Punctuation: Comma

Question

Which one is correct?

"My name is Karl, and I'll be helping you today." "My name is Karl and I'll be helping you today."

@Kris You're absolutely right that it's not about the Oxford comma (which requires 3 items). It's only a duplicate because it's the same situation as mentioned in this example from the other question: "He is a great player(,) and he prefers to play Counter-Strike." — Laurel, Dec 10 '18 at 08:24

score 0 · Answer 1 · edited Aug 20 '22 at 20:01

My name is Karl, and I'll be helping you today.

In the above sentence, we can put a comma before "and" because it is acting like a conjunction.

You can omit the comma before "and" when it doesn't have a subject.

I will be eating and drinking with my friends.

Sometimes, in rare cases, you can omit the comma before "and" when there are two subjects in the sentence, too.

I am doing this and I am doing that.

There is no comma before "and" here, and If you want to use a comma, you cant write the above sentence as.

I am doing this, I am doing that, without using conjunction.

youcantryreachingme · Answer 2 · 2018-12-11T03:08:34.670

-1

Both are correct.

In the first case you are using the comma before the word 'and' - this usage is ~~termed~~ comparable to using the "Oxford comma". Some English classes taught that a comma should never be used before the word 'and' but others argue the Oxford comma makes explicit that there should be a pause in the delivery of the message:

My name is Karl, (pause) and I'll be helping you today.

Cf:

My name is Karl and I'll be helping you today (no pause).

See this reference for the way in which an Oxford comma affects legibility, and this one for a definition of the Oxford comma, which states the Oxford comma relates to a list of three or more items (unlike in your sentence, but I believe the effect is comparable here anyway).

edited Dec 11 '18 at 03:08

answered Dec 10 '18 at 05:14

youcantryreachingme

558

Just because it occurs before an and it may not make an Oxford comma. – Kris Dec 10 '18 at 08:12
Ok, it's not an Oxford comma because the list of items does not have at least three things. That said, its function in the sentence given here is analogous and I still think it is correct to state both versions of the sentence are correct. Some references suggest usage of an Oxford comma is a stylistic choice. I would argue in this case the usage of the comma is a stylistic choice. As explained at this link, it affects the way the sentence is read as I explained: https://www.grammarly.com/blog/what-is-the-oxford-comma-and-why-do-people-care-so-much-about-it/ – youcantryreachingme Dec 11 '18 at 03:03
Thanks for taking the time to respond!
Good point! However, I feel like the comma used before the word 'and' in my sentence is not an oxford but a joining comma. I read about the four types of comma here: http://www.sussex.ac.uk/informatics/punctuation/comma/summary
– Karl Dec 11 '18 at 03:41
That being the case, you have the answer to your own question! The University of Sussex style guide makes clear how they employ this comma and your usage meets their guideline. That said, your alternative without the comma is also correct - so my response is the same: both are correct. To take the style guide to to task, it says "A joining comma must be followed by one of the connecting words and, or, but, yet or while". I beg to argue otherwise: "The report was due last week, although they accept late submissions". I would consider this comma optional, valid, and in contravention of the guide – youcantryreachingme Dec 11 '18 at 05:05

score -2 · Answer 3 · answered Dec 10 '18 at 08:34

We have a pair of sentences joined by the conjunction here.

My name is Karl.

and

I'll be helping you today.

Just to make that fact explicit, we may end the first with a comma.

(My name is Karl), (and) (I'll be helping you today.)

We could also separate the two with a semi-colon:

(My name is Karl); (I'll be helping you today.)

Although

(My name is Karl) and (I'll be helping you today.)

is grammatical and generally works well, as noted early above, it does not clearly set out the constituent sentences (independent clauses), which sometimes may lead to ambiguity.

Thanks for the thorough explanation, Kris!
I've been telling my students to use a comma before 'and' whenever they introduce themselves in their emails. I just raised this question because some of my colleagues don't seem to get my point to use a comma to separate the two independent clauses.

Appreciate your response! :) — Karl, Dec 11 '18 at 03:48

Punctuation: Comma

3 Answers3