# Grammar/Windows question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 30, 2003, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-windows-question/151583 "2003-01-30T11:01:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-windows-question/151583/1 "2003-01-30T11:01:05Z")
Generally, I am impressed with the “grammar check” of _Windows_ and find it very helpful for me and those whom I employ. However, it does not catch the comma in front of the conjunction between independent clauses making the two independent clauses a compound sentence. Why is that? Has Bill Gates decided that this specific piece of puncutation is no longer necessary? Or is it too hard to program in? Or did his grammar wiz-kids just miss putting it in? TV ---
**Author:** ![brianmelendez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/65b543/32.png) [@brianmelendez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianmelendez)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-windows-question/151583/2 "2003-01-30T13:35:39Z")
Using a comma for separating conjoined independent clauses is a stylistic preference that many good writers follow, but it is not a universally accepted rule. From _The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation_, [www.grammarbook.com](http://www.grammarbook.com): > [@](#): > > **Rule 12.** Using a comma is optional to separate two sentences joined by a coordinating conjunction—_and_, _or_, _but_, _for_, _nor_. > > \ ***Example** I have painted the entire house, but he is still working on sanding the doors. \ ***OR** > _I have painted the entire house but he is still working on sanding the doors._ Microsoft probably doesn’t follow the preference because it did not appear in whatever usage manual its programmers were following.