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