Published on
June 27, 2024
by
Eoghan Ryan, MA
Revised on
November 3, 2025
Put a comma before “and” when it’s used to connect two independent clauses. An independent clause contains both a subject and a verb and can function as a standalone sentence.
Comma before and connecting two independent clause examplesAndycooks dinner, and Danacleans the house.
However, no comma should be used when “and” connects two verbs with the same subject. In the following example, the subject, Peter, performs both actions (working and sleeping).
And connecting two verbs with one subject examplePeterworks at night and sleeps during the day.
Published on
June 26, 2024
by
Hannah Skaggs
Revised on
November 3, 2025
The Oxford comma appears just before and or or in a sentence that lists three or more items.
We can buy two pies, one cake, or eight donuts.
The sentence above shows an Oxford comma example: it’s the comma after cake. This punctuation mark is also called the Harvard comma or the serial comma, which makes sense because it separates items in a series.
The placement of a comma with the word “however” depends on its function in the sentence. When “however” is used to introduce a clause or sentence, it is followed by a comma. When used in the middle of a sentence to indicate a contrast, it’s set off by commas before and after.
Examples: Comma before or after however
Start of sentence/clause
Inflation is relatively high. However, other economic signs are positive.
Inflation is relatively high; however, other economic signs are positive.
Middle of sentence/clause
Inflation is relatively high. Other economic signs, however, are positive.
End of sentence/clause
Inflation is relatively high. Other economic signs are positive, however.
