Hi nelson,
"I was taught that "because" is a conjunction and requires a comma
before it if it introduces the second clause of the sentence."
If the second clause is essential to the meaning, don't add a comma.
If the second clause is nonessential, then add a comma to separate it
from the main thought.
>>> Briefly
Remember: Use a comma after a "because clause". Don't use a comma
before a "because clause".
http://wps.ablongman.com/long_faigley_penguinhb_1/0,7325,506142-,00.html
>>> Explanations and Examples
Dr. Kern, Writing Workshop
"Because clauses" are essential or nonessential, depending on
closeness of relation.
ESSENTIAL:
"She left because she had another appointment. (Here the reason
expressed by the ?because?-clause is essential to complete the
meaning, and so it is not separated from the independent clause with a
comma.)"
NONESSENTIAL:
"I need to have two copies of the final report by 5:30 tomorrow,
because I am leaving for Chicago on a 7:30 flight. (Here the meaning
of the main clause is complete; the reason expressed in the because
clause offers additional but nonessential information. This
non-essential ?because?-clause must be separated from independent
clause by a comma.) "
http://people.cohums.ohio-state.edu/kern193/Workshop.htm
Use commas to join introductory elements to the rest of the sentence.
Note in particular the use of the comma in a complex sentence when the
dependent (subordinate) clause comes first.
Examples of complex sentences:
Because I could not stop for death, he kindly stopped for me.
When the independent clause comes first, however, AVOID the use of a comma:
Death kindly stopped for me because I could not stop for him.
Examples of introductory phrases:
After eating, the male lion rested in the nearby shade.
In the meantime, we continued to photograph the playful cubs.
Note: The use of a comma after introductory words, no matter how few
the numbers, is always correct.
http://jade.ccccd.edu/jmiller/A%20Brief_%20No-Nonsense%20Guide%20to%20Comma%20Usage.htm
Punctuation Pattern Sheet
6. If dependent clause, independent clause.
"Other words: Because, Since, When, While, Although, After
Example: Because Edgar Allen Poe drank heavily, he died in a
gutter in Baltimore.
The above example illustrates how a comma is used after an
introductory clause. The two thoughts are related, however, because
the first element of the sentence cannot stand on its own, the comma
links it and makes it dependent on the second and independent clause.
7. Independent clause if dependent clause.
Other words: because, since, when, while, although, after
Example: Milton wrote Paradise Lost although he was blind.
This example illustrates how a dependent clause at the end of a
sentence does not require a comma before it. Because the dependent
clause is strongly connected to the dependent clause, it should not be
set off by commas."
http://www.shepherd.edu/scwcweb/hndpunct.htm
Purdue University
2. Use commas after introductory a) clauses, b) phrases, or c) words
that come before the main clause.
a. Common starter words for introductory clauses that should be
followed by a comma include after, although, as, because, if, since,
when, while.
Because her alarm clock was broken, she was late for class.
However, don't put a comma after the main clause when a dependent
(subordinate) clause follows it (except for cases of extreme
contrast).
1. She was late for class, because her alarm clock was broken. (incorrect)
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_comma.html
if, when, after, although, because + dependent clause + comma +
independent clause + ending punctuation
"As pointed out above (Rule #3), an adverbial clause that begins a
sentence is set off with a comma:
* Although Queasybreath had spent several years in Antarctica, he
still bundled up warmly in the brisk autumns of Ohio.
* Because Tashonda had learned to study by herself, she was able
to pass the entrance exam.
When an adverbial clause comes later on in the sentence, however, the
writer must determine if the clause is essential to the meaning of the
sentence or not. A "because clause" can be particularly troublesome in
this regard. In most sentences, a "because clause" is essential to the
meaning of the sentence, and it will not be set off with a comma:
* The Okies had to leave their farms in the midwest because the
drought conditions had ruined their farms.
Sometimes, though, the "because clause" must be set off with a comma
to avoid misreading:
* I knew that President Nixon would resign that morning, because
my sister-in-law worked in the White House and she called me with the
news.
Without that comma, the sentence says that Nixon's resignation was the
fault of my sister-in-law. Nixon did not resign because my
sister-in-law worked in the White House, so we set off that clause to
make the meaning clearly parenthetical."
http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/commas.htm
because after negated verbs.
"When because follows a negated verb phrase, it must be preceded by a
comma when the because clause explains why the event did not occur.
They didn?t want her on the committee, because she was so outspoken
means roughly ?Her outspokenness was their reason for not wanting her
on the committee.? When there is no comma, the because clause is
included in what is being negated. Thus They didn?t want her on the
committee because she was so outspoken implies that they may in fact
have wanted her on the committee but for some reason other than her
outspokenness."
http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:JIOGGBzcbvQJ:www.bartleby.com/64/C001/015.html+%22because+clause%22&hl=en
Oxford University Press
http://www.oup.com/elt/global/products/naturalgrammar/keywords/a_newwords/ng_learn_because/
I hope I've been able to make this clear for you, I enjoyed doing the
research (an eye opener for me too). If you have any questions, please
post a clarification request *before* closing/rating my answer and
I'll be happy to reply.
Thank you,
hummer
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