But is that comma really necessary? I could as well lament the commas needed for red and green in a sentence like: He chased the bouncy, red, green, and blue ball across the yard. Historically too and also had commas before them at the end of the sentence. I just felt too awkward. There is debate over the comma-before-too “rule” on whether the comma is ever grammatically justified. I was very pleased indeed to receive the invitation. RM Rachel, Moderator Member The style guides I’ve consulted, including the Chicago Manual of Style 15th Edition, give us a choice of the use or non-use of the comma before ‘too.’ ), “We’re going shopping, out to dinner, and then to a movie, also.”. This first question comes from Marie Crosswell: I seem to remember having it drilled into my head in grade school English classes that when too was being used to mean also, there was ALWAYS a comma before the word if it came at the end of a sentence, and there were ALWAYS commas before and after it if it appeared in the middle of a sentence. However, doing it differently is certainly not incorrect. I was at the skating rink, too! Comma before "too" at the end of a sentence? Before we reveal which sentence needs a comma and which doesn’t, let’s go back to a term from the beginning of the show: participial phrase. There are novels written entirely in dialect, novels written in first person complete with purposely incorrect grammar, novels that don’t use dialogue tags. Commas separate ideas, add pauses, and help you to list things clearly. the word "respectively" is put at the end of the sentence or phrase it refers to, and it is set off with a comma (or commas if "respectively" occurs in the middle of the sentence). The only exception is when you are not using it to ask nicely, but as part of the sentence, e.g. It really depends and many editors will have contradictory views. I am editing a work of fiction in which the author has rigidly applied the rule. I find too to be a strange thing. According to The Chicago Manual of Style, a comma before too should be used only to note an abrupt shift in thought. I trace the construct, to “also .. too” in that first paragraph. “Highbrow” publications in one corner and, in the comma-hating corner, newspapers and most of my friends. If your teacher or boss wants you to use the comma, do it. Do not use a comma between the subject and verb of a sentence. , Is there a comma before the word well in a sentence, example, You mean that wacky comma is actually a rule!? A comma (,) is a punctuationmark that is frequently used in sentences. This week's tip comes to us from our publisher Jim Worsham, who is a man with great comma sense. Nutmeag, I totally agree about the choices. I'm like "Were you raised in a barn?!? Before fists start flying, let me say that, in my experience, there’s a clear divide between two camps regarding use of a comma before the conjunction in a series of three or more items. Since the words are just plain adverbs, there was never really a need to use those commas. Thank you very much indeed. Without them, sentences would just be messy! Work Cited Cook, Claire Kehrwald. (I loved jojo Bizarro’s take on what the stupid comma does to the reader’s brain: “I like potatoes … (long pause) … TOO!!! So let's end … Is there a punctuation rule as to why this is so? My personal conclusion: (1) There is a rule, but I'm not aware of it. . So, if too is at the end of a sentence… Choices?!? The sentence is, "This cartoon was proven successfully because one can almost taste the dirty air when viewing it, … Turns out, I can us… In the past, I would put a comma before a final too in a sentence, but I've since changed that style. Should there be a comma in the above response? Commas before adverbs at end of sentence chipperMDW (Programmer) (OP) 3 Mar 06 21:07 The following is a sentence I might write. Example 1: I looked for the answer in a book, and I looked on the Internet, too. You'll also get three bonus ebooks completely free. I'm proofreading for an author and his sentence is, in essence, written like this: Bob will be exposed for his bad deeds and soon. They have been dropped — many years ago, in fact. Well, it depends on the intention of the writer. Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! I see lots of people leaving out commas where they shouldn’t but always plopping that frivolous comma in before sentence-final “too.” It just looks wrong to me. You don’t use a comma for too little or too big, or too loud. couldn’t do it. Use commas to offset appositives from the rest of the sentence. 1. So I don’t use commas with too and similar words unless it is in the middle of the sentence. Use one comma before to indicate the beginning of the pause and one at the end to indicate the end of the pause. Commas may be placed after the closing parenthesis but not before either the opening or the closing parenthesis. A comma can do some work in making the meaning of a sentence clear, but to claim two different meanings for I like apples and bananas too with and without a comma before too puts too much pressure on the comma. Whereas, a pre-comma is unnecessary when no matter starts a sentence off, either as a part of a clause or a disjunctive phrase. They also let us connect words, phrases, and clauses together to make longer sentences. Even in published writing, I’ve seen authors use the ending-too commas for the first half of the book and then drop them. … It feels, when coupled with then or a similar phrase, more like a parenthetical expression. The word very is commonly used before an adjective or adverb. That dangling too always hooks into an active part of the sentence – or you don’t need to use the commas. The rules of grammar don’t often allow writers to have choices. Glad to hear. Appositives act as synonyms for a … Hooray: I signaled to the mayor about the mustard on his lip. Maybe it’s a regional thing. I think it is strange that some lexicographers and grammarians put a comma before the adverb "either", whereas others do not use a comma at all here (please see the example sentences in my first post). The rule goes something like this: When “too” is used in the sense of “also,” use a comma before and after “too” in the middle of a sentence and a comma before “too” at the end of a sentence. As for the commenter called Precise Edit, who thinks a sentence like “We’re going shopping, out to dinner, and then to a movie, also” is A-OK… Well, I just pity the poor souls whose work you butcher.). Gives us so much power, but then makes us feel inadequate if we don’t have a real justification as to why we put the comma where we did! Many people believe in using a comma before "too," as in, "I love you, too." Much like other conjunctive adverbs, though, it, too, seems to require that comma. They have been dropped — many years ago, in fact. OK, phrases and clauses, then. When a word or phrase forms an introduction … B: I am too. I already have to come up with the words to say, now I must choose how to punctuate it. The grammatically correct usage of the comma with the word "too" is this: The grammatically correct usage of the comma with the word "too" is this: When the word "too" is used to mean "also", put a comma before and after "too" when it's in the middle of the sentence and a comma before "too" when it's at the end of the sentence. I don’t know that my poor brain can handle it. His performance was very bad indeed. (Separate multiple adjectives for the same noun with commas. Where it gets tricky is where the please is in the middle of a sentence but is really at the beginning of what it modifies. 2) I am unlikely to use this comma if it is used in a sentence responding to someone else’s expression of emotion towards something/declaration of action. To understand what that is, we need to learn about participles: According to the Grammar Desk Reference , “Participles take two forms: present participles always end in -ing, and past participles usually end in -d or -ed” (2). All Right Reserved, The Difference Between "Phonics" and "Phonetics". or (2) There is no rule, so that I can decide it for myself when the adverb "either" should be preceded by a comma. In most cases, you need not use a comma before too at the end of a sentence or commas around it midsentence: She likes chocolate chip cookies too. Use a Comma After an Introductory Word or Phrase. According to The Chicago Manual of Style, a comma before too should be used only to note an abrupt shift in thought. But it’s not needed at the end of the sentence: I like cats too. . In the case of “too,” use a comma if you intend to emphasize a pause. I have just as rigidly deleted the commas. …Send it to me, please, with the attachments included. 1) The only justification for a comma before “too” at the end of a sentence is the flow of speech (I think we can all agree that tradition is an unsatisfactory excuse). It’s largely optional, and depends on the inflection the writer intends. Be sure never to add an extra comma between the final adjective and the noun itself or to use commas with non-coordinate adjectives. The bottom line is, there’s no clear rule that either specifies using the comma or forbids it. The rule goes something like this: When “too” is used in the sense of “also,” use a comma before and after “too” in the middle of a sentence and a comma before “too” at the end of a sentence. With commas, my guideline is to mirror spoken pronunciation. BUT: Pat: I'll be attending the book fair too. And I tend to use plenty of parentheses, but also use commas to set off parenthetical expressions (too). Consider the example below: When a too comes at the end of a sentence, however, a comma is almost never needed: Since it really depends on the writer’s intent, there is no hard-and-fast rule when it comes to using a comma before too. Also, a comma is inapplicable when no matter is a part of a restricted or essential clause. Too is an adverb. {If two things are involved [here it's the birthday party and the book fair], we use a comma before a sentence-ending 'too', correct?} Is this second comma necessary? She is very beautiful. You’ve likely read sentences in which there was a comma before too, but is this correct usage? Only use a comma to separate a dependent clause at the end of a sentence for added emphasis, usually when negation occurs. Boo: I signaled to the mayor about the mustard, on his lip. This use at the end of a clause may create a more informal . Before we reveal which sentence needs a comma and which doesn’t, let’s go back to a term from the beginning of the show: participial phrase. 6. It's usually used to mean "in addition" or "also." I was reading a book, where sometimes there is a comma before "either" at the end of the sentence, and sometimes there is no comma. I was at the skating rink, too! The question is whether or not one should use a comma before the word “too” at the end of a sentence—e.g., “Steve likes chocolate ice cream too.” The Chicago Manual of Style says you shouldn’t, but my girlfriend has found a website that says you should. Writing, grammar, and communication tips for your inbox. The rule goes something like this: When too is used in the sense of “also,” use a comma before and after too in the middle of a sentence and a comma before too at the end of a sentence. The only exception is when you are not using it to ask nicely, but as part of the sentence, e.g. Like so: I, too, have taken up smoking. People who routinely put commas before too are school marms at heart. [Forum] Comma before adverb at end of sentence Good Afternoon. Here, however, are some rules from which we might take some guidance. There’s a clear divide between two camps. There is a pause at the second sentence, just for emphasis, but the comma is not necessary. Commas separate ideas, add pauses, and help you to list things clearly. On the other hand, you could say that's great news as you'll never be wrong. Example 2: A: I'm hungry. Commas before adverbs at end of sentence chipperMDW (Programmer) (OP) 3 Mar 06 21:07. It really is up to you. They’re the same lousy writers who think it’s perfectly fine to burden readers with their inane “former/latter” constructions. How to Wish Someone Well in 2020, How to Write Right After You’ve Swiped Right, Why Grammar Matters in Your Content Marketing. Personally, that's the advice I follow. In fact, the comma is optional, and some style guides advise against it. Most of us were taught to place a comma before a sentence-ending “too”: We’re going shopping, out to dinner, and then to a movie, too. U no wht i mean? If it’s asking a question, the only way you would need a comma before “who” is if there is a phrase or clause coming before it. I think you need a comma before "and soon," but I can't find a Well, it depends on the intention of the writer. Interesting, first timer to this blog and dedicated reader of “dailyblogtips” Daniel is definitely the man. Since the words are just plain adverbs, there was never really a need to use those commas. I'll get off my soap box and get back to trying to edit my friend's fan fiction story. Do you need a comma before or after "too"? I always though that it looks odd and is awkward to read. She, too, decided against the early showing. No one seems to know how this particular quirk started, but it’s firmly entrenched in our over-cluttered writers’ brains. Don’t use a comma after and or but. Comma before “no matter” Stylistic and syntactic guidelines dictate the comma usage before the expression no matter. The rule goes something like this: When “too” is used in the sense of “also,” use a comma before and after “too” in the middle of a sentence and a comma before “too” at the end of a sentence. The rule goes something like this: When “too” is used in the sense of “also,” use a comma before and after “too” in the middle of a sentence and a comma before “too” at the end of a sentence. If please comes at the end of a sentence then you should almost always use a comma before it. Wait, I rhymed, can I enter this in the next poetry contest? Technically, the comma should be there. “Who” can be either a relative pronoun or an interrogative pronoun. In the end position, they may come across as an afterthought or parenthetical. I try to read my sentence out loud to see where emphasis and breath would fall into the mix. Could you please explain the reason? This comma is necessary because please tends to be interruptive in the middle. Well, many experts point out that the comma before a “too” or “either” can give it extra emphasis, setting it off from the pack and letting it stand alone. This is because the sentence is talking about a particular person John. She can't help you, anyway. Subscribers get access to our archives with 800+ interactive exercises! It is occasionally difficult to decide where to use a comma but, normally, it is not. Hiss! Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? The vocative comma should be used to clear up any confusion as to the meaning of the sentence. In my opinion, short four word sentences like “I love you too” don’t need commas. Most of us were taught to place a comma before a sentence-ending “too”: We’re going shopping, out to dinner, and then to a movie, too. 3 Responses to “When to Use a Comma: 10 Rules and Examples” Archaeologist on August 15, 2019 5:22 pm ProWritingAid won’t help anyone learn commas. Yes, it is what I was taught in school but I found that creative writing/fiction writing, is a different beast than the kind of writing you are taught in school. As for the word too, it all depends on the emphasis you are looking for. In most other cases, commas with this short adverb are unnecessary. The rule is – either have the commas both before and after a name, or don’t add it at all. I’ll stick to that, then, and, while I am at it, ignore DavidO’s infantile name-calling and eschew Michelle’s foolish consistency. The grammatically correct usage of the comma with the word "too" is this: When the word "too" is used to mean "also", put a comma before and after "too" when it's in the middle of the sentence and a comma before "too" when it's at the end of the sentence. If you’re looking for a guideline, use the comma when you want the extra emphasis. I might hear “as well” in that position, too. When the too comes in the middle of a sentence, emphasis is almost always intended since it interrupts the natural flow of the sentence. Most of the time you probably won't use a comma with “too” because your sentences will be chugging alongwithout needing a pause. It’s the writer’s choice. Hello, I've been scouring the Internet, but to no avail. Don’t use a comma before a prepositional phrase. *sigh*. <—I hate the way most people these days write out texts and write on social media sites. Season’s Greetings or Seasons Greetings and 3 More Confusing Holiday Terms, Happy New Year, New Year’s, or New Years? Example: The dog and the cat were named Jack and Don’t use a comma between items in a list if there are only two. WRONG: The student who got the … You have been successfully subscribed to the Grammarly blog. I would say that "too" is one of the hardest words to know whether you should use a comma or not. …Call her, please, to give her the news. Out of I tend to not use the comma, even though my law-abiding brain tells me I should. Still other writers put them in all the wrong places. Use a comma near the end of a sentence to separate contrasted coordinate elements or to indicate a distinct pause or shift. Thank you very much. The words too and also generally do not need commas with the exception of also at the beginning of the sentence. She too likes chocolate chip cookies. Here are 2 examples, one with a comma before and one with a comma after. Remember that commas often denote a pause, especially when emphasis is intended, so reading the sentence aloud and listening for a pause may be helpful. The word “too” is an adverb that indicates “also” or “in addition.” It most often shows up in the middle or at the end of a sentence. George clearly cleaned the house while he listened to the radio, not because he was listening to the radio. I am editing a work of fiction in which the author has rigidly applied the … - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary Historically too and also had commas before them at the end of the sentence. The editors at the Chicago Manual of Style share their opinion: Use commas with too only when you want to emphasize an abrupt change of thought: He didn’t know at first what hit him, but then, too, he hadn’t ever walked in a field strewn with garden rakes. Use a pair of commas in the middle of a sentence to set off clauses, phrases, and words that are not … Good morning, readers! If “though” comes at the end of a sentence, then you can choose to either place a comma or not. There’s no grammatical rule that says you must use a comma with “too” in the kind of sentence you describe. It isn’t the word, it is the sentence construction that demands the comma. Both these sentences are correct and convey the same thing. at the ends of sentences. But in your own A comma (,) is a punctuation mark that is frequently used in sentences. I will be attending the book fair, too. It’s kind of nice to be thrown a bone from time to time. My question is if a comma would be needed before "easily" in this slogan: "Data Bin: Conceive applications and collaborate, easily." Even journalists do it, and modern-day practice is to strip news stories of as many commas as possible without hopelessly obfuscating meaning. You will improve your English in only 5 minutes per day, guaranteed! Quote: It's time to go home, now. Too, when set off by commas, is not a simple word with a quirky comma rule. One of the biggest problems for some writers is deciding where to put commas and where NOT to put them. Seriously, it makes it look like it’s supposed to be read as “I like potatoes … (long pause) … TOO!!! Some writers think they have to use them to set off everything ("comma kings and queens"), while others barely use them at all. If the word too means "excessively," commas should not be used at all. Use commas to offset appositives from the rest of the sentence. So, in the comma goes. They serve little to no purpose at the end of a sentence to point off an adverb such as anyway, regardless, or nevertheless. I am editing a work of fiction in which She too likes chocolate chip cookies. Some will argue that a comma gives the reader the space to breathe, whereas others will state that a comma would be superfluous here and that there is no reason to separate the adverb from the rest of the sentence. She is very beautiful indeed. So, my conclusion would be that just as the comma before "too" at the end of a sentence may (or may When do you use a comma before "too" at the end of a sentence and when is it unnecessary? At least I’m consistent. Here are some clues to help you decide whether the sentence element is essential: If you leave out the clause, phrase, or word, does the sentence still make sense? (Or at least I'll try.). When using the word too, you only need to use a comma before it for emphasis. Use a comma before while in the middle of a sentence when you mean “whereas” or “although.” I prefer chocolate cake, while my sister prefers key lime pie. “Too” in this context means “also,” but you’re not likely to see the sentence written like this: We’re going shopping, out to dinner, and then to a movie, also. There is a pause at the second sentence, just for emphasis, but the comma is not necessary. It is much less rigid. When they are moved to another place, a comma is used to indicate that Copyright © 2020 Daily Writing Tips . When too comes in the middle of the sentence or clause, however, a comma aids comprehension. I often see it done inconsistently. It depends on what you're writing. But is that comma really necessary? The addition of commas gives extra emphasis to the name. I’ve always thought it looks odd with the comma. Technically, the comma should be there. I have taken up smoking, too. Examples and definition of a Commas. Ack! Uh-oh: Sarah brought nacho chips, … Since either way works, you do not need a comma. 3. Thank you! There is no comma after it in this case. In this vocative comma example, the speaker is addressing the readers with a common salutation. !”, If it doesn’t matter whether we use the comma before the word “too,” then why did they drill it into our heads in school? “Too” in this context means “also,” but you’re not likely to see the sentence written like this: … My "grammar sense" tells me that the comma is supposed to go there (perhaps optionally), but I can't explain why, and I can't find any rules supporting that use of a comma. It doesn’t make sense to me, but then again most of our grammar is going into the crapper these days. A comma only needs to appear before the word too if you are using it to mark a shift of thought in the middle of a sentence like in the example: I, too, like cats. She paid far too much for her new car. But, as usage experts note, you must use commas when too separates the verb from its object (Cook 126): I note, too, that you have eaten all the chocolate chip cookies. When the too comes in the middle of a sentence, emphasis is almost always intended since it interrupts the natural flow of the sentence. I am learning so much from your site. Also, as well or too ? Use commas to separate two or more coordinate adjectives that describe the same noun. I agree with the person who said that people will omit other, necessary commas but plop those in. Seriously though. Most words in an English sentence occur in an expected place. I am peer reviewing someone's paper in my class and was wondering if this sentence needs a comma before they say "as well" at the end. The following is a sentence I might write. The second sentence is still grammatical, but it isn’t logical. Putting a comma before as in this sentence is a mistake. Still, that niggling comma before “too” persists. Anyway, I didn't want to go. I am editing a work of fiction in which the author has rigidly applied the rule. !” It’s simply ridiculous. When too comes in the middle of the sentence or clause, however, a comma aids comprehension. A comma only needs to appear before the word too if you are using it to mark a shift of thought in the middle of a sentence like in the example: I, too, like cats. Sentence adverbs can go at the end of a sentence or clause rather than at the beginning. Thanks for all that you do. Most of its suggestions regarding them arre wrong. I think it’s great too (I just had to use too). On the other hand, I, too, have pondered whether or not that comma is always needed. So, my conclusion would be that just as the comma before "too" at the end of a sentence may (or may not) be included, so too may the comma before "yet" at the end of a sentence be included. First, it’s worth mentioning at the outset that the word though acting alone is far more characteristic of spoken English than of written English (where it will usually be replaced with although or even though) and commas Quote: It's time to go home, now. She, too, decided against the early showing. In most cases, you need not use a comma before too at the end of a sentence or commas around it midsentence: She likes chocolate chip cookies too. In fact, the comma is one of the most important and commonly used types of punctuation. I seem to remember having it drilled into my head in grade school English classes that when too was being used to mean also, there was ALWAYS a comma before the word if it came at the end of a sentence, and there were ALWAYS commas before and after it if it appeared in the middle of a sentence. This sounds pretty natural to me. For a while I tried, because it was technically “correct” and I wanted to do everything by the book . When using the word too, you only need to use a comma before it for emphasis. 3) I am more likely to use this comma if the penultimate word of the sentence ends with a “t”, especially when the “t” is pronounced as a glottal stop because this gives a slight pause to the flow of speech anyway. But none address commas before “too,” “either,” “anyway,” etc. If the sentence would not require any commas if the parenthetical statement were removed, the sentence should not have any commas when the parentheses are added. Could you please tell me when/if "too" should be preceded by a comma at the end of a sentence? I have just as rigidly deleted the commas. By skipping the comma, you deemphasize the “too” by integrating it into the sentence. {Pat is simply I prefer chocolate cake while my sister prefers key lime pie. I don't know about you, but I was taught to use a comma before the word too when it comes at the end of a sentence. This is one of my weaknesses, proper punctuation so I figured I better make this blog a daily reader for me as well. But, as usage experts note, you must use commas when too separates the verb from its object (Cook 126): I note, too, that you have eaten all the chocolate chip cookies. ", Oh well. In a teaching aid I once wrote I say, "Commas mark off structural elements of a sentence to help your readers handle how they are being told something as they read it. So you could say, “I too like reading mysteries” or “I like reading mysteries too.” If, on the other hand, you want to emphasize an abrupt change of thought (1), you do use commas, which, among other things, are used to indicate pauses: “I, too, like reading my… It really is up to you. Rarely would I breathlessly say a sentence ending in “too” without a pause before the “too”. We can strengthen the meaning of very by using indeed after the adjective or adverb modified by very.