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Old 01-Aug-2007, 05:32
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Default comma before "and", "but"

I wonder, why, sometimes a comma precedes the conjunctions like and, but etc. but sometimes not.

Could you explain why it so?

Last edited by user_gary; 01-Aug-2007 at 06:02.
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Old 01-Aug-2007, 09:00
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Default Re: comma before "and", "but"

Have a look here: http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/tags/oxford-comma/
Also, if and/but are followed by an independent clause, we generally use a comma.
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Old 01-Aug-2007, 09:09
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Default Re: comma before "and", "but"

How about a full stop?
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Old 01-Aug-2007, 15:17
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Default Re: comma before "and", "but"

A full stop is exactly that - the full stop at the end of a sentence. It ends a sentence.
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Old 02-Aug-2007, 02:40
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Default Re: comma before "and", "but"

Can we put But after a full sto[p?
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Old 02-Aug-2007, 06:34
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Default Re: comma before "and", "but"

Yes, we can. However, in formal language, it is often better to use something else.
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