logo
logo
Sign in

Commas Punctuation Rules

avatar
Bridges Schroeder


Commasand
durationsare the most regularly used punctuation marks. Commas usually indicate a brief pause; they're not as ultimate as intervals.




Rule 1.
Use commas to separate words and phrase teams in a simple series of three or extra gadgets.




Example:

My property goes to my husband, son, daughter-in-regulation, and nephew.



Note:When the final comma in a series comes earlier than
andor
or(after
daughter-in-regulationwithin the above instance), it is called the
Oxford comma
. Most newspapers and magazines drop the Oxford comma in a simple series, apparently feeling it's pointless. However, omission of the Oxford comma can sometimes result in misunderstandings.




Example:

We had espresso, cheese and crackers and grapes.


Adding a comma after
crackersmakes it clear that
cheese and crackersrepresents one dish. In circumstances like this, clarity calls for the Oxford comma.



We had espresso, cheese and crackers, and grapes.


Fiction and nonfiction books generally prefer the Oxford comma. Writers should decide Oxford or no Oxford and never change backwards and forwards, besides when omitting the Oxford comma could cause confusion as within the
cheese and crackersexample.




Rule 2.
Use a comma to separate two adjectives when the order of the adjectives is interchangeable.




Example:

He is a powerful, healthy man.

We could additionally say
wholesome, sturdy man.




Example:

We stayed at an expensive summer time resort.

We would not say
summer time expensive resort,so no comma.


Another approach to decide if a comma is needed is to mentally put
andbetween the two adjectives. If the result nonetheless makes sense, add the comma. In the examples above,
a robust
andwholesome man
is sensible, however
an costly
and
summer resortdoes not.




Rule 3a.
Many inexperienced writers run two unbiased clauses collectively by using a comma as a substitute of a interval. This ends in the dreaded
run-on sentenceor, more technically, a
comma splice.




Incorrect:

He walked all the way home, he shut the door.


There are several simple remedies:




Correct:

He walked all the way residence. He shut the door.



Correct:

After he walked all the way house, he shut the door.



Correct:

He walked all the way residence, and he shut the door.




Rule 3b.
In sentences where two unbiased clauses are joined by connectors similar to
and, or, but,etc., put a comma on the finish of the first clause.




Incorrect:

He walked all the way residence and he shut the door.



Correct:

He walked all the best way residence, and he shut the door.


Some writers omit the comma if the clauses are each fairly short:




Example:

I paint and he writes.




Rule 3c.
If the subject does not seem in front of the second verb, a comma is usually unnecessary.




Example:


He
thoughtquickly however nonetheless
didnot
replyaccurately.


But typically a comma on this scenario is necessary to keep away from confusion.




Confusing:
I noticed that she was busy and prepared to leave.



Clearer with comma:
I noticed that she was busy, and ready to depart.


Without a comma, the reader is liable to assume that "she" was the one who was prepared to depart.




Rule 4a.
When beginning a sentence with a dependent, use a comma after it.




Example:

If you are not sure about this, let me know now.


Follow the same coverage with introductory.




Example:

Having finally arrived in town, we went buying.


However, if the introductory phrase is evident and transient (three or 4 words), the comma is optionally available.




Example:

When on the town we go shopping.


But at all times add a comma if it would avoid confusion.




Example:

Last Sunday, evening lessons have been canceled.(The comma prevents a misreading.)


When an introductory phrase begins with a preposition, a comma is probably not necessary even if the phrase incorporates more than three or 4 phrases.




Example:

Into the glowing crystal ball he gazed.


If such a phrase contains multiple preposition, a comma may be used
unlessa verb immediately follows the phrase.




Examples:


Between your home on Main Street and my house on Grand Avenue, the mayor's mansion stands proudly.

Between your own home on Main Street and my home on Grand Avenue is the mayor's mansion.




Rule 4b.
A comma is often pointless when the sentence starts with an impartial clause adopted by a dependent clause.




Example:

Let me know now in case you are unsure about this.




Rule 5.
Use commas to set off nonessential words, clauses, and phrases (see, Rule 2b).




Incorrect:

Jill who is my sister shut the door.



Correct:

Jill, who's my sister, shut the door.




Incorrect:

The man understanding it was late hurried residence.



Correct:

The man, knowing it was late, hurried residence.


In the previous examples, notice the comma after
sisterand
late. Nonessential phrases, clauses, and phrases that happen midsentence must be enclosed by commas. The closing comma known as an
appositive comma. Many writers overlook to add this essential comma. Following are two situations of the need for an appositive comma with one or more nouns.




Incorrect:

My greatest good friend, Joe arrived.



Correct:

My best pal, Joe, arrived.




Incorrect:

The three objects, a book, a pen, and paper had been on the table.



Correct:

The three objects, a guide, a pen, and paper, have been on the table.




Rule 6.
If one thing or somebody is sufficiently identified, the outline that follows is taken into account nonessential and should be surrounded by commas.




Examples:



Freddy, who has a limp, was in an auto accident.

If we already know which Freddy is meant, the outline just isn't important.



The boy who has a limp was in an auto accident.

We have no idea which boy is meant with out additional description; subsequently, no commas are used.


This results in a persistent downside. Look at the following sentence:




Example:

My brother Bill is here.


Now, see how including two commas changes that sentence's meaning:




Example:

My brother, Bill, is here.


Careful writers and readers perceive that the first sentence means I even have multiple brother. The commas within the second sentence imply that Bill is my solely brother.


Why? In the first sentence,
Billis crucial info: it identifies which of my two (or more) brothers I'm speaking of. This is why no commas enclose
Bill.


In the second sentence,
Billis nonessential data—whom else however Bill may I imply?—therefore the commas.


Comma misuse is nothing to take flippantly. It can result in a prepare wreck like this:




Example:

Mark Twain's guide,Tom Sawyer,
is a delight.


Because of the commas, that sentence states that Twain wrote only one e-book. In reality, he wrote greater than two dozen of them.




Rule 7a.
Use a comma after certain phrases that introduce a sentence, such as
properly, sure, why, howdy, hey,and so forth.




Examples:



Why, I can't imagine this!


No, you'll be able to't have a dollar.




Rule 7b.
Use commas to set off expressions that interrupt the sentence flow (
however, after all, by the best way, then again, nonetheless,and so forth.).




Example:

I am, by the way, very nervous about this.




Rule eight.
Use commas to set off the title, nickname, time period of endearment, or title of a person directly addressed.




Examples:



Will you, Aisha, do this task for me?


Yes, outdated friend, I will.


Good day, Captain.




Rule 9.
Use a comma to separate the day of the month from the 12 months, and—what most individuals neglect!—always put one after the year, additionally.




Example:

It was in the Sun's June 5, 2003, edition.


No comma is necessary for simply the month and yr.




Example:

It was in a June 2003 article.




Rule 10.
Use a comma to separate a city from its state, and remember to place one after the state, also.




Example:

I'm from the Akron, Ohio, area.




Rule eleven.
Traditionally, if a person's name is adopted by
Sr.or
Jr., a comma follows the last identify:
Martin Luther King, Jr.This comma is not thought of obligatory. However, if a comma does precede
Sr.or
Jr.,another comma must observe the entire identify when it appears midsentence.




Correct:

Al Mooney Sr. is right here.



Correct:

Al Mooney, Sr., is here.



Incorrect:

Al Mooney, Sr. is right here.




Rule 12.
Similarly, use commas to enclose levels or titles used with names.




Example:

Al Mooney, M.D., is here.




Rule 13a.
Use commas to introduce or interrupt direct quotations.




Examples:



He said, "I don't care."


"Why," I asked, "don't you care?"


This rule is optional with one-phrase quotations.




Example:

He said "Stop."




Rule 13b.
If the quotation comes before
he stated, she wrote, they reported, Dana insisted,or an identical attribution, end the quoted material with a comma, even when it's only one phrase.




Examples:



"I don't care," he mentioned.


"Stop," he stated.




Rule 13c.
If a quotation features as a subject or object in a sentence, it may not want a comma.




Examples:



Is "I don't care" all you'll be able to say to me?


Saying "Stop the car" was a mistake.




Rule 13d.
If a quoted query ends in midsentence, the question mark replaces a comma.




Example:

"Will you still be my friend?" she asked.




Rule 14.
Use a comma to separate a press release from a query.




Example:

I can go, can't I?




Rule 15.
Use a comma to separate contrasting elements of a sentence.




Example:

That is my money, not yours.




Rule 16a.
Use a comma before and after certain introductory phrases or phrases, such as
specifically, that is, i.e., e.g.,and
for example, when they are followed by a collection of things.




Example:

You may be required to convey many gadgets, e.g., sleeping bags, pans, and warm clothes.




Rule 16b.
A comma ought to precede the time period
and so on.Many authorities additionally suggest a comma after
and so on. when it is positioned midsentence.




Example:

Sleeping luggage, pans, heat clothes, and so forth., are in the tent.



NOTE


The abbreviation
i.e.means "that's";
e.g.means "for example."

collect
0
avatar
Bridges Schroeder
guide
Zupyak is the world’s largest content marketing community, with over 400 000 members and 3 million articles. Explore and get your content discovered.
Read more