Coordinating Conjunctions and Commas

How do we use Coordinating Conjunctions and commas together?


1. We use commas and Coordinating Conjunctions together if we join two simple sentences/independent clauses.

To better understand this, it is important to familiarize or recall first the 3 types of sentences.
3 Types of Sentences


Among the three types of sentences, typically, only compound sentences use commas and coordinating conjunctions.

Forming Compound Sentences (Read Number 1)


2. We use commas and Coordinating conjunctions if a sentence has a series of 3 or more items of nouns, verbs, or adjectives.

Typically, we do not use commas and Coordinating Conjunctions in Simple Sentences. However, there is an exemption--we use commas and Coordinating Conjunctions together if a sentence has a series of 3 or more items of nouns, verbs, or adjectives.

In the below example of a Simple Sentence, we neither use a comma nor a Coordinating Conjunction:

    "Patrick washed his hands."

But we do in the following examples:

    "Patrick washed his hands and feet."

    "Marty ate a burger and pizza."

    "She is pretty but short."

    "She ran but did not drink water."



As seen in the example sentences, we use the coordinating conjunctions “and” and “but”.
Are they written correctly? Yes, absolutely. They follow the rules!


REMEMBER: If a sentence has only two nouns, two verbs, or two adjectives, we only use coordinating conjunctions.


In the first and second examples, there are two nouns:

1. hands

    feet

2. burger

    pizza


In the third sentence, there are two adjectives:

3. pretty
    short


In the fourth example, there are two verbs:

4. ran

    drink


Even though we used coordinating conjunctions in those sentences, we did not necessarily use comma(s).


Now, how about the following examples?

    "Patrick washed his hands feet and face."

    "She is beautiful smart but short."


Are they written correctly?
NO! Because the rule is,

REMEMBER: If the sentence has a series of three or more items like verbs, nouns, and adjectives, we use commas after every item until the coordinating conjunctions.


example:

    "Patrick washed his hands feet and face." – incorrect

The sentence has three nouns – hands, feet, and face
Abiding by the rule, we should write the sentence this way:

    "Patrick washed his hands, feet, and face."– correct

Another example:

"She is beautiful smart but short." – incorrect

"She is beautiful, smart, but short."– correct

do’s and don’ts

Don’ts

DON’T use a comma if there are only two nouns, verbs, or adjectives.


Do's

Use a comma if a sentence has a series of 3 or more items of nouns, verbs, or adjectives.
Use a comma if we join two simple sentences/independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction.