: Where does the comma go when using 'but'? In English, I can never remember where to put the comma when using the conjunction word, but. For example: I'd like to stay home and read a book,

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The word 'but' follows the same rules as any other conjunction, just like 'and' or 'or'. It's a word that joins two phrases.

All of your examples are correct. The first phrase ends with a comma, and the second phrase starts with the conjunction. Your first two sentences follow this rule perfectly. There is no comma in the third sentence, and as far as I know, neither should there be.

Based on your wording, you might be thinking that the word 'but' requires a comma at all times. It does not. Treat it like any other conjunction.

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The first and second examples are correct. The third example is actually more of a sentence fragment. If you are presenting it like it is written in, say, dialogue, then no comma is necessary, unless of course you wish to show a pause (As though you wrote "But" he said "where is Godot?"). If you wrote "I know where ______ is, but where is Godot?" then the comma would be required. Otherwise, it would be best to present it simply as "Where is Godot?". Hope that answers your question.

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