ACT Preparation / Unit 2 ACT 0101 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Comma Before a Joining Conjunction
Captions available
The idea
When a coordinating conjunction joins two independent clauses, a comma goes before the conjunction. The same join repairs a comma splice.
In practice
"The rain stopped, and the game resumed": a full sentence stands on each side of and.
Where people slip
The comma belongs to clause joins only. When and links two words or two phrases, no comma comes before it.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Something wrong in this lesson? Flag it · Sources for ACT Preparation