Comma Rule 2
Rule 2: Use a comma before the coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS)— for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so—separating two independent clauses (portions of a sentence able to stand alone as complete thoughts).
Examples of correct usage:
- Dana went to the chiropractor, but she failed to receive a diagnosis.
- He had insurance, so he didn’t have to pay anything out of pocket.
- The Browns finally got home from their trip, and they found water everywhere they looked.
- I need to finish my school work, but I am too tired.
- The five-year-old had finished his dinner, yet he turned down dessert.
- I have never watched that show, nor do I want to.
This rule is perhaps THE-MOST-OFTEN-VIOLATED comma rule! Be very careful when using FANBOYS. It really isn’t rocket science!
Two down…three to go!
I've always considered myself good at grammar...until I started writing for my website that is. I then had to start to really think about what I was doing, and got so much wrong in the ways of comma's especially.
I was having a nightmare with it and have proof read most of my posts about 50 times now, and I still find mistakes!!! I'm a perfectionist :-)
But, I have learnt so much 11 months down the line, and believe I've almost cracked the code ha ha. But I have made a few notes of some of your pointers here and stuck them on my desk.
You know what would be really great (if you get time to of course), if you could do some training on semi colon, and colon, as I still have a bit of a problem with these, and so tend not to use them when I probably should.
Thank you