English Language Learners Stack Exchange
English Language Learners Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [commas]

For questions about the proper use and placement of commas

702 questions
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Comma before "but"

Do I need a comma before "but"? I like your car but it seems to me too expensive for you. Or I like your car, but it seems to me too expensive for you. My native languages are Ukrainian and Russian. In these languages this comma is required.
I159
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Do I have to use a comma after it in "We appreciate it when..."

Given that online many people don't use many comma, I'm a bit unsure about how much have to be set. Is it correct to write "We appreciate it, when..." or "We appreciate it when..."?
Christian
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Is there a comma splice in this sentence: "My family went to Australia, then they emigrated to Canada"?

My family went to Australia, then they emigrated to Canada. Is the comma in the above sentence considered a comma splice? Somebody who is more fluent than me said so, but doesn't the word "then" here fix the problem?
an IELTS learner
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Use of commas before "that"

I am not sure if and in which cases I have to use a comma before "that". Consider the following examples: The first point is, that [...] One major problem about financial returns is, that they are [...] In [...] one can see, that both tails are…
Jen Bohold
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Do I need a comma when using multiple adverbs?

These are two adverbs used together....actually three. They were raised very closely together. Do I need a comma to separate "together"? They were raised very closely, together. The first sentence just does not sound right to my ear. But I am…
iamyourpapa
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Use of commas when addressing someone

For some reason my brain tells me that the following sentence is grammatically correct... Thanks, John. Your gift was much appreciated. Instead of... Thanks John, your gift was much appreciated. Which should I use?
Sam
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"Wash the sections with PBS twice 5 min each time" - is there a need for a comma?

Should there be a comma before "X min each time" in sentences like: Wash the sections with PBS twice for 5 min each time. I found examples with no comma: And examples with a comma: Maybe it could be omitted in terse technical language?…
CowperKettle
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Is "Maybe he …, maybe he …" considered a comma splice?

Maybe he told her everything, maybe he'd been watching me all this time. Is this considered a comma splice? Why or why not?
wyc
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With and without a comma

I didn’t open the door when he was here. It can mean I opened the door the other time. I didn’t open the door, when he was here. Does it mean I didn’t open the door at all and I didn’t open the door especially when he was here?
user09827
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How doesn't a comma between a long subject and verb, improve readability?

Source: Rebecca Gowers. Plain Words (2014 ed). p. 247 Middle. Foreword: The title instances one such use of the comma. (6) The use of a comma to mark the end of the subject of a verb, or the beginning of the object. (See also chapter 9.1.) It…
user8712
3
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1 answer

"I've got long, straight, black hair." or "I've got long straight black hair."

"I've got long, straight, black hair." or "I've got long straight black hair." Are there any differences when I put commas? Do these sentences mean the same or is there any difference in meaning? Which sentence is correct or maybe both are…
user46036
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Should we always use a comma before "especially"?

I was reading an English grammar book in which I found: Roll down: to move something down especially by turning a handle. In the bold part, I believe a comma is missing. But I am not sure whether this is intentional. Can you explain?
Anubhav
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Using a comma after the word "enclosed" in a sentence

Do I need a comma after enclosed in the following sentence? Enclosed you will find a small token of gratitude.
user38660
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This dataset is large, over 1 GB

Sometimes, I want to quantify an adjective to make a statement more precise. E.g.: This dataset is large, over 1 GB. Is that a correct use of a comma? I know I could use parentheses: This dataset is large (over 1 GB). But I prefer to avoid…
Franck Dernoncourt
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Is a comma needed in this sentence?

Me and a friend are arguing on which is correct. Which one would be more correct and why? When cholera did break out in Britain Farr believed, like Chadwick, that it was caused by miasma. or When cholera did break out in Britain, Farr believed,…
3lliot
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