Put a comma after introductory words, phrases, or clauses in a sentence. Correct: Many daycares have strict rules about sick children needing to stay away until they are no longer infectious; however, enforcing those rules can be very difficult. Can you see the ambiguity in the example below? A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses (that is, two complete sentences) are joined only by a comma. This is one of the comma rules that can cause some controversy. For example, in the phrase “Jennifer Jones, AKA my best friend” adding “also known as” in place of “AKA” would make it, “Jennifer Jones, also known as my best friend.” This still makes sense, so AKA works well here. This article was co-authored by Christopher Taylor, PhD. One of the biggest controversies in writing in English is the use of a comma before and.This comma is known as the serial comma, or Oxford comma.One of the reasons that this little punctuation mark is so controversial is that it is not a requirement of grammar; it is a style consideration. Example 1: Buy apples, bananas, and grapefruit at the store. Incorrect: Sleet fell heavily on the tin roof but, the family was used to the noise and paid it no attention. Rule 1. However, I am not so sure with the combo of "and that" because "that" makes it dependent, doesn't it? Opt for something else if AKA does not work for your situation. If one of these adverbs appears in the middle of a sentence, within one clause, it should be set off by a pair of commas. Common introductory elements include transition words and statements about time, place, manner, or condition. Restrictive modifiers, on the other hand, are those whose use is essential to the overall meaning of the sentence. Comma Before Parenthesis. References. Commas should also be used when writing dates. #1 Rule#1: Use a comma to separate contrasting parts of a sentence Ex: This is my money, not yours. The serial comma should always be used where it is needed to avoid confusion. Example 2: “Thank you for the award. Note that a dependent clause can come later in the sentence, but in that case, you would not use a comma: I did not have time to eat breakfast because I was running late. Historically too and also had commas before them at the end of the sentence. Common starter words for introductory clauses that should be followed by a comma include after, although, as, because, if, since, when, while. In this situation, the serial comma needs to be used. Avoiding unnecessary commas is simply a matter of understanding the rules of correct comma usage. I know that we should use comma before "and" if the clause is independent. This is an interesting example of the evolution of an acronym. It's non-restrictive if the information is non-essential. Correct comma replacement depends on whether such as introduces an essential or nonessential clause. Correct: Every day, millions of children go to daycare with millions of other kids. Correct: I like your dancing cat t-shirt. McKraken, AKA my neighbor Phyllis,” or “Deidre Smith, AKA my mother.”, Another option might be to indicate a role that someone played or still plays in TV or film, such as, “Orlando Bloom, AKA Legolas in the, For example, when talking or writing about your least favorite high school English teacher, you might indicate what that teacher was like using AKA, such as, “Mr. If you think a pause makes your sentence more clear or emphasizes what you want to emphasize, use the comma; otherwise, drop it. Incorrect: The next presidential election will take place in November, 2016. Or, you can add a word to one clause to make it dependent. (Notice how I used it as an adverb in the preceding sentence.) You can make two complete sentences by inserting a period. A compound sentence is one that contains two or more independent clauses joined by one or more coordinating conjunctions—most commonly, and. When they are joined in the same sentence, however, they must be connected with a comma and a coordinating conjunction. For example: Once you discover where the two independent clauses are “spliced,” there are several ways to separate them. Otherwise, depending on the chosen style guide, it is considered optional. Note that the final quotation mark follows the full stop at the end of the direct speech: Steve replied, ‘No problem.’ You also need to use a comma at the end of a piece of direct speech, if the speech comes before the informatio… He received his PhD in English Literature and Medieval Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014. Tip: Although, AKA can indicate a relationship between words and concepts, remember that it is an abbreviation with a very specific meaning, so its uses are limited. Example: My estate goes to my husband, son, daughter-in-law, and nephew. By skipping the comma, you deemphasize the “too” by integrating it into the sentence. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 33,709 times. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. In some circumstances, you may use a comma before a conjunction such as "and" when it starts a dependent clause. Some typefaces render it as a small line, slightly curved or straight but inclined from the vertical. Correct: The future of print newspapers appears uncertain due to rising production costs and the increasing popularity of online news sources. Fixing run-on sentences is very similar to fixing comma splices. Example 2: First, we’ll go to the mall. When a writer quotes a speaker’s words exactly as they were spoken, this is known as direct speech. [Miguel took piano lessons for sixteen years], and [today he is an accomplished performer]. Commas are always used to set off certain adverbs, including the following: Example 1: Therefore, it is obvious that we should fund the dam-building project. X We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. You may still write “a.k.a” this way if it looks better to you or if your teacher prefers this option. Both clauses are independent and could stand on their own as complete sentences. Incorrect: Some argue that print newspapers will never disappear, because of their many readers. The terms a.k.a. As a general rule, you should use a comma to introduce quoted material or dialogue. Read more about the Oxford Comma . Still, not using the serial comma is relatively uncommon in American English, except in newspapers and magazines. Incorrect: Participating in a democracy takes a strong stomach because, “it requires a certain relish for confusion,” writes Molly Ivins. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The comma is a punctuation mark that indicates a slight break, pause, or transition. Correct: Participating in a democracy takes a strong stomach because “it requires a certain relish for confusion,” writes Molly Ivins. Commas have many uses, but the situations in which they are used can be broken down into four major categories: Coordinating conjunctions are conjunctions, or joining words, that are placed between words and phrases of equal importance. As, because or since ? Parentheses are used to give additional information to the reader—information that would disrupt the flow of the sentence if written as a nonrestrictive clause. It's restrictive if the information is essential, and limits the scope of the thing it's modifying. Incorrect: The future of print newspapers appears uncertain, due to rising production costs and the increasing popularity of online news sources. You can use a semicolon with a transition word to indicate a specific relation between the two clauses; however, you should use this sparingly. Often, introductory words are also adverbs. Writers can give readers information that limits or otherwise modifies a main idea that follows. Incorrect: I hope to mail to you before Christmas, a current snapshot of my dog Benji. Use commas to separate words and word groups in a simple series of three or more items. Correct: The fingers on his left hand are bigger than those on his right. If the piece of direct speech comes after the information about who is speaking, you need to use a comma to introduce the direct speech. Also known as a serial comma, the punctuation mark derives its common name from its use in by the Oxford University Press (OUP). Nonrestrictive appositives do require commas. Usually, AKA comes before a pseudonym, which is another name that a person might go by, such as a nickname, a legal name, or a role that the person plays. Fair enough. “On December 7, 1941, Japanese planes attacked the U.S. For some adverbs, using a comma is optional. Christopher Taylor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community College in Texas. Use commas to visually separate distinct but related items. Can you see the ambiguity in the example below? Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Jonathan aka Jon, Michelle, and Mike are going shopping. Recognize common mistakes when using commas. For example, you might say or write, “Apple pie, AKA warm hugs in food form.”. Naval base in Hawaii.”. I’d like to thank my parents, Charles Darwin and Lindsay Lohan.”. “AKA” is an abbreviation for “also known as,” and it pops up often in English. I’d like to thank my parents, Charles Darwin and Lindsay Lohan.” Only use a comma to separate a dependent and independent clause if the dependent clause is first! A run-on sentence occurs when two or more independent clauses fuse together without punctuation to separate them. Modifiers are words or phrases that are added to sentences in order to make their meaning more specific. When joining two independent clauses, or clauses that could stand on their own as full sentences, place a comma before the conjunction. However, “also known as” in the phrase, “Disneyland, AKA created by Walt Disney,” would become “Disneyland, also known as created by Walt Disney.” The “AKA” or “also known as” in this sentence is unneeded. Some people argue that … We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Use commas after introductory a) clauses, b) phrases, or c) words that come before the main clause. Correct: I hope to mail to you before Christmas a current snapshot of my dog Benji. % of people told us that this article helped them. - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary He was looking forward to the dance, but he was not sure what he would wear. Used with coordinating conjunctions, commas allow writers to express how their complete thoughts relate to one another. If the attribution comes at the end of the quotation, then the comma should go inside the quotation marks, even if the quotation is a complete sentence. The serial comma (also known as the Oxford comma or listing comma) is the final comma before ‘and’ in a list of three or more items, e.g. In other words, if you dropped a restrictive modifier from a sentence, the meaning of the sentence would change. Use commas to set off elements that interrupt or add information in a sentence. Read about the Oxford Comma. He received his PhD in English Literature and Medieval Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014. Calling in sick for work, Beth hoped her boss would not suspect anything: The title contains a verb in its introductory phrase, which warrants a comma before the final clause. Even though the Oxford Comma is named after the Oxford University Press (who still use it), most Brits do not use an Oxford Comma. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d6\/Use-%22AKA%22-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-%22AKA%22-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d6\/Use-%22AKA%22-Step-1.jpg\/aid10803507-v4-728px-Use-%22AKA%22-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"