Is there always a comma in front of but?

You should put a comma before but only when but is connecting two independent clauses. I would go for a walk, but it’s raining outside. That means they’re independent clauses, so you need to use a comma before but. When you don’t have two independent clauses, leave the comma out.

Should I put a comma in this sentence?

Use commas after introductory a) clauses, b) phrases, or c) words that come before the main clause. a. Common starter words for introductory clauses that should be followed by a comma include after, although, as, because, if, since, when, while. While I was eating, the cat scratched at the door.

What is the rule for using commas to introduce a quote?

As a general rule, you should use a comma to introduce quoted material or dialogue. That’s because in most types of dialogue, the quoted material stands apart from the surrounding text. In grammatical terms, it’s “syntactically independent.” Here are two examples from the first book in the “Game of Thrones” series.

Is there a comma after but?

According to editors and grammarians, there is no comma after the word but at the beginning of a sentence. There is really only one comma rule that mentions conjunctions: a comma goes before a coordinating conjunction that separates two independent clauses.

How do you use commas with but?

You should always use a comma before but when joining two independent clauses. A comma after but is only necessary if you’re using it as literary device to draw attention to something.

Do you put a comma inside or outside quotation marks?

Sentence-ending punctuation is a whole different story. In the United States, the rule of thumb is that commas and periods always go inside the quotation marks, and colons and semicolons (dashes as well) go outside: “There was a storm last night,” Paul said. Peter, however, didn’t believe him.

Do you put a comma before an in-text citation?

Use a comma between the last name and the title of the source if both appear in the parenthetical citation. The parenthetical information should not repeat information given in your text (e.g., if you mention the author’s name in your text, you do not include it in the citation).