you write in English – you must use English rules. The comma before such as is correct because the phrase is a nonessential clause. Different languages have different rules about how to use commas. It’s an adverb because it relates to why an action happened. Appositives act as synonyms for a … Comma before or after however Because you can use however as a synonym for but, it is worth noting this rule. I drove the car home as it was snowing. No comma after such as. Do not use a comma before “as” when using it in a comparison. In this sentence, there is a clear, logical connection between the main verb—put—and the predicate phrase my feet were cold. The 8 parts of speech are definitions of how a word is used in a sentence. The last example above is a real example from a newspaper. Like because, as can be used as a conjunction or as an adverb. It depends on the logic of the sentence. In this case both instances of as are adverbs. Peter J. Francis is owner and operator of HyperGraphix Publishing Services (HGPublishing.com). )Just be consistent. Simultaneous time: The expense of the megaproject, as the government cut taxes, put a strain on the country’s finances. Notice that there’s no verb after “because.”. Here’s an appositive form: The construction of the megaproject was complicated, as expected. However, as a conjunction, because may or may not take a comma. English - US Jan 22, 2011 #1 Brand XXX = The Queen of England because she has been sitting on her throne for ages, just as XXX on their pedestal. Some people say to always use it and other people say to only use it when leaving it out would cause confusion. Did I drive home because I didn’t want to be around a pickled Kerry? I was promoted because of my competence. With shorter introductory phrases / clauses, many grammarians will tell you commas are not necessary: The sentence is correct with or without the comma before and. There are two schools of thought on how best to lighten the punctuation of such a sentence. Introductory bits (small-medium-large) Setting off introductory words, phrases, or clauses with a … There is a comma before the conjunction (but), and the nonessential comment (in the end) is set off with a pair of commas. Unlike the use of because as an adverb, here the noun phrase contains a verb. I’m as happy as a clam. A rational person might assume that I was driving because Kerry was in no state to drive, and they would be quite correct, but as writers, we must not leave room for doubt if we can avoid it. ; A nonrestrictive clause is a phrase that adds non-essential information to a sentence without changing the overall meaning. In this usage, it’s an adverb. He teaches high school and offers editing services as time is available. (Notice how I used it as an adverb in the preceding sentence.) When “for” is used as a conjunction between two clauses (“for” is the F in FANBOYS) then you need a comma before it. It’s an adverb because it relates to the state-of-being verb. Again, when it is used as an adverb, you don’t use a comma. The clause "who live in the same village as us" is just additional information about Sarah's parents. If the sentence is simple and the logic is clear, then there is no absolute need for a comma before “as.”. Use a comma after sentence adverbs but skip it after adverbs modifying verbs. It’s an adverb because it relates to the state-of-being verb. degree from SFU (2005) and a certificate in Special Education from SFU (2011). ; Commas can separate adjectives, offset nonessential phrases, and introduce direct quotations. Is there a comma before the word well in a sentence, example. If the meaning is clear even without a comma, you can omit it, but you should use a comma whenever the first reading can result in misunderstanding. When each element separated by or is just one or two words, the reader will have little trouble mentally sorting things out with whichever style you choose.. That said, advocates of the Oxford comma do have a strong argument when it comes to the clarity. Jojo Bizarro on October 03, 2011 9:02 am. Here’s an example: I put my socks on because my feet were cold. When a word or phrase forms an introduction … Do not use a comma before “as” when using it in a comparison. If you use, however, therefore, furthermore, or moreover at the beginning of a sentence, there is always a comma after the adverb. Don’t switch back and forth in the same document between using the Oxford comma and not using it. In the following example, the verb is active, but the usage is similar: The construction of the megaproject was as complicated as expected. Perhaps Kerry was too drunk to drive in the snow. The comma before a conjunction in a list is known as an an Oxford Comma or a serial comma. Note that if the order of the because-clause and the main clause is reversed, we always use a comma, just like for “if”: Although the phrase “it was snowing” can stand as an independent sentence, in this case, it acts as a noun: it is a statement of a fact. Do not place a comma before numbered suffixes: John D. Rockefeller IV Place a comma before Jr. and Sr.: Dale Earnhardt, Jr. In a list of three or more elements, … (Notice here that “as” follows a verb; only use a comma after a verb for an appositive). It still doesn’t clarify whether or not I left her at the party. Do not use a comma when “as” is used for simultaneous time. Unfortunately, there is no clear rule. You can safely delete it if you want without losing the context. Use commas to separate three or more elements in a series. Remember the 8 parts of speech? Obviously, a comma before as in this case would be wrong: The clouds are, as fluffy as cotton. In a sentence comparing two related ideas, it strikes me as strange to say _____, like how _____. ; Oxford commas are also known as serial or Harvard commas. Example: I was arrested because of my inebriation. The megaproject went billions of dollars over budget as the government continued to claim it was successful. Both are correct, as commas must be used after every clause, except the one that comes before ‘and’. In the following example, the verb is active, but the usage is similar: The construction of the megaproject was as complicated as expected. Note: Without the word tomorrow, we wouldn’t need a comma between doctor and before—we often don’t use a comma to separate an independent clause from a dependent one when the independent one comes first. In addition, as can be used to make a simile. As a conjunction, “as” is equivalent to “because”. Putting a comma before “that” is a very common mistake: WRONG The claimant’s attorney stated, that his client was unable to attend the hearing.… The man burned the article, just in case the man was dangerous. A writing tip on when to use commas with such as. He holds a BA (Honors) degree in English (1987), a B. Ed. So, to determine the usage of the comma with “because,” we must consider if there is a possible logic that is not intended, and use the comma to eliminate any confusion on the part of the reader. Did I drive for no other reason than I was sober? Because can function either as a conjunction or as an adverb, but only one of them needs a comma. However, we do use a comma for the above when it’s written as an appositive. Thank you. Personally, I like to use a comma before “as” when it is used as a logical connector; however, I learned while researching the answer to this questions, that there is no rule requiring this. Perhaps the alternative driver was not confident of driving in the snow. In these circumstances it should have a comma before it. How can you tell the difference? When because relates to a clause (i.e. He teaches high school and offers editing services as time is available. The serial comma is the comma before the last “and” in a series: red, white, and blue. ; Don’t use a comma before which when it’s used to pose an indirect question. In this case the usage is as a conjunction. In this usage, it’s an adverb. Consider the longer series of coordinating items in this sentence; within the series itself, there is a phrase with a necessary or. That comma is optional. Comma before as? As an adverb, because is not preceded by a comma. Active 3 years, 3 months ago. In this situation, each clause is equal in weight, and neither clause is dependent on the other to make sense. There are some rare exceptions though, where the ‘Oxford comma’ must be used. We usually know what we want to say, and we believe we have said it. I drove carefully through the snowflakes falling as softly as feathers. In the following sentence, would you need a comma before just in case and, if so, why? degree from SFU (2005) and a certificate in Special Education from SFU (2011). That last comma before the “and” is called a serial comma, Oxford comma, or Harvard comma. Could you please explain when to use a comma before as and because? ... an adverb that just happens to come first in the sentence. )This is not true.Commas serve a specific purpose; they exist to divide content by clause, to delineate list items from one another, and to indicate sentence continuation before and … Even though the Oxford Comma is named after the Oxford University Press (who still use it), most Brits do not use an Oxford Comma. In this case, a comma would help clarify. But what if the logic is less clear? Using “like how” vs. “just as” after a comma in a comparison. Therefore, a comma is required before "who.") When it’s used as a preposition (e.g., some flowers for my mom) you probably don’t need a comma before it, unless it’s in a list or some other structure that needs commas. You mean that wacky comma is actually a rule!? Also the words 'just' and 'be' are both superfluous, i.e., unnecessary as they do nothing to add to the meaning of the sentence. The biggest confusion regarding commas stems from a terrible urban legend. Commas before as can be more tricky. The megaproject went billions of dollars over budget, as the cost of cement was unexpectedly increased. Let's examine it in more detail. Nichole did this, well. He has over 30 years of professional writing and editing experience. Viewed 2k times 0. Free Trial: Grammarly, The World’s Best Grammar Checker. Two things happened simultaneously. ... By contrast just as works here and should also work in place of like how anywhere. When because relates to a noun phrase, it’s an adverb. Use commas to offset appositives from the rest of the sentence. Like because, as can be used as a conjunction or as an adverb. Comma is used to separate the same parts of speech unless they are grouped by and: Ex: He was a wise , learned and upright judge. For some unknown reason, the snow motivated me to drive. An adverb provides information about a verb. He holds a BA (Honors) degree in English (1987), a B. Ed. He has over 30 years of professional writing and editing experience. There was a time when this sentence would be punctuated exactly this way. The man burned the article just in case the man was dangerous. I was promoted because I am competent. I drove home from the party because Kerry was drunk. In the main text of your written work, use a suffix that is an essential part of the name—like Jr. or a roman numeral—when you cite a person’s name in full. But what about a longer, more convoluted sentence? Note that such as should not be separated from the list of examples that follows it. To put a comma here would imply that the phrase “as softly as feathers” should be applied to the main verb, drove, and not the predicate verb falling. It is just a normal subordinating conjunction. Commas before as can be more tricky. (the same parts of speech :adjectives) She glanced, smiled and bowed. Notice here that there is no longer a comparison, the whole phrase is adverbial, applied to complicated. This is an adverbial use. Use a Comma After an Introductory Word or Phrase. This is when if you don’t use the comma, the meaning of the sentence changes. I drove home from the party, because Kerry was drunk. A comma is needed before “so” when it’s acting as a conjunction to bring together two independent clauses. If you can replace while with as, then it shouldn't have a comma before it. Highest tower in the château. This is really the most challenging thing for writers. (The clouds are as fluffy as cotton.) Peter J. Francis is owner and operator of HyperGraphix Publishing Services (HGPublishing.com). An independent clause is a complete thought with its own subject and predicate. Active 5 years ago. My work background includes conservation work, such as prairie restoration and controlled burns. Notice the difference in the following two sentences. Main Takeaways: Place a comma before which when which precedes a nonrestrictive clause. I’m as happy as a clam. This means we have to look at the function of because in the sentence. As a result, it should not be set off by commas. Are there any rules to use the comma correctly? Use a pair of commas in the middle of a sentence to set off clauses, phrases, and words that are not … Thread starter SunnyS; Start date Jan 22, 2011 < Previous | Next > S. SunnyS Banned. Notice the difference in the following two sentences. ; Don’t place a comma before which when which is part of a prepositional phrase. I see lots of people leaving out commas where they shouldn’t but always plopping that frivolous comma in before sentence-final “too.” It just looks wrong to me. That urban legend is this: “If you want to know where a comma goes, just put it wherever you want a pause in your writing.” (And then say “comma” three times in front of a mirror, etc. If you can replace while with whereas then you should use a comma before it because it is … Viewed 9k times -1. By using a comma, the emphasis is on the main clause, which means “I” as the subject. Today, such a sentence is considered over-punctuated. Again, when it is used as an adverb, you don’t use a comma. For example, take this sentence: The modifier such as street, avenue, and road is essential to the meaning of the sentence: it restricts the general term words to a specific type of word. (There are a few exceptions that require you to use the Oxford comma in a list, but they are pretty rare. The sun is shining brightly, as she said it would. Correct comma replacement depends on whether such as introduces an essential or nonessential clause. The meaning is clear without a comma. In the first sentence, as is used as a coordinating adverb. Just as there is a time to use a comma before conjunctions, there is also a time for using a comma after conjunctions. Try our grammar quizzes! But a good writer (or a good editor) will recognize when alternative meanings will arise in the minds of readers and craft sentences that are clear and meaningful. The use of comma before the conjunction “as” is quite confusing. Did Kerry’s inebriation force me to drive home from the party? Therefore, there should be a comma before "who." Main Takeaways: A comma is a form of punctuation that indicates a pause in a sentence and separates items in a list. OR . ; Commas should be used before and when joining two independent clauses or when compiling a list. A conjunction joins clauses or phrases. 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Drove the car home as it was snowing non-essential information to a sentence. use however a...
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