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When we use comma before "or"

30 August 2022 0

In many languages, including English, the comma (,) is used to separate items in a list. While this punctuation mark may seem fairly simple, its use can vary significantly from one context to the next. In fact, using the comma correctly can help make your writing more elegant and understandable to others.

Comma Usage In Noun Phrases

Let's say you are writing a list of nouns and you want to separate each entry with a comma. Once you have finished typing the list, you will see the following punctuation:

  • I love chocolate, cookies, and marshmallows.
  • My favorite movie is Pulp Fiction.
  • Parmesan cheese is pretty awesome.
  • This is just a small list of my favorite food.
  • You may wonder if there is a correct way to use the comma in a noun phrase. There is!
  • In the examples above, each item is a noun. When using the comma in this way, it is essential that the items are in the correct order.

You cannot simply reorder the items or intermix them incorrectly because the meaning of the sentence will change. Consider the following example:

  • I love chocolate, cookies, and marshmallows.
  • My favorite movie is Pulp Fiction.
  • Parmesan cheese is pretty awesome.
  • This is just a small list of my favorite food.
  • You may wonder if there is a correct way to use the comma in a noun phrase. There is!
  • But I don't like green vegetables, so I never use them.
  • I love chocolate, cookies, and marshmallows.
  • My favorite movie is Pulp Fiction.
  • Parmesan cheese is pretty awesome.
  • This is just a small list of my favorite food.


You may wonder if there is a correct way to use the comma in a noun phrase. There is!
In this example, the order is shuffled and the items are incorrect. If the author had not included the missing comma before the final entry, the meaning of the sentence would be quite different. Fortunately, the author included the comma and it is clearly visible at the end. This mistake would be very easy to spot if the reader were familiar with the rules of punctuation. In the above example, the missing comma would have made the list much more palatable to a vegetarian.

Comma Usage In Verb Phrases

The comma can also be used with adjectives and other adverbs to modify a verb or verb phrase. Let's take a look at some examples:

  • Parmesan cheese is pretty awesome, an adverb describing an adjective awesome.
  • I love chocolate and cookies.
  • My favorite movie is Pulp Fiction.
  • This is just a small list of my favorite foods.
  • Tomorrow is the Great British Bake Off. And I'm really looking forward to it.

In the examples above, the verbs have been modified by adjectives or other adverbs which themselves are modified by a comma. Remember: in this case, the comma is not used to separate items in a list, but rather it is used to modify or adorn the item that follows it. Once again, getting the order of the items right is important because incorrectly ordered items will change the meaning of the sentence. Consider the following example:

  • I love chocolate and cookies.
  • My favorite movie is Pulp Fiction.
  • This is just a small list of my favorite foods.
  • Tomorrow is the Great British Bake Off. And I'm really looking forward to it.

In this example, the order is incorrect and the meaning of the sentence changes due to the misplaced comma. In the above examples, the comma has modified the verb to make it a present tense verb. While this may seem like a minor point, consider the following:

  • I love chocolate and cookies.
  • My favorite movie is Pulp Fiction.
  • This is just a small list of my favorite foods.
  • Tomorrow is the Great British Bake Off. And I'm really looking forward to it.

Here, the comma has made the verb a form of the present tense, am looking forward to it. This is different from the previous examples, where the verb took on a more formal tone. This is another case where getting the order of the items correct is essential because of the subtle differences in meaning that may arise from an incorrectly ordered item.

Comma Usage In Parentheses

Parentheses are often used in writing to indicate that something is being quoted. For example, if you were writing about a famous chef and you were unsure of the correct spelling of his name, you might use parentheses to indicate that you were quoting him. In these cases, the comma is used to separate the quote from the original text:

  • Salad dressings can be tricky; you need to use the right combination of oil and vinegar to create the right taste. (Source)
  • When I was a kid, all my friends would come over to my house after school and we'd play on my Xbox. (Source)
  • The way you engage with your children through food is so important. (Source)
  • The choice of music you play during a parent teach children piano lesson really affects their experience. (Source)
  • If you're looking for a way to help your children develop their skills, consider the piano; it's a classical instrument that can be learned at any age. (Source)
  • A 4k television is the perfect gift for any parent who has been struggling to keep up with the demands of parenthood. (Source)

In these examples, the parentheses are used to indicate that something is being quoted, and in each case, the comma is used to indicate that the quote is part of the original text and should not be interpreted as an ending punctuation mark.

Comma In Dashes

A dash is a punctuation mark that is used to indicate missing words or letters within a quote. For example, if you were writing about a piece of music and you needed to indicate where a word or phrase was missing, you might use a dash. In these cases, the comma is used to join the quote to the original text:

  • The music has a strong and beautiful melody, but there are unfortunately some words missing from the lyrics. (Source)
  • The strings separate nicely but the wood wind instruments don't fit comfortably. (Source) Sara couldn't keep her eyes off of the chocolate fountain during the Golden Globe Awards. (Source)
  • The only thing better than one guest starring role on The Handmaid's Tale is two guest starring roles on The Handmaid's Tale. (Source)
  • People tend to think that the more items you have in your cart, the better, but that's not always the case. (Source)
  • In the examples above, the dashes are used to indicate that words are missing from or needed within the text. In each case, the comma is used to indicate that the quote is being joined to the original text and is not intended to be taken as a list of items or a definition of something.

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