starting a sentence with or comma

“Per your request,” is an introductory phrase and needs a comma. Starting a sentence with an "-ing" word is grammatically correct. Phrases that begin with the following words often require a comma if they begin a sentence … It does not express a complete thought so it is not a sentence and can't stand alone. "However, this ruling is now considered outdated, meaning it is perfectly acceptable to start a sentence with a coordinating conjunction. Sometimes a long sentence is grammatically correct, but its length makes it difficult to follow. In the above sentence, “since” comes after the main clause, so there is no need for a comma before it. Today, such a sentence … 3. Actually, things are a bit more nuanced than that. A comma goes before FANBOYS in this situation. This is because there is a natural pause after “therefore” when it is included in a sentence. This means the phrase is a nonrestrictive clause, or not essential to the sentence. There is a comma before the conjunction (but), and the nonessential comment (in the end) is set off with a pair of commas. The average sentence length is around 15-25 words. Depending on the circumstances, one of two different punctuation marks can be used between the independent clauses in a compound sentence: a comma or a semicolon. The comma before the quotation itself is correct; you would omit the comma if you used the word "that" to introduce the quotation. Use commas to separate words and word groups in a simple series of three or more items. 2. Avoiding Confusion. Introductory clauses are dependent clauses that are often found at the beginning of the sentence (although they can be moved to the end of the sentence, too, without confusing the meaning of the sentence). Tip #3: Write numbers that start a sentence in words. “Although” may start a sentence or show up in the middle of a sentence as a conjunction. Starting a Sentence with “And,” “But,” “Or,” “Nor”. It all has to do with flipping the order of the sentence and adding a simple comma. Nice and simple, right? Conversely, do not use a comma when the sentence starts with a strong clause followed by a weak clause. In Year 1, children are expected to write sentences with two clauses joined by the word 'and.' Do you see anything different with this sentence as compared to the first three? Take a look at this … Besides, also is followed by a comma. Example: I will visit the Tower if I go to London. Both groups of words begin with a capital letter and conclude with an end mark—usually a period ( . ) We'll show you how to use conjunctions, clauses, relative pronouns, and the proper way to use a comma after "and" with our comma cheat sheet. The comma is the shortest pause between words. Because neither phrase can stand alone, the no comma is needed to separate the phrases. Parallel Sentence: Definition, Structure & Examples 5:08 Starting & Ending Sentences with a Preposition 4:12 The Difference Between a Comma Splice & Fused Sentence Independent Clauses Joined By a Coordinating Conjunction . It is important to note that a comma should always be used if the sentence could be misinterpreted otherwise. Click to see full … You will use a comma when you begin a parenthetical pause, as Lincoln did with his “in a larger sense.” But a single comma does not follow the conjunction beginning a sentence. In short, avoid starting a sentence with due to. Students are asked to answer questions with sentences starting with "Yes" or "No". But some words are potential minefields for starting a sentence, and you should be wary of using them that way. When the gerund functions as the subject of a verb, it is rarely acceptable for a comma to precede it. A complex sentence consists of one or more clauses which could be a combination of two or more main clauses, or a combination of main and subordinate clauses. The sentence adverb isn’t attached to a single adverb, adjective, or verb—it doesn’t need to be physically close to only one particular word—so it usually comes at the beginning of a sentence and is set off by a comma. Put the subject of the sentence after the comma. 2: Use a comma to separate two independent clauses connected by a coordinating conjunction. He has changed his view on a lot of things since reading the book. Position “although” at the beginning or middle of a sentence. When also is used at the beginning of a sentence, it emphasizes what follows or adds a new idea or topic. And writers do want to vary sentence … When a Sentence Includes Parentheses, Commas and Periods Belong with Their Clauses. Of course it’s correct to start a sentence with a word ending in –ing: But you risk writing a sentence fragment or a dangling … Trick #1: When to use a Comma Before Such As. For your writing will improve dramatically. These clauses … Also separate a combination of those elements from the rest of the sentence with commas. Worksheet #1 … In the complex sentence examples shown below, the independent clause comes first. If your sentence starts to exceed 30-40 words, you might want to consider revising it. A fragment resembles a sentence in two ways. Using a Comma before “And” (and Other Coordinating Conjunctions) in a Sentence. For instance: Taking the hint, I said goodbye. Tips for Using Transition Words and Phrases. As the name suggests, introductory phrases are … The Gerund as Subject. If a number is starting a sentence, you should write it in words. It cannot end a sentence. The rats, which performed well in the first experiment, were not … It’s a sentence fragment. Furthermore, some grammarians say that the comma is optional for the following adverbs: then, so, yet. Sometimes, an independent clause stands alone as a sentence, and sometimes two independent clauses are linked together into what is called a compound sentence. Remember - if you don't use correct capitalisation, punctuation and spacing, anything you write will be incorrect. Look at the last sentence with such as. RM Richard, Moderator (Guest) SOME people consider it incorrect to start a sentence with hopefully, Susan, but that's not a universally held opinion. If your email has an informal tone, insert a comma between the greeting and the name, and use either a comma or a period at the end of the greeting. We might be better off moving that parenthetical element toward the beginning of the sentence so that the subject is closer to the verb: To sum up: FANBOYS are words (called “coordinating conjunctions”) that often join two complete thoughts into one sentence. Where you pause or breathe in a sentence does not reliably indicate where a comma … An independent clause is a group of words that could stand alone as a sentence because it has a subject and a predicate. pinterest-pin-it. The comma shows that they are closely connected to the main part of the sentence. Many grammar buffs will slap you on the hand with a ruler for starting sentences with a conjunction—to them, placing the conjunction (but, and, yet, etc.) In contrast, consider the following sentences: FANBOYS is an acronym made from the first letter of each coordinator— For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So.. clause – (1) a finite clause—one or more noun phrases together with a predicator (a verb) that combine to express a complete thought (a stand-alone sentence); (2) a nonfinite clause—a verb or a verb with complements that express limited meaning (not a stand-alone sentence). Nice and simple, right? Finding and Fixing Sentence Fragments Understand the difference between a sentence and a fragment. If the number of page visits is a reliable indicator, this topic—using a comma before and—is on the minds of many people.The third most oft-visited on this site, this page garnered close to … Notice that in most examples there is no separation of the clauses by a comma, which is the general rule in complex sentences starting with an independent clause. A sentence consisting of at least one dependent clause and at least two independent clauses may be called a complex-compound sentence or compound-complex sentence. Open your eyes.] Take care to use it sparingly and appropriately, however, to avoid giving your paper a choppy feel when reading. Rule No. Unfortunately, he was lazy." I truly believe the idea that this is a rule starts in elementary school, where we all hooked a bunch of sentences together with “and.”. There was a time when this sentence would be punctuated exactly this way. The comma has the following uses in a simple sentence. Rule 1. Sentence 2 is compound because "so" is considered a coordinating conjunction in English, and sentence 3 is complex. Rule – When starting a sentence with a weak clause, use a comma after it. But inexperienced writers tend to start too many sentences with "-ing" words, which makes their writing repetitive and dull or can lead to a confusing sentence structure. or an exclamation point ( ! And yes, the comma before because in this case is fine. But that doesn’t mean you can’t or shouldn’t do it. Step 2: Ask yourself, “Does the meaning of the sentence change?”.. But this is … … but sometimes a question mark ( ? ) After a dependent introductory clause, we use a comma to separate the introductory clause from the independent clause. If you start your sentence with the … To be correct grammatically, it needs to be followed by the second clause, the main one. Other times, the comma is optional, and there are also times when a comma should not be used. Example: If I go to London, I will visit the Tower. Most of the time you probably won't use a comma with “too” because your sentences will be chugging along without needing a pause. MYTH: You should add a comma wherever you pause. In the sentence "On the hill with the fairy grass, we stopped to eat lunch," the prepositional phrase "with the fairy grass" modifies "on the hill." Some Common Errors to Avoid. That’s the rule of thumb about starting a sentence with “because” — you need two parts to the sentence, two clauses connected by a comma, to make it work. Wordsworth, the famous English poet, was a lover of nature. In Year 2, children start learning about subordination and coordination and need to start using a main clause and subordinate clause (a complex sentence), joined by 'when,' 'if,' 'that' or 'because.' Beware of popular myths of comma usage: MYTH: Long sentences need a comma. A subordinate clause—also called a dependent clause—will begin with a subordinate conjunction or a relative pronoun.Like all clauses, it will have both a subject and a verb. Alternatively, you can reconstruct the sentence to avoid starting it with a number, especially if the sentence seems awkward because of the number at its beginning. A comma splice is the use of a comma between two independent clauses. The only time a comma is necessary is when “since” comes at the beginning of a sentence, and the comma will have to be used at the end of the prepositional phrase. Imagine that ending comma as closing the example phrase, returning the sentence’s train of thought back to the main independent clause. When the first clause is negative, not affirmative, it is often recommended to use a comma to avoid possible misreading. Use a variety of transition words, not the same one. Starting a Sentence with a Conjunction (e.g., "And," "But") In the past, schools were rigid in their ruling that sentences could not start with coordinating conjunctions, such as "and" or "but. To follow comma rules, you should probably become familiar with them first. To mark off each one of a series of … first creates a grammatically incomplete thought like a sentence fragment. Open PDF. Without the comma the sentence may sound rushed to readers. The comma goes between the introduction and the subject and must not separate the subject from the verb. The case is made: You can’t start a sentence with because. For example: In June 2009, the Commission decided… Answer: There is no right or wrong answer to this question. Gerunds are often used at the beginning of a sentence, like “Fishing is my favorite sport” or “Seeing is believing.” Rewording sentences like that to avoid starting with an -ing word would result in pretty awkward flow. "Yes" and "no" are always followed by a comma at the start of a sentence. However, it can follow a comma if the sentence begins with a conjunctive adverb such as “otherwise” or “consequently.”. A good rule of thumb is: If you don’t feel the need to put the clause starting with “because” in parentheses, don’t use a comma. Reader’s question: Is a comma necessary after a date at the beginning of a sentence. 04-Mar-2014, 14:02 … This sentence appears to follow the rules described above. 4/5 (636 Views . When linking two nouns, adjectives, adverbs, or verbs—for example in the case of a compound predicate—a comma is not needed. A really long sentence may be perfectly correct without commas. Note that the clauses are separated with a comma when the dependent clause comes first. Let me know now if you are not sure about this. A dependent clause is a group of words with a subject and a verb. Yes, you need a comma after Yes or No. It’s a sentence fragment. Commas, Part 6. What initially began as a sentence made up of an independent and a dependent clause has become a sentence with two independent clauses. Erin Servais is the founder of Dot and Dash, LLC, an author-services company focusing on women writers and offering a range of book … Some common subordinating conjunctions are: after, as, before, once, since, until, and while. It modifies (add information to) a verb (action) of the main clause in terms of ‘time, frequency (i.e. That comma is a signal that the adverb modifies not the word that follows but the sentence or … I would use a comma after a date at the beginning of a sentence because it indicates a pause. 45 Votes) It is often stated as something like “Put a comma after a prepositional phrase at the beginning of the sentence that has four words or more.” “When one prepositional phrase that is a simple modifier comes at the beginning of the sentence, put a comma after it if it is 'long. I went to the store, but I forgot to bring my shopping list. Comma Splices. If semicolons aren’t really your style, you can also use a comma and a conjunction to join two independent clauses. 8/7/086:59 PM. Many of our teachers taught us not to begin a sentence with because. So go ahead and start sentences with conjunctions. Yes, the comma is required when "also" appears at the beginning of the sentence. I see sentences starting with -ing words all the time. Because. And you’ll help your reader along as you move from sentence to sentence. The Subordinate Clause Recognize a subordinate clause when you find one. Make sure that you are using “although” as your first word of the sentence, or after a comma in the middle of a sentence. ). The word “too” is an adverb that indicates “also” or “in addition.” It most often shows up in the middle or at the end of a sentence. Example: My estate goes to my husband, son, daughter-in-law, and nephew. Comma's are the hardest punctuation mark to place in a sentence. Such as does NOT have a comma after it; the first three phrases have commas before and after them. Starting a Sentence with 'But' Instead of 'However' And here’s something that may surprise you even more: modern sources such as The Chicago Manual of Style , Garner’s Modern American Usage , and others say that although it isn’t wrong to start a sentence with however (9, 10, 11), it’s usually better to start a sentence with but . You have two previous sentences- Close your eyes and put your finger on any letter. If you type “comma” and “but” into Google, the search engine will give you some autosuggestions including: “comma after but at beginning of sentence” and “is there a comma before or after but.” According to editors and grammarians, there is no comma after the word but at the beginning of a sentence… To be correct grammatically, it needs to be followed by the second clause, the main one. Examples of sentences starting with also/Can you start a sentence with also? There is one important class of exceptions, however. Many of the world’s books are published in English. Also, most of the content produced on the … James, my neighbor, is a doctor. Here are examples of two independent clauses joined together in one sentence by a comma and a coordinating conjunction:. There should be a comma after the word if it starts the sentence. However, the last example has a comma as it is an example of an extreme contrast. To mark off nouns, pronouns or phrases in apposition. Commas with Conditional Sentences - Writing English. A subordinate clause which acts as an adverb in a sentence is called an Adverb Clause. Put a comma after the transition word. 1. The beach is a lot of fun, yet the mountains are better. However, there really is no rule against beginning your sentence with because. This is where you discover the formula that your teachers were keeping secret. In sentence 2, we need a comma after the introductory clause “Although the director had just hired two new employees (Johnson and Carlisle),” but since that clause ends with a parenthetical expression, the comma should come … Introductory elements often consist of prepositional phrases, subordinating conjunctions, participial phrases, or conjunctive adverbs. There is no English rule that says a sentence cannot begin with and, but, or, nor. Introductory phrases add nuance to sentences but, if taken out, will not harm the sentence's meaning. 8. Follow “therefore” with a comma. If the clauses make sense on their own, you don’t need to use a comma. However, if you wrote "You might also need D" or "You might need D also" then no comma is required. Although, on initial inspection, it looks like the sentence above needs a comma after the words ice cream, it does not because the opening segment, “Starting an ice cream factory when he knew he was addicted to ice cream” is really the subject of the sentence and it should not be separated from the predicate, the action element of the sentence. 1. Use a comma to separate the elements in a full date (weekday, month and day, and year). A group of us went to the movie, and we agreed it was enjoyable. The length of a sentence does not determine whether you need a comma. Choosing the right word to start, end, and transition topics can make or break an essay. December 4, 2011 -. Sentence 1 is an example of a simple sentence. Opening the door, she wished me a nice day. Printer Fabulous! Unrestrictive clauses, which are not essential to the meaning of the sentence--they merely add further information--begin with "which" and are set off by a comma. Sometimes a comma is necessary after an introductory phrase. That’s the rule of thumb about starting a sentence with “because” — you need two parts to the sentence, two clauses connected by a comma, to make it work. Don ’ t use a comma if the if clause is at the end of the sentence. Step 1: Remove the part of the sentence that starts with “such as“.. To make your writing clearer and more readable, avoid using too many overly long sentences. For example: Albert was excited about eating. Like an adverb, it modifies a verb, an adjective-clause or another adverb clause in the sentence. The phrase such as can be used in the middle of a sentence without any commas. “Therefore” should always be followed up with a comma. Starting a sentence with an introductory phrase that begins with a preposition and ending a sentence with a stranded preposition can be grammatically correct. However, there’s an exception: … 2. If you are not sure about this, let me know now. The exception, in my opinion, is with the word “so.” I like a little comma action when I start a sentence with “so.” And this guy at Just Publishing Advice agrees with me:. Learn what the rules of comma placements are and how to remember them here. Use a comma if the if clause is at the beginning of the sentence. before the sentence starting with now :Now, each one of you has one letter. But this is English. Examples include like, such as, who, which – and yes, -ing words are risky. For example, “I love spending time in nature. The Difference a Comma Makes. At times, a comma can help to clarify the meaning of a sentence. Step 3: If the answer is “no,” then you definitely need to use a comma before “such as“.. When linking two independent clauses to create a compound sentence, place a comma before the coordinating conjunction. A main clause is a clause that makes sense on its own and can also exist in a sentence on its own. Here’s an example: “Consequently, complaining a lot made him …

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