When do we put a comma before and?

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	AlexandreAnother  #550059  Sat, 02 Aug 08 04:41 PM When do we put a comma before and? I appreciate your help.    AlexandreAnother Joined on Mon, Jul 28 2008 New Member (10)
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	Philip  #550067  Sat, 02 Aug 08 05:21 PM This is a large topic. Rule 1:  A comma is used to separate two independent clauses in a sentence.  [My mother stayed home, and my father traveled to Europe.] Rule 2:  A comma is optional in a series:  I like Pepsi, Coke (,) and Sprite. I'll let others add rules 3 through 20 (whatever they are).    Philip Joined on Thu, Jun 23 2005 USA Pacific Northwest (Seattle) Veteran Member (6,491) At reise er at leve! - H. C. Andersen
Clauses, Commas

	Clive  #550077  Sat, 02 Aug 08 05:45 PM Hi Philip, Rule 1:  A comma is used to separate two independent clauses in a sentence.  [My mother stayed home, and my father traveled to Europe.] Strangely, I had never heard this 'rule' in my life until I became involved with this Forum and some people wrote about it.   I find it hard to agree with it. Personally, I''d say that it's more a matter of length, readability and meaning. In other words, if the clauses are short, if the sentence is easy to understand and if the meaning does not seem to demand a reflective pause, I don't see why a comma would be strictly necessary. I have no problem with saying that a comma is optional. eg Tom likes Coke and Mary likes Pepsi. 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
Clauses, Commas

	AlexandreAnother  #550093  Sat, 02 Aug 08 07:35 PM I used to put commas before and after restrictive clause when the following proposition did not expand the restrictive clause but the sentence as a whole only or so do I think.    AlexandreAnother
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	Clive  #550104  Sat, 02 Aug 08 08:47 PM Hi, Would you like to write and post a few sentences, for comments? Clive    Clive
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	AlexandreAnother  #550106  Sat, 02 Aug 08 08:50 PM I hate a cat that pees on your carpet, and a dog that smells like fish.    AlexandreAnother
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	Clive  #550112  Sat, 02 Aug 08 09:12 PM Hi, I would say that a comma is OK here but not essential. Do you know this joke? A: My dog lost his nose in an accident. B: Poor thing. How does it smell? A: Terrible ! Clive    Clive
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	wholegrain  #550114  Sat, 02 Aug 08 09:34 PM Nice pun. haha    wholegrain Joined on Thu, Jun 19 2008 Full Member (391)
Commas

	Philip  #550461  Sun, 03 Aug 08 10:36 PM Clive Hi Philip, Rule 1:  A comma is used to separate two independent clauses in a sentence.  [My mother stayed home, and my father traveled to Europe.] I think that most writers' manuals agree that in the case of short clauses, the comma is optional.  I just do it as a general rule, and then I don't have to worry about what "short" means.    Philip
Clauses, Commas