Commas Between Clauses and Around Extra Details

Use sentence structure to decide where a comma belongs.

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Use a comma after an introductory dependent clause. Join two complete clauses with a comma plus a coordinating conjunction such as but or so. Set off an extra detail with two commas when it interrupts a sentence. Do not join complete clauses with only a comma, or separate a subject from its verb.

Worked example

'When the bell rang, we packed.' begins with a dependent clause. In 'We packed, but the bus was late,' both sides of but could stand as sentences, so the comma comes before but.

The bell rang, so we lined up. A comma comes before so. Both parts can stand as sentences. — The bell rang, so we lined up. A comma and so connect two complete clauses.

1. Punctuate the introductory clause. When the rain stopped, we went outside. When, the rain stopped we went outside. When the rain stopped we, went outside.

2. Join the two complete clauses using but. I packed a snack but, Jo brought lunch. I packed, a snack but Jo brought lunch. I packed a snack, but Jo brought lunch.

3. The description is extra information about named person Mina. Choose the correct sentence. Mina our team captain, carried the flag. Mina, our team captain, carried the flag. Mina, our team captain carried the flag.

4. Fix the comma splice by using so. The path was closed, so we took another route. The path was closed, we took another route. The path was closed so, we took another route.

5. One subject does two actions. Choose the sentence without an unnecessary comma. Ava, opened the box and lifted the lid. Ava opened the box and, lifted the lid. Ava opened the box and lifted the lid.

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