Question

When combining two independent clauses, a comma must be placed __________.

a. both before and after the conjunction
b. after the conjunction
c. before the conjunction
d. between the two indpendent clauses in place of the conjunction

Answer 1

The correct answer is C. before the conjunction

All of the other mentioned comma positions would create grammatically incorrect sentences. What exists in C is called an oxford comma.

Answer 2

c. before the conjunction

When combining two sentences (or independent clauses) using a conjunction, the comma must be placed before the conjunction. This tells the reader that one complete idea is over, but there is another idea attached to it that adds more information. The second independent clause is stopped with a period so no further punctuation is necessary.