How to Use Commas in Compound and Complex Sentences

s help us improve our way of writing especially onprofessors for being too generous with the use of
structuring our sentences. Commas can make yourcommas. I’ve tempered it to some degree, but
sentence look clearer and that everyone cancontinue to find the activity a bit challenging.
understand your message clearly. Without the properMy writing software catches most of my errant
use of commas, it will ruin your whole sentences and itcomma use. However, upon manual proofing, I usually
will only ruin your whole content and no one will be ablefind a couple or so that it manages to miss. Even after
to understand your text.that, a good editor can still spot several incorrect uses
Although this kind of a punctuation is very commonin some of my copy.
and we seldom notice it when writing, it’s role inIn truth, deciding the time and place to use a comma is
your language and grammar is very important even ifnot always intuitive. Sure, it’s easy enough
you didn’t consider its essence at all. Most ofwhen you’re putting together lists and other
the time, people are not aware of its proper usage. Asitemized things. Begin writing compound and complex
a result, they end up writing bad grammars and lowsentences, however, and you’ll begin to realize
quality contents.the dilemma.
Even if commas are only a matter of writings symbols,Here, then, is the simple two-point guide to using
it can still make a bigger difference and change in yourcommas in strung-together sentences, so that you too
writing. That is why you need to be knowledgeablemay put out properly-punctuated prose.
enough to learn its proper uses. Basic rules in usingIn compound and complex sentences, commas are
commas can be found at any language tutorial booksalways placed right after the conjunction, never before.
or when you search for it over the internet.If you are not connecting two complete sentences,
These rules are so simple and anyone can rememberthey should not be separated with a comma.
it easily and apply it in their writing. But what’sIs it always that simple? Not really. In many cases,
more confusing about commas is their correct usageespecially nowadays, editors prefer to eliminate
in a complex and compound sentence. There arecommas if the sentence makes sense without it. This
times that you place commas in a wrong time andis true even when connecting two complete
situation. Others place many commas in theirsentences. Simply put, the general perception is that
sentences while others forgot to include it in theircommas impede readability. Basically, too much
phrases. The question is, when and how are you goingpunctuation can leave the reader more confused than
to place multiple or limited commas in your compoundenlightened. As such, a third guideline should be to
and complex sentences?“limit commas when they are necessary for
Back in school, I’ve been chastised bythe sentence to make perfect sense.