---
title: "Comma"
description: "While a period ends a sentence, a comma indicates a brief pause. Use commas in the following cases: To separate words and word groups in a list that contains more than 2 items."
canonical: "https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/styleguide/tw/comma.html"
breadcrumb: "Style Guide > Punctuation > Comma"
dateModified: "2026-09-23"
---

# Comma

While a period ends a sentence, a comma indicates a brief pause.

Use commas in the following cases:

- To separate words and word groups in a list that contains more than 2 items.
- To separate conjunctive adverbs (*in addition, also, on the other hand, however, moreover, furthermore, for example, finally*).
- To separate 2 adjectives when the order of the adjectives is interchangeable. 

  To determine whether a comma is needed, try to put *and* between the 2 adjectives — if the result makes sense, add the comma.

- To separate 2 independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (*and, or, but*).

  Do not use a comma instead of a period when speaking of 2 independent clauses. To learn more about dependent and independent clauses, see [this Grammarly article](https://www.grammarly.com/blog/subordinate-clause/).

  Do not use a comma to separate correlative conjunctions (*both/and, either/or, neither/nor, not only/but also*). To learn more about conjunctions, see [this Grammarly article](https://www.grammarly.com/blog/conjunctions/).

- To separate an independent clause from an introductory phrase or introductory clause (that is, a dependent clause found at the beginning of the sentence). If a sentence starts with an independent clause followed by a dependent clause, no comma is required. 

  You can always tell a dependent clause/introductory phrase by the subordinating conjunctions *although, since, if, before, after, unless, until, for (to), as, though, that, once, when, while* and *because*.

  To learn more about introductory phrases, see [this Grammarly article](https://www.grammarly.com/blog/commas-after-introductory-phrases/). To learn more about introductory words, see [this Grammarly article](https://www.grammarly.com/blog/commas-after-introductory-words/).

  ::: tip

  If a sentence contains a trailing dependent clause that adds a contrast rather than a condition (you can tell such a clause by the subordinating conjunctions *even if, even though, although, though* and *whereas*), use a comma to show that the trailing clause qualifies the whole sentence instead of narrowing the preceding clause. 

  :::

- To introduce a nonrestrictive clause or phrase. You can always tell a nonrestrictive clause by the relative pronoun *which*.

  Do not use a comma when introducing a restrictive clause. You can always tell a restrictive clause by the relative pronouns *that, whose* and *whom*.

  ::: note

  The relative pronoun *who* can introduce both a restrictive and nonrestrictive clause. *Who* and sometimes *that* refer to people; *that* and *which* refer to things.

  :::

  Do not use a comma when a relative pronoun is part of a prepositional phrase (such as *for which*, *in which,* *on which*, *to whom, for whom* and so on).

  To learn more about restrictive and nonrestrictive clauses, see [this Grammarly article](https://www.grammarly.com/blog/using-that-and-which-is-all-about-restrictive-and-non-restrictive-clauses/). To learn more about prepositional phrases, see [this Grammarly article](https://www.grammarly.com/blog/prepositional-phrase/).

## Examples

1. Orchestrator leverages the [backup, replication, restore]{.mdhl-correct} and [failover]{.mdhl-correct} capabilities of Veeam Backup & Replication. *[list]* 
2. [However,]{.mdhl-correct} to work with failover plans in Orchestrator, you do not need to categorize clusters, hosts or storage objects. *[conjunctive adverb]* 
3. Prove recoverability with [isolated, low-impact]{.mdhl-correct} testing of VM replicas and applications they run. *[interchangeable]* 
4. Automate failover processes to eliminate [error-prone manual]{.mdhl-correct} steps. *[non-interchangeable]* 
5. The backup server is a Windows-based machine on which Veeam Backup & Replication is installed[, it fills]{.mdhl-incorrect} the role of the “configuration and control center”. *[independent clauses]* 

   The backup server is a Windows-based machine on which Veeam Backup & Replication is installed[, and it fills]{.mdhl-correct} the role of the “configuration and control center”. *[independent clauses]*

6. [If]{.mdhl-correct} you need to provide credentials that the script will use to run within the guest OS, perform the following steps. *[introductory clause]* 
7. You can restart a VM from any restore point in a matter of minutes [since]{.mdhl-correct} there is no need to extract the VM from the backup file. *[dependent clause]*
8. You can generate an invoice automatically, according to a specific schedule[, which]{.mdhl-correct} can be configured as described in section *Configuring Billing Notifications*. *[nonrestrictive]* 
9. Orchestrator provides reporting capabilities [that]{.mdhl-correct} let enterprises document their DR plans. *[restrictive]* 
10. The user [who]{.mdhl-correct} launched the Veeam Backup & Replication console will be set as the owner of the restored object. *[restrictive]* 

11. Select the **Ignore script execution failures** option if you want to continue the backup process[, even if]{.mdhl-correct} script errors occur. *[trailing clause]*