Comma question. How to catch errors

[Wriley]

Does this sentence need a comma?
The author is a gifted storyteller and uses language that anyone can understand not just a political science major.

I have no idea what grammar checker to use. I've tried every I can find and they never correct commas that editors find. I've written numerous papers in college and never had this problem. What am i doing wrong?

[MrsCatInTheHat]

There should be a comma before "not."

[Wriley]

That's what OBC said but I can't find a grammar checker that corrects it. I just went through at least 10 different sites and app. I tried that sentence. Nothing. What do I do because I just can't see why it needs a comma. I'm perfectionist and this bothers me, that I can't get commas right.

[Wriley]

Maybe I just need to do very simple sentences.

[unamilagra]

I think a good place to start is by reading the sentence aloud. Anywhere you naturally pause (in this case after understand) is a hint that there might need to be a comma placed there (although this is not always the case!).

In this sentence, "not just a political science major" is an appositive phrase, meaning that the sentence could stand grammatically on its own without it, but it is providing additional information. Appositive phrases should always be separated by commas, regardless of where they fall in the sentence. For example, if you had written:

The author is a gifted storyteller and uses language that anyone, not just political science majors, can understand.

This would still need commas around the appositive phrase.

Of course, there is always the option to reword the sentence so that there is no need for the appositive phrase at all:

The author is a gifted storyteller and uses language such that you do not need to be a political science major to understand it.

This is my favorite website I've found for explaining comma usage: https://www.businessinsider.com/a-guide ... use-2013-9

[Calyssa]

a comma is usually placed before a conjunction. In the sentence "and" is a conjunction, therefore a comma should be placed before it.
Also it is used to separate different parts (constrasting parts) of a sentence which explains why a comma should be placed before "not"

[MrsCatInTheHat]

a comma is usually placed before a conjunction. In the sentence "and" is a conjunction, therefore a comma should be placed before it.
Also it is used to separate different parts (constrasting parts) of a sentence which explains why a comma should be placed before "not"

That is true if both sides of the conjunction are independent clauses. If one of the clauses is dependent, then no comma is used.

[Chelsey Coles]

That's what OBC said but I can't find a grammar checker that corrects it. I just went through at least 10 different sites and app. I tried that sentence. Nothing. What do I do because I just can't see why it needs a comma. I'm perfectionist and this bothers me, that I can't get commas right.

Hi. I have issues with commas too, I never know when there should be less or more. I've also used many checkers and I find that they are not very good at placing commas, so that may be why you haven't had any luck. Grammar checkers aren't very good at correcting the style of writing. Only technical aspects.

For now all you can do is practice and hang in there. Try to read your writing aloud. I always tell myself that a comma is a natural pause in speech, and try to decide from there. I'll also be taking my own advice along with you.

[Dan_Wellock]

It needs a comma after “understand.” Commas are used before conjunctions that are before complete clauses. They are also used as pauses, lists, and connections. After a while, it will become natural, and you won’t need to think about using them.

[Kansas City Teacher]

I try to think of it like this:

1. If the sentences has a natural pause when read aloud, put a period.
2. If the sentence connects two independent clauses (2 parts that could stand along as their own) put a comma.
3. Use comma in a series...whether you use it before the last one is optional

[bespectacledpetal]

I always get points taken away for commas as well. Grammarly does not help with that. I just try reading the sentences aloud and put in commas wherever I pause.