A comma for so a must

Share on Facebook

Anonymous

#199663 Wed, 22 Feb 06 08:58 AM

I have a question.

Do you always have to place a comma before the conjunction "so" when you have a sentence with that "so" or are there any cases where commas are not needed?

I was late, so I took a bus.

Anonymous

Commas

This is a live chat room, hosted on the chat page. You can also click here to see the chat in fullscreen.

Ruslana

#200510 Fri, 24 Feb 06 01:36 PM

I think whether you need place a comma or not depends not on the conjunction so, but on the position of a main and an adverbial clause. If a main clause is the first, then you needn't place a comma.

I took a bus (why?) because I was late.

And if the first goes an adverbial clause, then you need place a comma.

I was late, so I took a bus.
I was late, that's why I took a bus.

Ruslana

Joined on Sat, Dec 17 2005

Russia

Senior Member (3,197)

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace", - Jimi Hendrix

Commas, Clauses

Anonymous

#200524 Fri, 24 Feb 06 03:04 PM

Thank you. I have this rather long sentence and want to ask you whether or not you would place a comma before "so" for the writer did not. I am wondering why he did not place a comma there.

Is the choice to put a comma before "so" is an arbitrary one that a writer can decide for him or herself?

If a particular exercise is little more than a quick review, you can simply give the answers (a comma here ?) so they can correct their own previously prepared works in their textbooks.

Anonymous

Commas

Clive

#200581 Fri, 24 Feb 06 06:16 PM

Hi,

I was late, so I took a bus. Here, 'so' expresses a consequence. It is often, although I wouldn't say always, preceded by a comma.

If a particular exercise is little more than a quick review, you can simply give the answers (a comma here ?) so they can correct their own previously prepared works in their textbooks. Here, 'so' expresses purpose. We sometimes say 'so that'. It's like 'in order that'. Generally speaking, it does not need to be preceded by a comma.

Is the choice to put a comma before "so" is an arbitrary one that a writer can decide for him or herself? That's a rather complex question. Here are a couple of simple comments. Use a comma when it helps or is necessary to understand the meaning. In modern English, generally speaking, if the sentence is short, commas tend to be omitted.

Best wishes, Clive

Clive

Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004

Canada

Veteran Member (23,116)

El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo

Commas

Ruslana

#200586 Fri, 24 Feb 06 06:46 PM

Sometimes the choice whether to place a comma or not is really made by an author himself. But in your example, Anon, so they can correct their own previously prepared works in their textbooks seems a subordinate clause to me (as Clive has already mentioned, though), which goes after the main you can simply give the answers.

...you can simply give the answers (for what? why?) so [that] they can correct their own previously prepared works in their textbooks.

Ruslana

Commas, Clauses