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JJDouglas Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

Does this need punctuation

"Use the key to get inside then use this combination to get into the safe."

Is there a need for a period before "then"? If it's two imperatives directed at the same person, then does that makes it the same as a compound predicate?
  

Top answer

'Then' is not a conjunction, Say eg Use the key to get inside. Then use this combination to get into the safe. eg Use the key to get inside and then use this combination to get into the safe.

— Clive

  • 'Then' is not a conjunction, Say eg Use the key to get inside.
  • Then use this combination to get into the safe.
  • eg Use the key to get inside and then use this combination to get into the safe.
  • Clive
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6 Answers
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'Then' is not a conjunction,
Say
eg Use the key to get inside. Then use this combination to get into the safe.
eg Use the key to get inside and then use this combination to get into the safe.

Clive
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Thank you for your answer,

So would the second example be OK without a comma before the and, even though it is two independent clauses?
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Yes.
The comma is optional. It is often added to improve readability as the sentence becomes longer.

Clive
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Does that apply to all independent clauses joined with a conjunction or just ones that have imperatives like my first example?

So for instance...

Tom ran to the park, but Hannah decided to drive.

Is a comma optional here?
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Clive'Then' is not a conjunction,
It Is not "Then'; it is 'then'.

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