Where do commas go in the sentence Cats and dogs? - briefly
In the sentence "Cats and dogs," a comma is typically used before the conjunction "and" when listing two or more items. This follows the convention known as the Oxford comma, which is widely accepted in English grammar. However, in some cases, especially when the list is short and clear without the comma, its use can be optional based on personal or organizational style preferences.
Where do commas go in the sentence Cats and dogs? - in detail
The use of commas in the sentence "Cats and dogs" depends on the context and the intended meaning. Here are some guidelines:
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Listing items: If you're simply listing two animals, then no comma is needed between them. For example:
- I see cats and dogs playing in the park.
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Conjunction 'and' as a coordinating conjunction: When 'and' is used to connect two independent clauses, a comma should precede it. However, this doesn't apply to "Cats and dogs" as it's not a sentence with two independent clauses. For example:
- I see cats, and dogs are playing in the park.
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Oxford comma: While the Oxford (or serial) comma is often used before the final 'and' or 'or' in a list of three or more items, it's not typically used with only two items. Therefore, you wouldn't use a comma between "Cats" and "and dogs". For example:
- I see cats, birds, and dogs playing in the park.
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Appositive phrase: If "and dogs" is acting as an appositive (renaming or explaining) for "cats", then a comma should follow "cats". However, this usage doesn't apply to "Cats and dogs" as it's not rephrasing or clarifying. For example:
- Cats, and dogs too, are playing in the park.
In summary, when using "Cats and dogs" in a sentence, you generally don't need a comma between them unless they're part of a longer list (where an Oxford comma would be used) or if they're being used as appositives.