Can someone who is good at GRAMMAR, please help me.....?

Question

Okay, so my teacher last year told me that before the word "so" you have to put in a comma, unless it's like a description or something (Ex. It was so hot) And I just noticed (i was reading a book) that the author doesn't put a comma before "so". I don't get it. Should I or shouldn't I put a comma before "so" I've went to google and typed up Grammar but it's not helping. I appreciate all you help. thanks ^_^

Answer 1

In a sentance like "I didn't want to go to the shops, so I stayed home."
a comma definately comes before the "so". The "so" is like a connector between two sentances - "I didn't want to go to the shops" and "I stayed home"
Authors often take liberalities with grammar. I've read books which don't use quotation marks or commas. They are trying to express something that, if all the grammar and punctuation was present, would not be as clear to the reader.

Answer 2

I'm impressed that Mirabell knew about "the Oxford comma", but puzzled as to why she included it in an answer to this question, which has nothing to do with using the Oxford comma (it's often - but not always - used with lists, before the "and" linking the last item in the list to all the rest.)
For a good explanation of the Oxford comma, please see the link below.
However, your question involves using a comma before the coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, yet, for, nor, so) joining independent clauses in a compound sentence.
When a coordinating conjunction connects two independent clauses, it is often (but not always) accompanied by a comma:

Bill wants to play ball, but he has had trouble meeting the academic requirements.

When the two independent clauses connected by a coordinating conjunction are nicely balanced or brief, many writers will omit the comma:

Bill has a great jump shot but he isn't quick on his feet.

A comma simply signifies a brief pause (a half-breath), so, especially if the compound sentence is very short -

I eat and I sleep.

- no comma would be needed. But since many/most compound sentences are fairly long, the mistaken notion has arisen that one must aLways use a comma before the coordinating conjunction joining the independent clauses.

There are some hard and fast comma rules, but very often using or not using a comma is up to the discretion of the writer.

Answer 3

Yeah, that's a hard one... The comma is used to represent a pause in speech. (Ex.When beginning a sentence with "so" you should put a comma after "so".) When putting a comma before "so" it is called a serial comma(also know as a Oxford or Harvard comma). ... They are used immediately before a grammatical conjunction that precedes the last item in a list of three or more items.
Writers and editors disagree on the use of the serial comma. so thats probably why your teacher says to put the comma but the book didn't... There is a lot of information on serial commas so I suggest to look it up by going to something like, Wikipedia or answers.com...etc...

Answer 4

akigenie gave a very good answer. So is like and in this case, where it separates two sentences that can stand alone. That is why the comma.

I went to the store yesterday, and I bought some apples.

It is very hot outside today, so I am going to go swimming.

Answer 5

Your teacher is correct. Authors take artistic license with grammar and the usual rules of language because they are being creative. When you are a published author, you can write whatever you like in your books. Until then, you should follow the rules of grammar and style, especially in your classwork - unless your assignment is a piece of experimental creative writing.

To the poster above - only use a semicolon when the two things you are joining are complete sentences WITHOUT a conjuction:

It was raining, so we decided to stay in.
It was raining; we decided to stay in.

Answer 6

When two sentences are connected, use "so"

1. I went to college, so I could get am advanced education.

2. I got wet, so I have a terrible cold.

Also, if it comes at the beginning of a sentence..

So, how do you like my new hair cut.


Books don't usually use commas because they want to get as much information as possible on a page. And a comma takes up as much space as a letter on a keyboard.

Answer 7

This is being used as conjuctive adverb. So, but, although are words to join together two otherwise simple sentences. If the sentence you are creating could be broken into two sentences use a comma.

Answer 8

So when used as therefore would require a comma. Therefore, .... So, ....
One is likely to find any type of punctuation and grammar in books. Any given author is likely to use vernacular and idioms in his writings.

Answer 9

Technically, if you are joining two complete sentences with the word "so", as in

There was nothing on TV; so we decided to go out.

You should use a semicolon (;), not a comma.

Sometime authors don't stick to the rules of grammar in order to make their writing more natural or conversational. A good example of this is Ernest Hemmingway.
Use a comma with "and" and "but" when joining sentences.
My grammar is a little old-fashioned, and the rules change, but this is what I was taught.

Answer 10

You can't always go by grammar/spelling in books. Over the years, I've noticed minor errors, such at the one you're referring to, here & there in books that I've read.
Proof-readers don't always catch everything.
I would go with what your teacher said, because that sounds correct.
Are you still in school? Ask your current English/Literature teacher