When is comma required

Yesterday was her brother's birthday , so she took him out to dinner. If you are ill , you ought to see a doctor. This comma use is correct, because it is an example of extreme contrast. Having finished the test, he left the room. To get a seat, you'd better come early. After the test but before lunch, I went jogging.

The sun radiating intense heat, we sought shelter in the cafe. Well, perhaps he meant no harm. Yes, the package should arrive tomorrow morning. However, you may not be satisfied with the results. The book that I borrowed from you is excellent.

The apples that fell out of the basket are bruised. She believes that she will be able to earn an A. He is dreaming that he can fly. I contend that it was wrong to mislead her. They wished that warm weather would finally arrive.

Students who cheat only harm themselves. The baby wearing a yellow jumpsuit is my niece. The candidate who had the least money lost the election. Fred , who often cheats, is just harming himself. Tom , the captain of the team, was injured in the game. It is up to you, Jane, to finish. She was, however, too tired to make the trip. Two hundred dollars , I think, is sufficient. He was a difficult , stubborn child. Your cousin has an easy , happy smile. He was merely ignorant , not stupid.

The chimpanzee seemed reflective , almost human. You're one of the senator's close friends , aren't you? The speaker seemed innocent , even gullible. Nancy waved enthusiastically at the docking ship, laughing joyously.

Correct: There were no clouds in the sky , so I went for a jog. I hope this helps you make more sense of commas. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Most of its suggestions regarding them arre wrong. Best summary on commas that I have seen. Commas are the bane of my life.

I think I have them sussed and then a sentence comes along where I am doubting everything again. Would a comma go after But or And at the start of a sentence? What about this example? But one day, dad explained that the family dog had died. But, one day, dad … But one day dad …. Stop making those embarrassing mistakes! Subscribe to Daily Writing Tips today! You will improve your English in only 5 minutes per day, guaranteed! You'll also get three bonus ebooks completely free!

Try It Free Now. When starting a sentence with the conjunction "if", use a comma to separate the if-clause from the rest of the sentence. Why to add a comma? As a subordinating conjunction, "if" introduces a dependent clause. When starting a sentence with a dependent clause, we usually place a comma after it. If required, we can provide customers with a truly unique packaging solution.

Frequently, a comma is unnecessary when a sentence starts with an independent clause, and it is followed by an if-clause or another dependent clause. There are situations, however, where " if necessary ", " if needed ", or " if required " interrupt the sentence flow or simply helps provide added information, which can be safely removed without changing the meaning of the sentence. Use commas to set off these interrupters or explanatory notes in mid-sentence or at the end of the sentence.

Do not use commas, however, if the expression if necessary , if needed , etc. If you say that something will happen when necessary or where necessary , you mean that it will happen when it is necessary or where it is necessary.

Thus, we typically add a comma after the first clause when starting a sentence with a when-clause or a where-clause. We do not usually need a comma if " when necessary " or " where required ", etc. However, place a comma before and after " when necessary ", " where necessary ", " when required ", etc.