06/11/2023 06:02 Commas, Conjunctions, and Modifiers | MLA Style Center

Many writers and even editors have trouble deciding where to place the commas in a

phrase or clause appears after a conjunction. The following are correctly punctuated

He scratched his head and, fretting over the pun

comma.

She forgot to add the commas, and if it were a te

failed.

She omitted the commas, and, to her regret, no o

sentence.

When punctuating these types of sentences, you must first determine whether the co

clauses or verbs in a compound predicate. (In a compound predicate, two verbs shar

Let’s look at the first example.

Compound Predicates
He scratched his head and, fretting over the pun
comma.

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Here, the conjunction (and) joins verbs (scratched and added) in a compound predica
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Independent Clauses
She forgot to add the commas, and if it were a te
failed.

She omitted the commas, and, to her regret, no o

sentence.

In each of these examples, the conjunction joins two independent clauses and thus a

comma generally precedes a conjunction that joins two independent clauses. (The co

are short and closely related: “Lightning appeared and thunder soon followed.”)

But why are there commas around to her regret but not around if it were a test?

Let’s look at each example separately.

Independent Clauses with Essential Modifying Phrase or Clause

She forgot to add the commas, and if it were a te

failed.

The Principle. A short modifying phrase or clause that is essential to the meaning of t

off from the rest of the sentence by commas at both ends. Thus, in the example abov
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the modifying clause if it were a test since the clause is short and essential to the me
06/11/2023 06:02 Commas, Conjunctions, and Modifiers | MLA Style Center

She forgot to add the commas, and if it were a te

homework assignment, she would have failed.

Though not necessary, you could also insert a comma for readability after the short c

She forgot to add the commas, and if it were a te

failed.

Independent Clauses with Nonessential Modifying Phrase or Clause

She omitted the commas, and, to her regret, no o

sentence.

The Principle. A nonessential phrase or clause must be set off from the rest of the sen

regret is not essential to the meaning of the sentence.

The Test. The sentence could read, “She omitted the commas, and no one understoo

phrase to her regret can be omitted, it must be set off from the sentence.

Other Considerations. Some writers may prefer to omit the comma before and to avo

The comma before and is optional because the independent clauses are short and th

clarity:

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06/11/2023 06:02 Commas, Conjunctions, and Modifiers | MLA Style Center

She omitted the commas, and no one understoo

her regret.

Cook also notes that when a transitional adverb, such as fortunately, blends into a se

around the term if you wish to emphasize the adverb, but they aren’t necessary (125)

She omitted the commas, but fortunately everyon

sentence.

But if the adverb separates the verb from its object, then commas are needed (126):

She remembered, fortunately, to add the comma

understood her sentence.

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