Is there a comma after the word and

Commas are probably one of the most confusing punctuation marks to use, and even I struggle to find ways to help my students determine where they belong.

One of the most commonly asked questions I hear surrounds whether to place a comma before or after the word “and.” Unfortunately, the answer is not quick or simple. However, the comma rules concerning the word “and” is not difficult to understand.

I’m going to start simple and explain how the word “and” is used and then provide rules on punctuation surrounding comma usage so you can understand where they belong together. I’ve also provided plenty of examples below.

Common Coordinating Conjunctions and Compound Sentences

Conjunctions are words that link phrases, clauses, and other words together. They allow you to form compound-complex sentences to enhance the flow of your writing and speech.

Coordinating conjunctions include the words for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so. The guide to comma usage in relation to conjunction use are the same for all of them, but the word “and” is more used than any other choice.

Conjunctions can join two independent clauses or clauses that could work as stand-alone sentences.

For example, the following two independent clauses:

• Lara missed the bus. She was late for class.

Becomes

• Lara missed the bus, and she was late for class.

Conjunctions also join an independent clause with a dependent clause or clause that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.

For example:

• Lara needs to start getting to class on time and make sure her homework is complete.

Rules of Comma Usage

There are six basic rules of comma use, but I find it is much easier to teach each rule independently of one another with plenty of examples. Such is the case with commas and conjunctions.

Using “And” to Join Two Independent Clauses: Comma BEFORE “And”

When “and” joins together two independent clauses, a comma needs to be placed before the “and.” Independent clauses are complete sentences, but their conjoining makes a complex-compound sentence. The comma works to indicate this use.

For example:

• I hate having to get up early for work, and getting chores done at that time of the morning is exhausting.
• It hasn’t rained in our town or the surrounding areas, and the lack of rain is starting to make everyone very anxious.
• I’m so glad the end of the week is nearing, and I can’t wait until I can sleep in this weekend.

Using “And” with a Dependent Clause: No Comma

If you are joining together an independent clause with a dependent clause, you do not use a comma.

For example:

• Jenny and Celeste want to walk into town and shop at the new store.
• Wyatt wanted to study Marine Biology and go to a summer camp for more experience.
• Sarah got in big trouble at school for fighting and was suspended for ten days.

Using “And” with Short Independent Clauses: No Comma

Even though they are technically independent, it is acceptable to avoid the comma for shorter sentences.

For example:

• Emmett likes trains and Emily likes horses.
• Mary likes math and John likes writing.
• Javier likes football and Mark likes lacrosse.

Using “And” with List Items:

Depending on how many items you have to list determines whether you use commas in lists with the “and.” There are also multiple ways to approach whether you use a comma or not, which can cause quite a bit of confusion.

Take a look at the examples below to determine which approach works best for you.

Two Items: No Comma

When listing two items, you do not use a comma before the “and.”

For example:

• I need to run to the store for milk and butter.
• She couldn’t decide between art and choir.
• He played in the band and played football.

Three or More Items: Serial Comma BEFORE “And”

The use of a comma before the word “and” when listing three or more items has been a topic of hot debate for many years. This quirk of comma usage is called a serial comma – a comma used in a series of items. It is also called the Oxford comma.

The Oxford comma’s rules state that a comma belongs between the last two items in a series of three or more items to avoid ambiguity. The serial comma controversy is addressed in the the AP Style Guide stating the Oxford comma is grammatically incorrect. But, linguists everywhere will agree it is a grammatical option.

In fact, there has been a lawsuit about a job description that offered two different interpretations of an exception rule: in this case, whether overtime was owed. The judge ruled an Oxford comma was required to include the last item in the list concerning exception, but since it was not used, the item was not part of the list, and overtime was indeed owed.

I also teach the Oxford comma in order to ensure clarity and avoid confusion. Without it, some pretty amusing situations can occur.

For example:

• Rachel finds inspiration in cooking, her dog and family.
• We went to the concert with neighborhood friends, Grandma and Grandpa.

The first sentence sounds like Rachel cooks her dog and her family. In the second sentence, it sounds like the neighborhood friends are named grandma and grandpa.

Instead of accidentally creating this confusion, simply use an Oxford comma to create clarity.

For example:

• Rachel finds inspiration in cooking, her dog, and her family.
• We went to the concert with neighborhood friends, Grandma, and Grandpa.

When to Use Commas AFTER “And”

A comma is almost never used after the word “and.” However, there are a few exceptions. In general, do not place a comma after “and” unless the following is true:

“And” is Used to Introduce a Parenthetical Expression

A parenthetical expression is a non-essential phrase that is offset from the main sentence to add detail or information.

For example:

• I have to drive to Texas every two weeks for a doctor’s appointment, and, if I’m lucky, I have extra time to do a little shopping.

“And” is Used in a Line of Dialog

Written dialog may require a comma following an “and” depending on the style and tone the author is trying to create with a character.

For example:

• “And,” Michael dictated, “you have to be up two hours before daybreak if you want to get there on time.”

Let’s Review

A comma is almost never used after the word “and,” barring a few exceptions, but it is commonly used before when you combine two complete sentences into a compound sentence or when listing more than two items.

It is important to use commas properly to avoid overuse and help ensure writing clarity. Like I tell my students, when you look at one grammar rule at a time and practice its application, you will almost always remember its use.

Is there a comma after and?

If the word “and” is used to join two independent clauses, then there should be a comma before the “and” and never after it. You might want to include a comma after the “and”, but this is never correct.

How do you know when to put a comma?

Comma Use

1. Use commas to separate independent clauses when they are joined by any of these seven coordinating conjunctions: and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet.
2. Use commas after introductory a) clauses, b) phrases, or c) words that come before the main clause.

Where do commas go in a list?

Use commas to separate three or more items in a series. Lists of three or more words, phrases, and clauses require commas between each item. For example: a.

Why is the Oxford comma so controversial?

This practice is controversial and is known as the serial comma or Oxford comma, because it is part of the house style of Oxford University Press.” There are cases in which the use of the serial comma can avoid ambiguity and also instances in which its use can introduce ambiguity.

Does legal writing use the Oxford comma?

Lawyers should use the Oxford comma to help avoid ambiguity. Three ambiguities may arise without this comma: Whether the two final items in a list are one combined element or separate.

What is Full Stop example?

Full Stop (Period) Use a full stop (also called »period«) to end affirmative sentences. Example: I go shopping every day. Use a full stop to end orders. Example: Leave me alone.

Can you use a full stop after one word?

No, full stops/periods mark the end of a sentence and represent a pause. In a one word answer they are meaningless dots so their presence doesn’t matter. If you have a die-hard habit of making periods after one-words, it’s fine.

What can you use to join two main clauses together in one sentence?

To combine two independent clauses (complete sentences), use a semicolon or a comma and conjunction. To attach a dependent clause, use a comma if it comes before the independent clause; use no comma if it comes after the independent clause, unless it is a “contrast word” (although, though, even though, whereas).

What is mean Periodt?

A variant of period, periodt is an interjection used to signal the end of a discussion or to emphasize a point. It usually occurs at the end of a statement or in the phrase (and) that’s on periodt.

Where do you put full stops?

A full stop is mostly used at the end of a declarative sentence, or a statement that is considered to be complete. This punctuation mark is also used following an abbreviation. A full stop can also be shown at the end of a group of words that don’t form a typical sentence.

Where do you put commas and full stops?

Full stops and commas are punctuation marks. A full stop ends a sentence. A comma shows a pause, breaks up a list or separates part of a sentence.

Why do we need full stops?

A full stop should always be used to end a sentence. The full stop indicates that a point has been made and that you are about to move on to further explanations or a related point.

Should eg have full stops?

Most style guides recommend writing abbreviations without full stops. It’s not wrong to include them, but it does look a little old-fashioned these days. However, some style guides do say that ‘eg’ and ‘ie’ should have full stops. and eg are all acceptable.

Where do you put a comma?

How do you properly use punctuation marks?

Top ten punctuation tips

1. Use apostrophes correctly.
2. Know where to place quotation marks.
3. Know how to punctuate with parentheses.
4. Use a hyphen for compound adjectives.
5. Distinguish between the colon and the semicolon.
6. Avoid multiple punctuation at the end of a sentence.

How do you punctuate for example in a sentence?

A clause ending in a period or a semicolon comes before the introductory clause. Place a comma after the introductory phrase for example. Red bell peppers, for example, have a lot of vitamin C.

What is punctuation mark example?

Punctuation marks are symbols that are used to aid the clarity and comprehension of written language. Some common punctuation marks are the period, comma, question mark, exclamation point, apostrophe, quotation mark and hyphen.

Is Full stop a punctuation mark?

The full stop (Commonwealth English), period (North American English) or full point . is a punctuation mark. In computing, it is called a dot. It is sometimes called a baseline dot to distinguish it from the interpunct (or middle dot).

What are the basic punctuation marks?

The major punctuation marks are the period, comma, exclamation point, question mark, semicolon, and colon. These marks organize sentences and give them structure.

What are the 10 punctuation marks?

There are 14 punctuation marks that are used in the English language. They are: the period, question mark, exclamation point, comma, colon, semicolon, dash, hyphen, brackets, braces, parentheses, apostrophe, quotation mark, and ellipsis.

Should you use a comma with as well as?

When “as well as” is used as a conjunction (i.e. in place of “and”), there is no need to use commas before or after the phrase. Moreover, it should always be used with a singular verb.

How do you use commas examples?

Rule 1. Use commas to separate words and word groups in a simple series of three or more items. Example: My estate goes to my husband, son, daughter-in-law, and nephew. Note: When the last comma in a series comes before and or or (after daughter-in-law in the above example), it is known as the Oxford comma.

What are the uses of comma?

• Commas (Eight Basic Uses)
• USE A COMMA TO SEPARATE INDEPENDENT CLAUSES.
• USE A COMMA AFTER AN INTRODUCTORY CLAUSE OR PHRASE.
• USE A COMMA BETWEEN ALL ITEMS IN A SERIES.
• USE COMMAS TO SET OFF NONRESTRICTIVE CLAUSES.
• USE A COMMA TO SET OFF APPOSITIVES.
• USE A COMMA TO INDICATE DIRECT ADDRESS.

What are 5 uses of a comma?

The 5 Uses of a Comma

• Separating the main elements of a sentence from each other.
• Setting off a parenthetical element from the rest of the sentence.
• Separating elements in a series.
• Setting off dialogs or quotations.
• Other uses of the comma.

How do you use commas in a full name?

The rule is – either have the commas both before and after a name, or don’t add it at all. This is because the sentence is talking about a particular person John. The addition of commas gives extra emphasis to the name.

Why are commas important in writing?

Commas help your reader figure out which words go together in a sentence and which parts of your sentences are most important. Using commas incorrectly may confuse the reader, signal ignorance of writing rules, or indicate carelessness.

What is the most important job that commas have?

Setting off nonrestrictive or nonessential information. After lists, the most important function of the comma is to set off nonrestrictive or nonessential information.

How long can a sentence be with commas?

When an adverbial phrase begins a sentence, it’s often followed by a comma but it doesn’t have to be, especially if it’s short. As a rule of thumb, if the phrase is longer than about four words, use the comma.

When a comma makes a difference?

The absence or presence of a comma can change the entire meaning of a sentence. For example, there’s a cannibalistic difference between “Let’s eat grandma” and “Let’s eat, grandma.” The same holds true for apostrophes, hyphens, colons, and other punctuation marks.

How punctuation makes a big difference?

The absence or presence of a comma can change the entire meaning of a sentence. For example, there’s a cannibalistic difference between “Let’s eat grandma” and “Let’s eat, grandma.” The same holds true for apostrophes, hyphens, colons and other punctuation marks.

How does punctuation affect meaning?

Punctuation aids the reader in understanding the writer’s intended message. Sometimes the use of punctuation (like end marks) makes it easier to read and comprehend writer ideas. Depending on where they are placed or if they are used at all, commas, apostrophes, and other marks affect a sentence’s message.

How do you avoid punctuation errors?

Watch out for these errors in your cover letters, academic essays, professional emails, and more.

1. Don’t confuse “it’s” and “its.”
2. Don’t use an apostrophe to pluralize nouns.
3. Don’t write run-on sentences.
4. Don’t overuse commas.
5. Don’t use dashes and hyphens interchangeably.
6. Don’t use semicolons and commas interchangeably.

What is the most commonly misused piece of punctuation?

Semicolons

What is the most misused punctuation mark?

Semicolon

Is there a comma after and?

by
Alex Heath

·
2021-02-02