{"id":9464,"date":"2020-11-25T15:56:13","date_gmt":"2020-11-25T15:56:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/?p=9464"},"modified":"2023-04-10T20:18:15","modified_gmt":"2023-04-10T20:18:15","slug":"comma-before-or-after-or","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-before-or-after-or\/","title":{"rendered":"Comma before or after &#8220;or&#8221;: The Definitive Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>img#mv-trellis-img-1::before{padding-top:150%; }img#mv-trellis-img-1{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-2::before{padding-top:56.25%; }img#mv-trellis-img-2{display:block;}<\/style><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Efficacious communication is tantamount to the meticulous analysis of the subtlest linguistic nuances.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These nuances may be found in word meaning, pronunciation, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/academicguides.waldenu.edu\/writingcenter\/grammar\/sentencestructure\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>sentence structure<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and as well as in non-lexical symbols.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Punctuation marks, such as commas, are non-lexical signs whose principal role is to facilitate reading, either silently or vocally.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Symbols of punctuation serve as prosodic and syntactic cues that aid information absorption, thereby making them a compelling topic of discussion.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The next sections aim to provide definitive guidelines in <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-rules\/\" title=\"comma placement\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\">comma placement<\/a> before or after the conjunction &ldquo;or&rdquo;.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<br>\n[toc]\n&nbsp;<br>\n<noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-9468 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Comma-Usage-With-Or.png\" alt=\"Comma Usage With Or\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Comma-Usage-With-Or.png 320w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Comma-Usage-With-Or-200x300.png 200w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Comma-Usage-With-Or-683x1024.png 683w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Comma-Usage-With-Or-768x1152.png 768w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Comma-Usage-With-Or-735x1103.png 735w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Comma-Usage-With-Or-223x335.png 223w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Comma-Usage-With-Or-231x347.png 231w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Comma-Usage-With-Or-347x520.png 347w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Comma-Usage-With-Or-427x640.png 427w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Comma-Usage-With-Or-512x768.png 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Comma-Usage-With-Or.png\"><\/noscript><img loading=\"eager\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-9468 size-full eager-load\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201000%201500'%3E%3Crect%20width='1000'%20height='1500'%20style='fill:%23e3e3e3'\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" alt=\"Comma Usage With Or\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1500\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Comma-Usage-With-Or.png\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-1\" data-src=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Comma-Usage-With-Or.png\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Comma-Usage-With-Or.png 320w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Comma-Usage-With-Or-200x300.png 200w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Comma-Usage-With-Or-683x1024.png 683w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Comma-Usage-With-Or-768x1152.png 768w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Comma-Usage-With-Or-735x1103.png 735w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Comma-Usage-With-Or-223x335.png 223w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Comma-Usage-With-Or-231x347.png 231w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Comma-Usage-With-Or-347x520.png 347w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Comma-Usage-With-Or-427x640.png 427w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Comma-Usage-With-Or-512x768.png 512w\" data-svg=\"1\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"><br>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b>When is a comma necessary before or after &ldquo;or&rdquo;?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><strong>A pre-comma is necessary when linking independent clauses, separating the last item in a lengthy series, or using it as the first parenthetical word in a sentence. A post-comma is also essential when using it as the last word in a parenthetical expression or an introductory clause. No commas should be placed on either side when stating two options, listing short items, and linking a dependent clause via ellipsis.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b>Comma before &ldquo;or&rdquo; in more detail<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to stylistic <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-after-and\/\"><b>and<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> syntactic guidelines, three circumstances guide the comma placement before <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">or.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first one is when it coordinates two independent clauses in a compound sentence.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The second is when it is used as the initial element in a parenthetical expression.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The last one is when <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">or<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is used to link a series of phrases or other relatively lengthy expressions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>&ldquo;Or&rdquo; in independent clauses<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Or <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is a coordinating conjunction often used in linking two independent clauses in one sentence.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An independent clause is a simple sentence <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-before-with\/\"><b>with<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> a complete thought that can stand alone.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It may contain one or more subjects, one or more verbs, and other complementary constituents.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to structural form, a sentence composed of two independent clauses is known as a compound type.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Compound sentences are linked by coordinating conjunctions, known as the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-usage-fanboys\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">FANBOYS<\/a><\/strong> (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All compound sentences conjoined by coordinating conjunctions must be separated by a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/coma-vs-comma\/\"><b>comma<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> before the conjunction to mark clausal independence.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thus, all the syntactic features above apply to <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">or <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">when linking two independent or main clauses together.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"su-note\" style=\"border-color:#e5e54c;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#FFFF66;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\">You should start saving now, or you will suffer in the future.<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"su-note\" style=\"border-color:#e5e54c;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#FFFF66;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\">I can either purchase this item now, or I can add it to my cart first.<\/div><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The key strategy in determining whether the sentence utilizes two independent clauses lies in a simple strategy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That is, by simply looking for the presence of at least one subject <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/the-and-sign-how-when-and-why-to-use-it\/\"><b>and<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> one verb in each part before and after the conjunction.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In other words, a subject and a verb should be found before the conjunction, and another subject-verb agreement must also be seen after the conjunction.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>&ldquo;Or&rdquo; in lengthy series<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/syntax\/\" title=\"syntax\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\">syntax<\/a>-related function of commas is compartmentalizing words in a heavily-constructed sentence.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They guide readers in determining which elements belong <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-before-where\/\"><b>where<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a list of lengthy items, particularly noun phrases, commas serve their function to aid readability.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a series of at least three, the last item should be linked with a coordinating conjunction, such as and, or, or nor.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For the reasons mentioned earlier, commas are recommended to be placed before the conjunction <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">or <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">in this type of serial list.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"su-note\" style=\"border-color:#e5e54c;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#FFFF66;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\">Aside from a missed period, other pregnancy symptoms are also marked by increased urination, food aversion, nausea, or a heightened sense of smell.<\/div><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the example above, the comma before <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">or <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">bluntly distinguishes the meaning of nausea from a heightened sense of smell.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Without it, the lexical meaning of the word &ldquo;nausea&rdquo; could be misinterpreted as the increased olfactory sensitivity during pregnancy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This type of comma is <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-usage-in-particular\/\"><b>particularly<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> known as the Oxford comma which is optional in a shorter series, wherein chances of misinformation<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">are rare.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>Punctuation with &ldquo;or&rdquo; when used as a parenthetical element<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In stylistics, a parenthesis refers to comma-encapsulated additional information<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">that is grammatically-dispensable.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Parenthetical speech components aim to define, clarify, digress, understate, or emphasize details.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They serve as rhetoric devices that implicitly assist persuasion, as well as rhythm and intonation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Commas are necessary to set them apart from the rest of the sentence, and thus, the same rule applies to <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">or <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">when used as the initial parenthetical unit.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"su-note\" style=\"border-color:#e5e54c;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#FFFF66;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\">He should end up spending the rest of his life in jail, or maybe even worse, for what he did to his own son.<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"grow-exclusive-content-widget-aa70192d-d134-4c49-86a3-d6f2effb13c9 grow-allow-content-ads\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1FcGWj9ZmJCqbVuKMOa6A7yA_r8YRdtsq\/view?usp=sharing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-16942 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Comma-Cheat-Sheet-to-Google-Drive.jpeg\" alt=\"Comma Rules Cheat Sheet\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Comma-Cheat-Sheet-to-Google-Drive.jpeg 854w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Comma-Cheat-Sheet-to-Google-Drive-300x169.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Comma-Cheat-Sheet-to-Google-Drive-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Comma-Cheat-Sheet-to-Google-Drive-768x432.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Comma-Cheat-Sheet-to-Google-Drive-480x270.jpeg 480w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Comma-Cheat-Sheet-to-Google-Drive-720x405.jpeg 720w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Comma-Cheat-Sheet-to-Google-Drive-320x180.jpeg 320w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Comma-Cheat-Sheet-to-Google-Drive-735x413.jpeg 735w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Comma-Cheat-Sheet-to-Google-Drive-335x188.jpeg 335w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Comma-Cheat-Sheet-to-Google-Drive-347x195.jpeg 347w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Comma-Cheat-Sheet-to-Google-Drive-520x293.jpeg 520w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Comma-Cheat-Sheet-to-Google-Drive-640x360.jpeg 640w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Comma-Cheat-Sheet-to-Google-Drive-960x540.jpeg 960w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Comma-Cheat-Sheet-to-Google-Drive-1080x608.jpeg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Comma-Cheat-Sheet-to-Google-Drive.jpeg\"><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-16942 size-full lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Comma-Cheat-Sheet-to-Google-Drive.jpeg\" alt=\"Comma Rules Cheat Sheet\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Comma-Cheat-Sheet-to-Google-Drive.jpeg 854w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Comma-Cheat-Sheet-to-Google-Drive-300x169.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Comma-Cheat-Sheet-to-Google-Drive-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Comma-Cheat-Sheet-to-Google-Drive-768x432.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Comma-Cheat-Sheet-to-Google-Drive-480x270.jpeg 480w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Comma-Cheat-Sheet-to-Google-Drive-720x405.jpeg 720w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Comma-Cheat-Sheet-to-Google-Drive-320x180.jpeg 320w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Comma-Cheat-Sheet-to-Google-Drive-735x413.jpeg 735w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Comma-Cheat-Sheet-to-Google-Drive-335x188.jpeg 335w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Comma-Cheat-Sheet-to-Google-Drive-347x195.jpeg 347w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Comma-Cheat-Sheet-to-Google-Drive-520x293.jpeg 520w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Comma-Cheat-Sheet-to-Google-Drive-640x360.jpeg 640w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Comma-Cheat-Sheet-to-Google-Drive-960x540.jpeg 960w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Comma-Cheat-Sheet-to-Google-Drive-1080x608.jpeg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Comma-Cheat-Sheet-to-Google-Drive.jpeg\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-2\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b>Comma after &ldquo;or&rdquo;<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-before-albeit\/\"><b>Albeit<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> possible, a comma after <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">or <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">would less likely appear than the pre-comma.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The post-comma placement should only take place when <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">or <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is used <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-before-or-after-either\/\"><b>either<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as the final word in a parenthetical expression or a clausal introduction.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let&rsquo;s look at each one in detail.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>Parenthesis<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once again, commas are required <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/before-vs-by-dates\/\"><b>by<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> default when writing a parenthetical expression within a sentence.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Therefore,&nbsp; a comma must come after <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">or <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">when it is the last word in parenthesis.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"su-note\" style=\"border-color:#e5e54c;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#FFFF66;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\">The second independent clause in a compound sentence linked by <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/coordinating-conjunctions\/\" title=\"coordinating conjunctions\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\">coordinating conjunctions<\/a>, such as and and or, need to be offset with a pre-comma placement.<\/div><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Parenthesizing provides further clarity and focus to the information being conveyed, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-before-thereby\/\"><b>thereby<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> making this stylistic technique salient in writing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>Introductory expression<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Introductory elements enhance the initial context intended by writers, giving readers an idea of what comes next.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An introduction may either be a single word, a phrase, or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-before-even\/\"><b>even<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> a clause.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Clauses that introduce a sentence are usually dependent on another independent clause that comes afterward.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They are <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-before-or-after-also-the-definitive-guide\/\"><b>also<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> commonly headed by conjunctive adverbs and subordinating conjunctions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Commas may or may <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-before-not\/\"><b>not <\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">set off introductory elements, which may also be dependent on the length of the expression.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sentences introduced by short words and phrases may allow comma omission for as long as they do not result in confusion or misinterpretation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A statutory comma, however, must be inserted every time a dependent clause introduces a sentence.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hence, when <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">or <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is the last word in an introductory expression, especially a dependent clause, an after-comma is always mandatory.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"su-note\" style=\"border-color:#e5e54c;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#FFFF66;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\">When using coordinating conjunctions like but and or, it is necessary to insert a pre-comma, especially in compound sentences.<\/div><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Regular sentences would not usually require the usage of <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">or <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">as the last introductory word, therefore, the juice isn&rsquo;t worth the squeeze in this case.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b>The unnecessary comma before or after &ldquo;or&rdquo;<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-before-or-after-now\/\"><b>Now<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that we have fully understood the pre-and-post-comma guidelines, it is also crucial that we know when not to punctuate <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">or <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">with commas.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Three different circumstances dictate the non-comma placement, and these are elaborated in the following sub-sections.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>Two short options<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Or <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">may also be used for stating two kinds of choices or assumed preferences.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When this happens, commas do not come on either side of <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">or <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">so as not to defeat the function of the conjunction.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"su-note\" style=\"border-color:#e5e54c;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#FFFF66;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\">Would you like your steak medium or well-done?<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"su-note\" style=\"border-color:#e5e54c;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#FFFF66;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\">Should I book a single or twin room?<\/div><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-before-or-after-although\/\"><b>Although<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> we would naturally pause after the first option in oral speech, a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/unnecessary-commas\/\"><b>comma is unnecessary<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in written text.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>Oxford comma<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As mentioned earlier, an Oxford comma is the comma that comes before the coordinating conjunctions <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/such-as-in-a-sentence\/\"><b>such as<\/b><\/a> <i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">or<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in a serial list or more than two entities.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is also known as the serial comma which is more prevalently used in British English.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The usage of the Oxford comma is optional in a shorter list because it rarely causes ambiguity.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-before-or-after-thus\/\"><b>Thus<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the sentence below may or may not have a serial comma before <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">or.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<div class=\"su-note\" style=\"border-color:#e5e54c;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#FFFF66;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\">I prefer wearing shirts that are green, yellow(,) or blue.<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"su-note\" style=\"border-color:#e5e54c;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#FFFF66;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\">This shirt is available in small, medium(,) or large sizes.<\/div><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Oxford comma may be omitted for as long as it does not create any form of confusion which may lead to misinformation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>Ellipsis<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contrary to the function of parenthesis, the ellipsis is a stylistic device that deliberately omits one or more words in a sentence.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The usage of ellipsis supports the non-redundancy of lexical items, particularly when they are clearly implied and easily understood.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">or <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is used to connect words that would be dependent on the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-after-first\/\"><b>first <\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">clause, commas would not be necessary.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"su-note\" style=\"border-color:#e5e54c;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#FFFF66;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\">Her ultimate wish is to join the Welcome to Jamrock reggae cruise or a stay-all-you-can vacation in Jamaica.<\/div><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The example above omits some words after the conjunction <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">or<\/span><\/i> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">for the reason that they can simply be left out without causing any misunderstanding.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the sentence were complete, it would constitute a compound sentence which would <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-before-then\/\"><b>then<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> require a pre-conjunction comma.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"su-note\" style=\"border-color:#e5e54c;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#FFFF66;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\">Her ultimate wish is to join the Welcome to Jamrock reggae cruise, or she wants to have a stay-all-you-can vacation in Jamaica.<\/div><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both stylistic and prescriptive guidelines dictate the placement of punctuation marks in sentences.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Punctuation marks such as commas provide both prosodic and syntactic cues that are a key to the disambiguation of meaning.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By the same token, written language is not only the mere transformation and representation of oral speech into organized lexical units.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is also a fundamental resource of semiotic discourse elements that further reinforces communication eloquence.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-before-since\/\"><b>Since<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the written language is necessary for human civilization to thrive, the need for the efficient use of written linguistic devices is <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-before-or-after-nonetheless\/\"><b>nonetheless<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> indisputable.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Efficacious communication is tantamount to the meticulous analysis of the subtlest linguistic nuances. These nuances may be found in word meaning, pronunciation, sentence structure, and as well as in non-lexical symbols. Punctuation marks, such as commas, are non-lexical signs whose principal role is to facilitate reading, either silently or vocally. Symbols of punctuation serve as &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9467,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"disable-in-feed":false,"article-schema-type":"Article","disable-critical-css":false,"_convertkit_action_broadcast_export":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[35,1119,1116],"tags":[80,211,210],"class_list":["post-9464","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-english","category-comma-rules","category-grammar","tag-comma","tag-comma-after-or","tag-comma-before-or"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9464","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9464"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9464\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24635,"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9464\/revisions\/24635"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9467"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9464"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9464"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9464"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}