Is the usage of comma before "and" and again later on correct in this sentence?

I have told her what to watch out for, and should she develop any worrying features in the future, please do not hesitate to contact me.


This sentence contains one independent clause joined by a conjunction to a second independent clause that's preceded by a dependent clause.

This can be seen by turning it into two separate sentences:

I have told her what to watch out for.

This is an independent clause.

And:

Should she develop any worrying features in the future, please do not hesitate to contact me.

This is an independent clause that's preceded by a dependent clause. The comma is used here after the dependent clause.


They can be written as separate sentences. If joined into a single sentence, a semicolon can be used to separate them or a comma followed by a conjunction.

So, these are all correct:

I have told her what to watch out for. Should she develop any worrying features in the future, please do not hesitate to contact me.

I have told her what to watch out for; should she develop any worrying features in the future, please do not hesitate to contact me.

I have told her what to watch out for, and should she develop any worrying features in the future, please do not hesitate to contact me.


Each of the commas in the sentence serves a useful (but different) purpose.