Using the word but with a comma

If the clause after «but» has a subject and a verb, you need a comma before but. If the clause introduced by «but» does not have a subject in front of the second verb, the comma is often optional.

If the clause after «but» has a subject and a verb, you need a comma before but.

My sister loves cake, but she wants to avoid gaining weight.

My sister loves cake but she wants to avoid gaining weight.

If the clause introduced by «but» does not have a subject in front of the second verb, the comma is often optional. But you can use it to show more contrast or indicate a pause.

I love shopping but don’t have any money.

I love shopping, but don’t have any money.

1. Use a Comma to Introduce an Independent Clause

As a coordinating conjunction, but joins two clauses of a sentence. If the second clause can stand alone (it has a subject and a verb and forms a complete sentence), add a comma before but.

My brother loves watching TV, but he doesn’t like reading.

My brother loves watching TV but he doesn’t like reading.

Notice that both clauses on either side of the comma can stand alone.

Follow the same rules when using a comma before «and», «or», and other coordinating conjunctions such as «so», «for», «nor», or «yet».

My brother is an artist, and he loves painting.

My brother is an artist and he loves painting.

2. The Comma is Optional When Introducing a Dependent Clause

In some sentences, you don’t need to repeat the subject after but because it is the same in both clauses.

I understand Spanish but cannot speak it.

In the example above, «cannot speak it» is not an independent clause—it cannot stand alone. An independent clause needs a subject and a verb. In this situation, the comma before «but» is optional.

I understand Spanish, but cannot speak it.

Some writers minimize punctuation usage, while others prefer to use more commas to give readers a chance to pause and take a breath.

The classic Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation argues that using a comma is generally unnecessary when the subject does not appear in front of the second verb.

❝ If the subject does not appear in front of the second verb, a comma is generally unnecessary. Example: Morty thought quickly but still did not answer correctly.❞

Kaufman, Lester; Straus, Jane. The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation.

Other authors, however, recommend using a comma if the conjunction is but:

❝ When the subject is the same for both clauses and is expressed only once, a comma is useful if the connective is but. When the connective is and, the comma should be omitted if the relation between the two statements is close or immediate. ❞

Strunk JR., William; White, E.B. The Elements of Style.

As a general rule, you can choose whether to include a comma before but after considering a range of factors, including clarity, emphasis, and rhythm. In any case, add a comma if it makes the sentence clearer.

3. Other Rules for Placing a Comma Before ‘But’

3.1 Use a comma if the clause does not limit or define

Insert a comma before «but» if the second clause does not limit or define; it merely adds something.⁽¹⁾

For example:

It is not very common, but certainly possible.

By saying «it is not very common», you are already implying that it is possible. Therefore, the phrase «certainly possible» does not limit or define. It just adds information to the main part of the sentence.

3.2 Add commas to set off expressions that interrupts the sentence flow

Use commas to set off expressions that interrupts the flow of a sentence.⁽¹⁾

I want to go, but not this year, to Italy.

I want to go but not this year to Italy.

3.3 Insert a comma before ‘but’ to separate contrasting parts of a sentence⁽¹⁾

For example:

The money is in your wallet, but it’s not yours.

4. More Examples

The second clause of these sentences are independent clauses; therefore, we place a comma before but:

• I tried to become a famous singer, but my father ruined it.
• It will be a painful process, but she has no other choice.
• I know it is expensive, but you have a lot of money.
• Yes, I know that you are tired, but you’re not finished.
• It sounds really interesting, but I have decided that I must decline your offer.
• John learns fast, but his attention span is very short.

These are some examples where the comma before but is optional:

• Yes, I have a lot of money, but not for your crazy ideas.
• They are working slowly but surely.
• I bought the car but can’t drive.
• Yes, I know that I am distracted, but cannot take my eyes off that girl when she’s talking.
• The food was good but not delicious.
• I would buy the red one but is too expensive.

5. Conclusion

Follow these guidelines to decide whether to use a comma before but:

1. Include a comma before «but» to introduce an independent clause.
2. If the subject does not appear in front of the second verb, the comma before «but» is optional.

6. References

(1) Kaufman, Lester; Straus, Jane. The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation. Chapter 2 (punctuation).

(2) Strunk JR., William; White, E.B. The Elements of Style.

Comma usage can be tricky, and one question that pops up repeatedly is: When to put a comma beforebut? This guide will help you understand how to use commas before and after the conjunction but. We’ll also share a few other tricks of the trade to make using commas easier.

Main Comma Before But Takeaways:

• You need to put a comma beforebut if but connects two independent clauses.
• Independent clauses can stand alone as a sentence. They must express a complete thought.
• A dependent clause doesn’t express a complete thought, so it cannot stand alone as a sentence.
• A comma before but isn’t necessary if both independent clauses are simple and closely related.
• When the but links dependent and independent clauses, no comma is required.
• The only time a comma should follow but is when the but precedes an interrupter.
• An interrupter is a phrase that’s used to create emphasis in a sentence.

The rules of English grammar can be tricky, and comma usage can be the trickiest of all. One recurring comma-related question is when to use a comma beforebut. Thankfully, the guidelines for this particular grammar conundrum are simple.

Do You Use a Comma Before But?

The answer is yes, but only if you are joining two independent clauses. An independent clause can stand by itself as a complete sentence. There are two ways to join two independent clauses in one sentence: using a semicolon or coordinating conjunction like “but.”

If you choose the latter, a comma should always precede “but.” The comma helps show where one independent clause ends, and the other begins. Adding a comma before “but” is a rule applicable to all other coordinating conjunctions, not just “but.” See the example sentences below:

Let’s break that down further.

Defining an Independent Clause

An independent clause is a phrase that can stand alone as a sentence. Although it may represent a single part of a complex sentence, it should express a complete thought. An independent clause must include a verb and a subject.

In this example, “Lisa loved dogs” is an independent clause. It contains a subject and a verb and conveys a complete thought. “She knew the names of every four-legged resident of her neighborhood” is also an independent clause for the same reason.

Exploring Sentences Containing Two Independent Clauses

Sentences may contain two independent clauses as long as they’re punctuated properly. Without correct punctuation, two independent clauses strung together form a run-on sentence.

There are several ways to join two independent clauses in a sentence correctly.

• Separating them with a semicolon.
• Joining them through a conjunction such as or, but, or and.

Examples:

There are several ways to join these two clauses.

This is a comma splice. It’s grammatically incorrect.

In this example, a semicolon effectively connects these two related independent clauses.

This example shows but as a conjunction between these two independent clauses. A comma is required here.

Where to Place the Comma

If you’re connecting independent clauses with a semicolon, you don’t need a comma. If you’re joining two independent clauses with a conjunction, such as but, a comma is required. The comma belongs after the last word in the initial clause, before but (or whichever conjunction you’ve used).

In this example, “commasare important” and “they can be difficult to use” are both independent clauses. They can stand on their own as sentences.

When you Shouldn’t use a Comma Before But

The rule of thumb here is simple: unless but joins two independent clauses, you don’t need a comma. In some sentences, independent clauses are joined to dependent clauses. A comma is not required in these instances.

1. Defining a Dependent Clause

Although a dependent clause contains a subject and verb, it can’t stand alone as a sentence because it doesn’t express a complete thought. These phrases can function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs.

Word markers often signal dependent clauses. These may include:

• after
• although
• unless
• when
• whether
• since
• as if
• in order to
• whatever

2. Punctuating Sentences That Have Dependent Clauses

If the but in your sentence joins dependent and independent clauses, no comma is necessary.

In this example, “still didn’t get a response” is a dependent clause. It can’t stand alone as a sentence. No comma is needed before the but here.

Other Exceptions

Occasionally, you’ll encounter a joining of two short independent clauses. If the clauses are simple and demonstrate an obvious connection, then no comma is necessary. Although it isn’t grammatically incorrect to use a comma in this instance, it can create a sentence with poor flow. Take for instance the examples below:

The Flip Side: When to Put a Comma After But

The answer: rarely.

A comma should only be used after but when an interrupter follows it. An interrupter is a literary device that’s intended to enhance style. It can be used to evoke emotion, set the tone or pace of a sentence, or emphasize important thoughts or information.

Interrupters may also be called insertions or parenthetical expressions.

In this example, “of course” serves as an interrupter, so a comma is required after the but. This example also includes a comma beforebut since it’s joining two independent clauses.

Commas, Commas, Everywhere: A Brief Conclusion

Grammar rules, including but not limited to commas, can be challenging at best and downright impossible to understand at worst. By exploring individual questions such as when to place a comma beforebut, you’ll learn how to use this grammatical go-to in no time. No buts about it.

Quick Grammar Quiz About Comma Before But

Read More: When To Use Comma Before Such As: The Definitive Guide

You use a comma before but when you connect two independent clauses. It means each clause has a subject and verb.

There is no comma before but when you join an independent and dependent clause.

In this case, the second clause has no subject or verb.

You only need to use a comma after but when it’s followed by an adverbial clause or interrupter.

The comma with but

Yes, you sometimes need to add a comma when you use but in a sentence.

All you need to do is remember two simple rules.

After you do, it will be easy for you to decide.

All you need to do is look at your complete sentence to know when a comma is needed.

If you follow these two rules, you’ll get the comma right every time.

Two simple but comma rules

There are two basic and simple rules to follow for comma usage.

1. You insert a comma when the two halves of your sentence can stand alone.

2. You omit the comma when the two sentence halves can’t stand alone.

When do you use a comma before but?

To make sure you are correct, check if your sentence joins two independent clauses.

In this case, both clauses will have a subject and a verb. If each part of your sentence is independent, they can stand apart as complete sentences.

Then but, which is your coordinating conjunction, needs a comma to separate your two clauses. Here are some examples of when to use a comma.

I wanted to go out for breakfast but my local café was closed. Incorrect

I wanted to go out for breakfast, but my local café was closed. Correct

This is because each part of the sentence can stand alone as an individual complete sentence.

Each one has a subject and a verb, so you are connecting two independent clauses.

I wanted to go out for breakfast. Complete  My local café was closed. Complete

More examples of correct usage:

He left home early, but he forgot to take an umbrella. Correct

My sister is leaving for Canada tomorrow, but she will return in three weeks. Correct

Susan doesn’t like sardines, but her sister loves all kinds of fish. Correct

We wanted to go to Spain for our holiday, but the hotels are too expensive in summer. Correct

I meant to buy some bread, but I forgot to stop at the bakery. Correct

When do you omit the comma?

If the second part of a sentence is a dependent clause, there is no comma.

This happens when you cannot make a logical sentence from the second clause because it depends on the first clause for its meaning.

It is because there is no subject with a verb in the second clause.

Look at these examples.

The restaurant was fantastic, but very expensive. Incorrect

The restaurant was fantastic but very expensive. Correct

You can see that the second phrase is not a complete sentence.

The restaurant was fantastic. Complete  Very expensive. Incomplete

More examples:

Studying grammar is hard sometimes but interesting all the same. Correct

I went to the concert but left early with a headache. Correct

The rest of the sentence was easy to write but with poor spelling. Correct

Going to the gym is tough some mornings but good fun all the same. Correct 

He played as well as he could but lost the match. Correct

The example sentences above show that there is no subject with a connecting verb in the second clause.

Be careful, though, because there can be a verb. If the verb doesn’t have a subject, it is not an independent clause.

You can see this is the last example sentence above with the verb lost.

When do you use a comma after but?

If you start a sentence with but, you don’t need to use a comma.

You might want to refresh your memory about starting a sentence with but.

You only add one when there is an adverbial clause or an extra word or phrase following it.

Think of it at the beginning of a sentence as marking an interruption to a sentence.

For example:

But, yes, indeed, there is plenty of space in the car for you.

But, on the other hand, I might go to Spain instead.

I was going to buy tickets for the new show, but, in fact, my husband had already bought them for me.

But, if you really want to know the truth, I can’t stand my boss.

College isn’t easy, but, well, you know how it is.

The good news about the but comma rule

Does the comma go before or after but? Now you know the answer.

You have mastered the rule. I told you it was super easy.

Here’s a quick summary of the rule.

When do you use a comma before but?

Use a comma before but when the two sentence halves can stand alone.

When do you omit the comma before but?

Don’t use a comma before but when the second clause can’t stand alone.

When do you need a comma after but?

Use a comma after but only when it is followed by an interruption.

I have more good news for you.

You can use the same three-part rule for a sentence with and, or, yet, and so.

Examples before and, so, yet, and or

He went to London for two weeks, and he stayed at an expensive hotel.

Susan loves her cat, and she lets it sleep in her bed.

Mary loves her dog, yet she doesn’t let it onto her bed.

There was no chance of changing our flight, so we had to stay for two more days.

Tim missed his train, so he was two hours late for the meeting.

You can try for a free upgrade, or you can pay extra to be sure you get it.

My advice is don’t pack too much, or you will be charged for excess baggage. 

Examples after and, so, yet, and or

He went to London for two weeks, and, just like him, he stayed at an expensive hotel.

Susan loves her cat, and, naturally, she lets it sleep in her bed. 

Mary loves her dog, yet, like many dog owners, she doesn’t let it onto her bed.

There was no chance of changing our flight, so, unfortunately, we had to stay for two more days.

A comma after and before however

Because you can use however as a synonym for but, it is worth noting this extra related rule.

Does the comma go before or after however? It can be before, or before and after.

If you use however, therefore, furthermore, or moreover at the beginning of a sentence, there is always a comma after the adverb.

However, she expects to finish her novel by summer.

Furthermore, we will buy twenty copies of your new book.

Therefore, we will be an active promoter of your new novel.

Moreover, we would like to write a review for our newspaper.

When you are joining two independent clauses, however, take care.

You could wrap the word however in two commas. But for conjunctive adverbs, it is always better to use a semicolon.

I plan to finish my book by summer; however, it could be a little later.

I received your suggested edits; therefore, I’ll take your advice and start on my second draft.

The edits were incomplete; moreover, it seems that the proofreading was poor.

You missed so many errors; therefore, I think I will need to find a new editor.

If you use these adverbs for emphasis, it is quite easy. Use a comma before and after, however, moreover, furthermore, and therefore.

You can, however, proceed with the corrections.

It was, moreover, a very poor effort.

It is, furthermore, out of my control.

You may, therefore, continue with the project.

Summary

It is easy to learn the punctuation rules for coordinating conjunctions.

You can also use a reliable grammar checker to help you check and correct your comma usage.

Just take a few minutes to make sure you understand the basic rules, and then lock them away in your memory.

If there is a subject with a verb in the second clause, use a comma. If there is no subject with a connecting verb, omit it.

Yes, there are some complicated rules that can cause confusion. The ones for cumulative and coordinate adjectives or a comma splice can be a bit tricky.

It is true that punctuation can be complex and often open to interpretation. It is especially so for the Oxford Comma.

Luckily, the rules in this article are easy. So you can leave all the other comma rules for another day.

I’m always reminded of this quote when I think about punctuation.

“I spent all morning putting in a comma and all afternoon taking it out.” – Oscar Wilde.

Related reading: Use A Comma Before And In A List 

Updated 15 September, 2022: Do you struggle with deciding whether to use a comma every time you write but in a sentence? Well, let’s end the hesitation once and for all:

When Should You Put a Comma Before But?

This issue can be addressed with a simple rule: a comma should be used before but only when the conjunction is linking two independent clauses. For example:

RIGHT: I would go for a stroll, but the weather is terrible.

How do you know if a clause is independent? Well, let’s break it down. In a nutshell, you can think of a clause as a phrase containing a subject and a verb, and an independent clause is a phrase that makes sense on its own, while a dependant clause needs another phrase to make sense (its dependant on it). To figure out if a clause is independent or not, just follow these two steps:

1. Check the phrase that precedes the word “but:” I would go for a stroll.
2. Now check the phrase that follows “but:” the weather is terrible.

As you can see, both phrases make sense on their own, and can stand along as complete sentences. In this scenario, we have two independent clauses, therefore you must use a comma before “but.”  

When you don’t have independent clauses, leave the comma out.

WRONG: I would go for a stroll, but for the rain.

In this case, the conjunction is linking an independent clause to a dependent clause. You can tell this by looking at what is written after “but:” for the rain.

That phrase has no meaning on its own and can not stand as a complete sentence. Therefore it is a dependent clause. In this case, no comma is needed before the conjunction:

RIGHT: I would go for a stroll but for the rain.

Here are a few more examples

WRONG: The dog is only a puppy, but well trained.

RIGHT: The dog is only a puppy but well trained.

WRONG: Grammar is tedious, but necessary.

RIGHT: Grammar is tedious but necessary.

WRONG: The dog is only a puppy but he’s well trained.

RIGHT: The dog is only a puppy, but he’s well trained.

RIGHT: The car is old but fast 

WRONG: The car is old, but fast

The comma rule applies to the other conjunctions as well: and, or, and so.

Examples From Media Sources

Let’s take a look at a few real-life examples from reputable sources:

“Reached at their home in Southampton, N.Y., Mr. Dudley’s wife said that the passengers were “dear friends of ours” but that she did not know why they were flying from Manhattan.” – The New York Times

“It hopes the purging of Mr Ahern and others will save its skin, but the tribunal’s findings may stick.” – The Economist

When Do You Put a Comma After But?

If you are wondering whether a comma is need after the word but, chances are it is not.

You should only use a comma after but when the conjunction is immediately followed by an interrupter, i.e., a short word or phrase that interrupts a sentence to express emotion, tone, or emphasis.

REMEMBER: when there is an interrupter in the sentence, it must be preceded and followed by a comma. For example:

But, of course, it’s not prudent for Charlie to go outside on his own.

In the example above, of course is an interrupter. Even if you remove it, the entire sentence will not lose its meaning. The only reason it is added is to reinforce the statement.

If your sentence includes an interrupter directly after but, then you can use a comma. In all other cases, you will not need a comma after but.

Quiz

Now take this little quiz to test your newly found knowledge.  Add the commas in the sentences below

I wanted to repair the car but the shop was closed.
They spent the entire day on the boat fishing but didn’t catch any.
Mikhail had been warned about the dangerously cold water but would not stop swimming.
The house was for sale but the Hendersons could not come up with the downpayment.
She needed a way out of the situation but could not think of any.
He said he didn’t want any fires but of course, he regretted his decision the minute the food arrived.
His day was spent in isolation but for the occasional visit from the nurse.
There was nothing else to say but to go their separate ways.

Here are the answers:

I wanted to repair the car, but the shop was closed.
They spent the entire day on the boat fishing but didn’t catch any.
Mikhail had been warned about the dangerously cold water but would not stop swimming.
The house was for sale, but the Hendersons could not come up with the downpayment.
She needed a way out of the situation but could not think of any.
He said he didn’t want any fires, but, of course, he regretted his decision the minute the food arrived.
His day was spent in isolation but for the occasional visit from the nurse.
There was nothing else to say but to go their separate ways.

Further reading:

Is There A Comma Before “Which?”

“Serial Commas: Your Side, My Side and Their Side.”

Do You Put a Comma Before “Because?”

Whether you should use a comma before or after but depends on the sentence construction. Recognizing the structure of a sentence will help you identify when you should use it. A few tips will make this task easy. But remember, there is always that pesky exception the rule.

Independent Clauses

Let’s begin with an example of a complete sentence.

• I want the cookies.

This simple string of words contains a subject, verb and object. It is also an independent clause. It can stand on its own without adding another word. Compare that one with another one.

• The store is closed.

It is also a complete sentence and an independent clause even though it doesn’t have an object as in the first example.

We can join the two clauses with a conjunction. These words function as joiners that link two sentences. They include words such as and, or and but. We can add a conjunction to our examples.

• I want the cookies, but the store is closed.
• He bought groceries, but he didn’t get any bread.

You’ll notice that we added a comma before but. That is because the two clauses are independent, making the comma necessary. You can test it by ending each clause with a period to see if it is a standalone sentence.

Dependent Clauses

With dependent clauses, these strings are not complete and cannot stand on their own. They include phrases missing a part of a complete sentence. We can join the two clauses with a conjunction.

• I want the cookies but forgot them.
• She was going to go the movie but stayed home to watch TV instead.

In this case, we didn’t add a comma because the phrase after but was a dependent clause. The bridge between the two clauses must be seamless, therefore, no comma before or after but.

What About Commas After But?

There is one situation in which you will find a comma after but. It occurs in cases where the writer makes a deliberate choice for literary effect. That’s where interrupters come into play.

An interrupter does just what the name implies. It breaks a sentence flow with a word, phrase or clause for effect. Here’s an example.

• But, if you must know the truth, I never owned a lead pipe or a candlestick.

The clause, if you must know the truth, stops the flow of the sentence to interject this point. As you can see, there is a comma after but. The punctuation with an interrupter is meant to offset it from the rest of the sentence. It will always have a comma before and after its placement to draw attention to its inclusion.

• Everyone was home, but, and this is important, no one heard him knocking at the door.

This goal of this sentence is to emphasize the unusual situation with an interrupter. In these cases, it’s helpful to understand the context to determine if the comma is necessary.

You should always use a comma before but when joining two independent clauses. A comma after but is only necessary if you’re using it as literary device to draw attention to something.

Comma Before or After But: In this article, we will be discussing, Comma Before But with Independent Clauses, No Comma with Dependent Clauses, The Comma After But are the topics covered with their examples.

Comma Before But with Independent Clauses

RULE: If you want to join two independent clauses with a conjunction like “but,” then always put a comma before the conjunction “but.”

Let’s have an idea: What is an independent clause? A thought which is completely represented in a sentence is called an independent clause. It is also called the main clause. The sentence which can stand by itself as a simple sentence contains the subject and a predicate and makes meaning by itself.

I swam with the duck.

The above sentence has a subject, verb, and object. “I swam with the duck” portrays the sentence. As it is standing alone, it doesn’t require any dependent clause. It is a complete thought that doesn’t require any additional information. This all clarifies that the above sentence is an independent clause.

The door is open

The above sentence is another example of an independent clause. The above independent clause doesn’t contain an object like the above example. Independent clause requires only two essential things: subject and verb. There is no place for an object in an independent clause,

To link two independent clauses, “But,” “as,” “and,” and “or” are the conjunctions used for their connection.

I swam with the duck, but he was scared of me.

The door is open, but the windows are closed.

When you try to connect to independent clauses, place a comma before the “but” conjunction. If you want to check if the two clauses you are connecting are independent or not, first of all, remove the conjunction and analyze if the two different clauses can stand on their own, do they have a complete thought and if they do, add a comma before but to provide a pause in the sentence.

• No Comma with Dependent Clauses
• The Comma After But
• Conclusion on Comma Before or After But

No Comma with Dependent Clauses

RULE: if one joins two sentences, one of an independent clause and the other of a dependent clause, then the conjunction that links them doesn’t require any comma.

Let’s move forward in the topic, try to understand what a dependent clause is?

A dependent clause is a part of a sentence and not a structured thought. The dependent clause cannot stand on its own. This clause works to add additional information to a sentence. While joining an independent clause and a dependent clause, one can use a conjunction.

I love boys but not all.

I enjoy parties but not lectures.

I love boys is the independent clause, and not all is the dependent clause. To join these sentences, the but is a conjunction used with one independent clause and another dependent clause. As these clauses are not independent, there is no need to place a comma before but.

The second example uses but as a conjunction. But is used to connect one independent clause and another dependent clause. As I enjoy parties are an independent clause and not lectures are a dependent clause, that’s why the comma isn’t used.

The Comma After But

When you want to show emphasis, use a comma after “but”

Let’s have an idea of what is an emphasis? The Simple meaning of an emphasis is to provide special attention and special importance to someone.

If one sees the comma after the conjunction but, it seems unusual, but it is correct grammatically. We all have mostly seen a comma before conjunction but or often seen conjunction without a comma.

So the basic question that arises in mind is when do we place a comma after “but”? When a writer wants to seek attention, then a comma is placed after conjunction but. Whenever there is an interruption in the flow of a language, it happens because of a comma. It is usually done to underscore the inclusion of the word. The potential of a comma in a sentence decreases automatically if but is overused with a comma. So keep in mind that a comma should not appear more than once.

But, she was intelligent.

For literary effects, but are used at the beginning of the sentence as mentioned in the above example. Such types of sentences add a bit of drama and apprehension. It seems to interrupt when a comma is used after conjunction but.

The word offsets the text in the sentence but because a comma is placed after it.

Because in the example, the But is placed at the beginning of the sentence, and the comma follows the conjunction but.

Conclusion on Comma Before or After But

If joining two independent clauses, join using conjunction but and placing a comma before conjunction but. When joining two clauses, one independent clause and another dependent clause, ignore using a comma. If you are writing regular sentences, then do not place a comma after the conjunction but.