Comma before because example

The comma might be the most troublesome punctuation mark.

Comma before or after but

This is largely due to the many different ways the comma is used. Sometimes, the comma indicates a pause that would occur if the sentence were spoken aloud. Other times, the comma separates grammatical components of the sentence.

Finally, there are mechanical and stylistic uses of the comma that are simply conventional.

The presence or absence of a comma can change the meaning of a sentence⁠—sometimes dramatically. In extreme cases, an erroneous comma can make a sentence mean the exact opposite of what the writer intended.

Comma before and in a list of 3

Comma before and in a list of 3

Comma before but

When to use a comma before and in a list

Comma before because two independent clauses

When to use a comma before because

A careful writer must be a careful user of commas.

Conventional or mechanical uses of the comma

There are several uses of the comma that can best be described as conventional or mechanical. The use or omission of the comma is well established, and writers need only to apply the rules.

Numbers

Most authorities, including The Associated Press Stylebook and The Chicago Manual of Style, recommend a comma after the first digit of a four-digit number.

The exceptions include years, page num

comma before if necessary

comma before if not