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1. Commas Meaning
2. Inverted Commas Meaning
3. Commas Meaning
4. Commas Meaning In English
5. Comma Changes Meaning Examples
6. Comma Meaning In Chinese

The Quick Answer

English - Appendix 2: Vocabulary, grammar and punctuation 1 English Appendix 2: Vocabulary, grammar and punctuation. The grammar of our first language is learnt naturally and implicitly through interactions with. Follow these 6 basic punctuation rules and they will help you to write more clearly and effectively. When the main clause of a sentence contains a positive verb, inserting a comma before because makes what follows nonessential to the meaning of the sentence: Alex ordered the book online. Robert also ordered the book online, because he was running out of reading material. English Language Learners Definition of comma: a punctuation mark, that is used to separate words or groups of words in a sentence See the full definition for comma in the English Language Learners. I Need to display a number with commas and decimal point. Eg: Case 1: Decimal number is 432324 (This does not have commas or decimal Points) Need to display it as 432,324.00 but not 432,324. Case 2: Decimal number is 2222222.22 (This does not have commas) Need to display it as 2,222,222.22. I tried ToString('#,##0.##').

When do you use a comma before 'which'?

Commas Meaning

An Extremely Simple Check

If you can replace your 'which' with 'that,' don't use a comma before your 'which.'

A Simple Check

Here is a simple process to help your decision on whether to use a comma before 'which.'

• First: Look at the clause starting with 'which.'
• Check 1: If you'd be happy to put parentheses (brackets) around it or even delete it, then offset it with commas.
• Check 2: If you can't put it in brackets or delete it, then don't use commas.

(These checks apply equally to 'who.')

A Bit More on Using a Comma before 'Which'

Here's a slightly longer explanation.
If the information provided by the clause introduced by 'who' or 'which' is necessary to define the person or thing it is describing (i.e., it's not just some extra information you could easily remove), then the clause is not offset with commas.

• The car which hit the snowdrift is a write-off.
(The clause 'which hit the snowdrift' is required to define the car, so it is not offset with commas.)

When a clause starting with 'which' (called a 'relative clause') is necessary for identification purposes, it is called a restrictive clause or a defining clause. With a restrictive clause, the 'which' can be replaced with 'that.' For example:

• The car that hit the snowdrift is a write-off.
(With a restrictive clause, 'which' can be replaced with 'that.' In the US, the practice of starting a restrictive clause with 'which' is highly unpopular, to the extent that many consider it a mistake.)

When to Use Commas before 'Which' and 'Who'

There is often confusion about when to use commas with 'which' and 'who.' Unfortunately, there is no simple rule. Sometimes, there should be commas, and sometimes there should not. Here is the rule:

Examples of 'Which' and 'Who' Clauses without Commas

Here are some examples of 'who' clauses:

• The boy who broke our window brought some flowers to the door.
(There are no commas because the clause 'who broke our window' is required to define 'the boy.')
• The driver who stole indicator bulbs for his own car was given a formal warning.
(There are no commas because the clause 'who stole indicator bulbs for his own car' is required to define 'the driver.')
• Jeremy Buxton of 16 High Street who was born in Boston is the second person from the village to represent the country at basketball.
(The clause 'who was born in Boston' is not required to define 'Jeremy Buxton of 16 High Street.' Therefore, there should be commas around this clause.)
• Sarah has always been close to her parents who live in the same village as us.
(The clause 'who live in the same village as us' is not required to define Sarah's parents. Therefore, a comma is required before 'who.')

The last example above is a real example from a newspaper. Let's examine it in more detail.

The clause 'who live in the same village as us' is just additional information about Sarah's parents. Therefore, there should be a comma before 'who.' However, if Sarah had adoptive parents too, then this example would be correct (i.e., correct without a comma). The clause would then be defining which set of parents she has always been close to. In other words, Sarah would have two sets of parents:

• her parents who live in the same village
• her parents who live somewhere else

The key point here is that using or not using a comma before 'which' or 'who' is not usually a grammar mistake, but it does change the meaning of your sentence.

Real-life Examples

Here are some real-life examples of clauses that are required to define. (These are called restrictive clauses or defining clauses.)

• The man who doesn't read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them. (Author Mark Twain)
• It is only shallow people who do not judge by appearances. (Playwright Oscar Wilde)
• The man who can dominate a London dinner-table can dominate the world. (Playwright Oscar Wilde)
• One should never trust a woman who tells one her real age. A woman who would tell one that would tell one anything. (Playwright Oscar Wilde)

Examples of 'Which' and 'Who' Clauses with Commas

Remember that if the information provided by the 'who' and 'which' clause is just additional information (i.e., it is not required to define the word it is modifying), then it must be separated from the rest of the sentence with commas.
In other words, if you'd happily put brackets around it or delete it, then you must at least put commas around it.

Inverted Commas Meaning

Examples:

• His youngest daughter, who was born on 16 June 1972, was selected for astronaut training.
(The clause 'who was born on 16 June 1972' is just additional information about 'His youngest daughter.' Therefore, commas are required.)
• James Baker's cat made its own way home after it was accidentally left on the beach at Scarborough. James, who has lived in our village for 10 years, has just won the lottery.
(The clause 'who has lived in our village for 10 years' is just additional information about 'James.' Therefore, commas are required. We know who James is because he is defined in the first sentence.)
• William Scott is a millionaire. William who bought his first house in the '80s is estimated to be worth more than 10 million pounds.
(The clause 'who bought his first house in the '80s' is just additional information. It should be offset with commas).

'Which' and 'That'

You will notice that all of the examples in the section above use 'who' and not 'which.' We have used 'who' because using 'which' without a comma is an unpopular practice (especially in the US). Here is an example of 'which' without a comma:

• Experience is a comb which nature gives us when we are bald.
(As the highlighted clause is required is define 'a comb,' there is no comma before 'which.' Brits are fine with this. Americans are not. They would prefer 'that nature gives us when we are bald.')

'That' with a Restrictive Clause

When a clause is necessary for defining (or identification), it is called a restrictive clause. It is described as 'restrictive' because it restricts the meaning of the word it modifies. It is also called a 'defining clause,' which, I think, is a more accurate term. There are never commas around a restrictive clause. When introducing a restrictive clause, the words 'who' and 'which' can be replaced with 'that.' (NB: There are never commas around a clause which starts with 'that.')
Here is an example with 'who':

• The boy who broke our window bought me some flowers.
• The boy that broke our window bought me some flowers.
(Using 'that' for people is best avoided in formal writing.)

Here is an example with 'which':

• The PC which keeps breaking down is under guarantee.
(This is unpopular, especially in the US.)
• The PC that keeps breaking down is under guarantee.

Quite often with a restrictive clause, you can remove the 'who,' 'which,' or 'that' altogether.

• The reprimand which you received was justified.
• The reprimand that you received was justified.
• The reprimand you received was justified.

Commas Are Being Used as Parenthetical Punctuation

If a clause just adds additional information, then it should be separated from the rest of the sentence with commas. You could equally use brackets or dashes. These are all types of parenthetical punctuation.

• Manx cats, which live on the Isle of Man, have a longer life expectancy than normal domestic cats.
• Manx cats (which live on the Isle of Man) have a longer life expectancy than normal domestic cats.
• Manx cats – which live on the Isle of Man – have a longer life expectancy than normal domestic cats.

Remember that if a clause just adds additional information, then it can be removed without any loss of meaning to the main sentence.

• Manx cats have a longer life expectancy than normal domestic cats.

Read more about your choice for parenthetical punctuation.

Beware of Ambiguity

Look at the sentences below. Both are grammatically correct, but they have different meanings.

• Manx cats, which live on the Isle of Man, have a longer life expectancy than normal domestic cats.
• Manx cats which live on the Isle of Man have a longer life expectancy than normal domestic cats.

The first example means that all Manx cats have a longer life expectancy than normal cats. (The clause is simply additional information telling the reader where Manx cats live.) The second example means that only Manx cats living on the Isle of Man have a longer life expectancy (i.e., Manx cats that live elsewhere do not).
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See Also

Using which, that and whoCommas with which, that and who

Determining when to insert a comma before a phrase or clause that begins with because requires thoughtful analysis. In this post, I’ll walk you through two kinds of examples: sentences with positive verbs and sentences with negative verbs. The explanations and examples are derived from Claire Cook’s Line by Line (115–16).

Sentences with Positive Verbs

When the main clause of a sentence contains a positive verb, inserting a comma before because makes what follows nonessential to the meaning of the sentence:

Commas Meaning

Alex ordered the book online. Robert also ordered the book online, because he was running out of reading material.

In the sentence above, becausehe was running out of reading material is not essential to the meaning of the sentence. The point is that Robert, like Alex, ordered the book online. The reason Robert ordered the book online is simply additional information. But if the reason is necessary to convey the writer’s meaning, then the comma should be omitted:

Alex ordered the book online because she was too tired to go to the bookstore. Robert ordered the book online because he was running out of reading material.

In this case, the writer wishes to emphasize the reason each person ordered the book online.

Sentences with Negative Verbs

Commas Meaning In English

Cleanmymac 2 license key. When the main clause of a sentence contains a negative verb, the insertion of a comma before because lets the reader know “the reason for a negative statement” (Cook 116):

Comma Changes Meaning Examples

I didn’t order the book online, because I was running out of reading material. I decided to buy the book from the shop down the street instead.

In the first sentence above, the reason the writer didn’t order the book online is because the writer was running out of reading material. As the second sentence indicates, the writer decided it would be quicker to get the book from a shop.

The omission of a comma indicates that what follows because “gives an incorrect explanation” (Cook 116):

Ableton live 10 free trial download. Virtual dj 5 apk. I didn’t order the book online because I was running out of reading material.

Here, running out of reading material is not the reason the writer ordered the book online, as the second sentence below makes clear:

I didn’t order the book online because I was running out of reading material. I ordered it online to support Bookshop, a new online store.

But without that second sentence, the meaning of the first sentence is ambiguous. Did the writer order the book online because the writer was running out of reading material? Or did the writer order the book online for some other reason? Thus, as always when a sentence is unclear, it’s best to revise. In this case, you might rewrite the sentence as follows:

It was not a shortage of reading material that led me to order the book online. I ordered it online to support Bookshop, a new online store.

Work Cited

Cook, Claire Kehrwald. Line by Line: How to Edit Your Own Writing. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1985.

Comma Meaning In Chinese