Comma With Conjunctions – Grammar & Practice Sheet

12.08.24 Commas Time to read: 8min

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Comprehending comma usage poses a significant challenge for numerous students, especially within academic writing. This difficulty typically arises due to their limited awareness of the various rules and exceptions governing comma usage. Our objective in this article is to elucidate a specific scenario where comma placement can prove perplexing. Through illustrative examples and elucidation of exceptions, we seek to provide clarity on when to deploy commas with conjunctions.

When to place commas with conjunctions

In this section, we’ll delve into the rules governing the placement of commas when conjunctions are used to join clauses or elements within a sentence. Understanding these rules is essential for achieving clarity and coherence in your writing.

Conjunctions are words used to connect clauses, phrases, or words within a sentence. They serve to establish relationships between different parts of a sentence. Common conjunctions include:

  • And
  • But
  • Or
  • Nor
  • For
  • Yet
  • So
  • Because
  • Although
  • While

There are three types of conjunctions:

  1. Coordinating conjunctions
  2. Correlative conjunctions
  3. Subordinating conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions connect words, phrases, or independent clauses of equal syntactic importance in a sentence. These create compound sentences and can balance two or more elements effectively.

Correlative conjunctions are pairs of conjunctions that work together to link equivalent elements in a sentence. They balance elements in a sentence that are not only equal but also directly related to each other in terms of their syntactic role.

Subordinating conjunctions connect an independent clause with a dependent clause, introducing the dependent clause and indicating the nature of the relationship between the two. This type of conjunction provides a transition between two parts of a sentence by highlighting the importance of one clause over the other.

Comma

And & or in a list

Interrupting phrases

Coordinating conjunctions

No comma

Correlative conjunctions

Subordinating conjunctions

Not linking independent clauses

It’s worth noting that comma rules, including those regarding conjunctions, may vary depending on the style guide followed and specific writing conventions. Additionally, there are exceptions to these rules based on context and stylistic preferences.

Commas with conjunctions

In this section, we’ll explore the use of commas with conjunctions to ensure clarity and coherence in your writing. We’ll discuss when to use commas with conjunctions and highlight any exceptions or variations to these rules, as well as provide examples along the way.

And & or in a list

When using the conjunctions “and” and “or” to connect items in a list, a comma is placed before the conjunction. This comma is known as the serial comma or Oxford comma. You only put a comma if there are three or more items in the list.

The serial comma clarifies the separation between items in the list and avoids ambiguity. It’s useful when the items themselves contain commas or when the final two items in the list are closely related.

Examples

  • I bought apples, oranges, and bananas.
  • She can choose between red, blue, or green.
  • John, Mary, and Sarah went to the cinema together.

However, some style guides or writing conventions may omit the serial comma in certain contexts, so it’s essential to follow the guidelines provided or maintain consistency within a document.

Note: It’s optional to use the Oxford comma. Ideally, you should refer to the style guide your institution uses and be consistent throughout your document.

Interrupting phrases

When conjunctions are used to connect interrupting phrases in a sentence, commas are employed to set off the interrupting phrase from the rest of the sentence. This helps to maintain clarity and indicates a pause in the sentence’s flow.

These commas signal to the reader that the interrupting phrase provides additional information or adds nuance to the main clause. They help to prevent confusion and ensure that the reader understands the sentence structure correctly.

Examples

  • The weather, although unpredictable, didn’t dampen our spirits.
  • I wanted to go for a walk, but unfortunately, it started raining.
  • She was excited, yet slightly nervous, about her upcoming presentation.

Coordinating conjunctions

When coordinating conjunctions are used to link two independent clauses, a comma is placed before the conjunction to separate the clauses. This comma is known as a coordinating conjunction comma and helps to clarify the relationship between the clauses. The coordinating conjunctions are usually referred to as FANBOYS to remember them. The acronym stands for the coordinating conjunctions “for,” “and,” “nor,” “but,” “or,” “yet,” and “so.” You can check out our article about commas with FANBOYS to read up on the topic more thoroughly.

Examples

  • She wanted to go to the party, but she had too much work to do.
  • He enjoys playing basketball, and he also excels at football.
  • I thought about going for a run, yet I decided to stay home and watch a film instead.

Causes a pronounced pause

In sentence structure, you can distinguish between “strong” and “weak” breaks referring to the stress and emphasis put on different words or elements in a sentence. Differentiating between these types of breaks plays a vital role due to their ability to change the delivery and meaning of a sentence. When “thus” functions as a pronounced pause, it provides a great emphasis to the flow of the whole sentence. When this can be categorized as a proper interruption, commas are needed around “thus.”

Examples

  • He saved money carefully, thus, enabling him to buy a big house.
  • John was late for the meeting, thus, missing important topics.
  • He quit smoking and drinking, thus, reducing the risk of cancer.

No commas with conjunctions

In this section, we’ll discuss instances where commas are not used with conjunctions. We’ll explore scenarios where the absence of a comma is appropriate and provide examples to illustrate these cases. Understanding when not to use commas with conjunctions is crucial for maintaining clarity and coherence in writing.

Correlative conjunctions

Commas are not used with correlative conjunctions because these pairs of conjunctions work together to connect sentence elements, such as nouns, verbs, or adjectives, and they are not typically separated by punctuation. Correlative conjunctions are pairs of words that join elements of equal importance within a sentence. They are typically used in pairs, and each pair serves a specific grammatical function.

Common correlative conjunctions include “both… and,” “either… or,” “neither… nor,” “not only… but also,” and “whether… or.”

Examples

  • Both the cat and the dog enjoy playing outside.
  • I will buy either a piece of cake or ice cream.
  • Whetheryou like it or not, you’re going to have go to work.

Subordinating conjunctions

Commas are not typically used with subordinating conjunctions because these conjunctions introduce dependent clauses, which are already subordinate to the main clause. Subordinating conjunctions are words that join an independent clause (a complete sentence) with a dependent clause (an incomplete sentence). These conjunctions indicate the relationship between the dependent clause and the independent clause, such as cause and effect, time, condition, contrast, or purpose.

Common subordinating conjunctions include “after,” “although,” “because,” “before,” “if,” “since,” “when,” “while,” “until,” and “though.”

Examples

  • She went to bed early because she had an early meeting the next day.
  • She stayed quiet because she didn’t want to escalate the situation.
  • He kept reading even though he was tired.

Not linking independent clauses

No comma is used when coordinating conjunctions do not link two independent clauses because the coordinating conjunction connects elements of equal grammatical weight within a sentence, such as words, phrases, or clauses. When the coordinating conjunction is used to join elements other than independent clauses, a comma is not necessary.

Examples

  • He enjoys playing basketball and football.
  • She bought apples and oranges from the supermarket.
  • The dog barked loudly but ran away when I approached.

Test yourself!

Practice sheet

The provided sentences give a chance to practice the use of commas with conjunctions. To check your responses, consult the second tab labelled “answers.”

  1. She went to the shop and bought milk and bread.
  2. I like iced coffee but I am allergic to lactose.
  3. After the rain stopped the sun came out and the sky cleared up.
  4. I wanted to go for a walk but it started raining heavily.
  5. Both Sarah and John enjoy reading books and watching movies.
  6. The new film is good yet it could be better.
  7. Have you brought home bread, butter and marmalade?
  8. He couldn’t go to the party because he had too much work to do.
  9. While I was studying for my exam, my roommate was playing loud music.
  10. I must work out until I lose five pounds.
  1. She went to the shop and bought milk and bread. (No comma)
  2. I like iced coffee, but I am allergic to lactose. (Comma)
  3. After the rain stopped, the sun came out, and the sky cleared up. (No comma)
  4. I wanted to go for a walk, but it started raining heavily. (Comma)
  5. Both Sarah and John enjoy reading books and watching movies. (No comma)
  6. The new film is good, yet it could be better. (Comma)
  7. Have you brought home bread, butter, and marmalade? (Optional Oxford comma)
  8. He couldn’t go to the party because he had too much work to do. (No comma)
  9. While I was studying for my exam, my roommate was playing loud music. (Comma)
  10. I must work out until I lose five pounds. (No comma)
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FAQs

Yes, in certain cases they are. For instance, when a coordinating conjunction links two independent clauses, a comma is placed. Furthermore, when listing three or more items, you place a comma before the last “and,” or “or.” Lastly, when there are phrases that interrupt the clause, you put a comma.

No, correlative conjunctions do not require a comma.

Eight exemplary conjunctions include: and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so, either/or.

“So” generally does not need a comma unless it’s introducing an independent clause after a dependent clause.

An instance where one puts a comma with a coordinating conjunction is when it joins two independent clauses.

From

Lisa Neumann

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Lisa Neumann is studying marketing management in a dual programme at IU Nuremberg and is working towards a bachelor's degree. They have already gained practical experience and regularly write scientific papers as part of their studies. Because of this, Lisa is an excellent fit for the BachelorPrint team. In this role, they emphasize the importance of high-quality content and aim to help students navigate their engaged academic lives. As a student themself, they understand what truly matters and what support students need.

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