In accordance to Wikipedia, the phrase “and” is among the 5 maximum repeatedly used phrases within the English language.
That’s now not sudden.
“And” can do numerous issues, and for a few of the ones issues, you’ll want commas.
In most cases talking, even though, commas typically seem ahead of the phrase “and” somewhat than after “and.” In the event you’d like to examine that, take a look at our article on commas ahead of “and.”
Differently, learn on.
Do you want to use a comma after “and”?
You’re going to nearly by no means want to use a comma after “and.” The best time that could be an exception to that is with a nonessential word following the phrase “and.” You may additionally desire a comma after “and” whether it is on the finish of a line of conversation in a piece of fiction. Even if those comma regulations aren’t in particular for putting commas after “and,” they are going to nonetheless lead you to desire a comma after “and” in some instances. Differently, you must now not use a comma after “and.”
Commas after “and”: when now not to use them
The easy fact is that you just by no means desire a comma after “and” as a result of the phrase “and” itself.
In different phrases, until there may be every other grammatical explanation why {that a} comma wishes to seem at that time within the sentence, the phrase “and” shouldn’t be adopted via one.
To power that time house, let’s take a look at puts the place you don’t desire a comma after and.
Lists the place “and” is in entrance of the overall merchandise
One use of “and” is to attach the overall two pieces in an inventory.
Generally, you employ a comma ahead of each and every merchandise in an inventory. When that ultimate record merchandise is preceded via “and” or “or,” even though, you run into what’s known as the serial or Oxford comma debate.
Whether or not or now not you want a comma in entrance of that ultimate record merchandise is a critically contentious issue.
Thankfully, no one in any respect thinks you want a comma after the phrase “and” in an inventory.
It simply isn’t grammatically proper.
Examples
“I really like apples, pears and oranges.”
“The guy had a good white blouse, a yellow hat and 6 pairs of pants.”
When “and” is becoming a member of two phrases, words, clauses or sentences
Serial comma controversy apart, the main use of the phrase “and” is as a conjunction.
That suggests “and” is used to attach two issues in a sentence and display that each are at once comparable.
On this utilization, “and” is without end versatile. You’ll sign up for unmarried phrases, words or even entire sentences.
A few of these different makes use of of “and” would possibly require you to position a comma in entrance of the phrase. Once more, even though, striking a comma after “and” could be ungrammatical.
Examples
“My dog ate my homework, and my cat barfed on my uniform.”
“By no means combine sizzling oil and water. It’s unhealthy.”
When you want a comma after “and”
To this point, you may assume you by no means ever desire a comma after “and.”
Even if in maximum, if now not all, instances it’s true that you just received’t, there are a couple of exceptions.
It’s essential to indicate that those aren’t as a result of there’s a rule that claims “use a comma after and if this occurs,” however as a result of there are grammar regulations which require commas ahead of or after different varieties of phrases or words, and those can now and again fall after the phrase “and.”
So what are those exceptions?
“And” to introduce nonessential words
One use of “and” that may be a little outdoor the field is its skill to introduce nonessential words, often known as parenthetical asides, right into a sentence.
A nonessential word is principally simply what it seems like: one thing that isn’t very important to the sentence.
Nonessential words are nice for including extra element or taste to a sentence, and, crucially for our present level, they have got to be spark off from the sentence the use of commas.
That suggests if a nonessential word comes proper after the phrase “and,” because it did within the earlier sentence, you are going to see a comma appearing up after the phrase “and.”
Once more, that is technically for the reason that comma wishes to pass ahead of the nonessential word. All of the similar, this is a comma that looks after “and.”
Examples
“I best wash my hair as soon as a month, and, if it’s a special day, now and again I even use shampoo.”
That is an instance of dangerous hygiene, however it’s an instance of fine comma utilization.
“if it’s a special day” is a nonessential word. We will be able to take it out and the whole meaning of the sentence is unchanged.
That suggests we want to set it off with commas, and that manner we finally end up with a comma after the “and” that serves to attach the 2 clauses within the sentence: “I best wash my hair as soon as a month” and “now and again I even use shampoo.”
Comma when “and” is a part of a line of conversation
If a personality in a piece of fiction is talking, the tip of a line of conversation must be adopted via both a comma or a duration.
If the conversation isn’t adopted via a tag like “he mentioned” or “she insisted,” then you want a duration ahead of the final citation mark. Differently, you want a comma.
With the informal speech in fiction, and the best way authors position conversation tags to display how each and every personality speaks, this may lead to a comma after “and.”
Technically, the similar factor can occur for quotations in a piece of nonfiction, too. Alternatively, those are much less most probably to finish with “and.”
Examples
“And,” Judy mentioned, “I’m now not joking round.”
The insertion of the conversation tag after the phrase “and” makes it look like the nature is pausing for emphasis.
The comma after “and” would now not seem if the word “and I’m now not joking round” gave the impression with out being separated via the conversation tag. You’ll bring to mind the conversation tag as one of those nonessential word.
