Correct: Jacob saw the movie, but his friend read the book. [2] X Research source Incorrect: Jacob saw the movie but his friend read the book. “Jacob saw the movie” and “his friend read the book” make sense by themselves, meaning they are independent clauses. Combining a comma and “but” creates a compound sentence, also known as a sentence with two independent clauses. [3] X Research source
Correct: Jacob saw the movie, but his friend read the book. [2] X Research source Incorrect: Jacob saw the movie but his friend read the book. “Jacob saw the movie” and “his friend read the book” make sense by themselves, meaning they are independent clauses. Combining a comma and “but” creates a compound sentence, also known as a sentence with two independent clauses. [3] X Research source
Correct: The puppy is small but potty trained. Incorrect: The puppy is small, but potty trained. Although “The puppy is small” could be a separate sentence, “potty trained” is a dependent clause because it doesn’t have a subject.
Correct: The puppy is small but potty trained. Incorrect: The puppy is small, but potty trained. Although “The puppy is small” could be a separate sentence, “potty trained” is a dependent clause because it doesn’t have a subject.
Correct: But, of course, I wanted to go to the party with Edith. In this example, “of course” is the interrupter, as the sentence can also be read as “But I wanted to go to the party with Edith. ” Correct: I want to go to Germany, but, on the other hand, I’d miss you terribly. In this instance, a comma is before and after “but” because the sentence has 2 independent clauses and “on the other hand” is an interrupter. If a sentence doesn’t have an interrupter, don’t put a comma after the “but,” as that would make the sentence grammatically incorrect.
Correct: But, of course, I wanted to go to the party with Edith. In this example, “of course” is the interrupter, as the sentence can also be read as “But I wanted to go to the party with Edith. ” Correct: I want to go to Germany, but, on the other hand, I’d miss you terribly. In this instance, a comma is before and after “but” because the sentence has 2 independent clauses and “on the other hand” is an interrupter. If a sentence doesn’t have an interrupter, don’t put a comma after the “but,” as that would make the sentence grammatically incorrect.
For: She bought an apple, for she wanted a snack. [8] X Research source And: Nikki lives in Florida, and she goes to Disney World every weekend. Nor: Will doesn’t like broccoli, nor does he like eating Brussels sprouts. But: The lesson was hard, but we all managed to pass the test. Or: We can order pizza, or we can go out to eat. Yet: The movie has good reviews, yet my friends and I didn’t like the movie. So: I broke my foot over the weekend, so I can’t take the stairs.
For: She bought an apple, for she wanted a snack. [8] X Research source And: Nikki lives in Florida, and she goes to Disney World every weekend. Nor: Will doesn’t like broccoli, nor does he like eating Brussels sprouts. But: The lesson was hard, but we all managed to pass the test. Or: We can order pizza, or we can go out to eat. Yet: The movie has good reviews, yet my friends and I didn’t like the movie. So: I broke my foot over the weekend, so I can’t take the stairs.
