Commas (,)
Commas, too, provide pause in sentences like end
punctuations do. However, the pause is
shorter than for periods, question marks, or exclamation marks. Commas give most people a fit, so learning
how to use them will give you confidence with your writing.
·
In a series
Commas go between three items in a series, not between
two, as in this case: The carpenter went to his work with his hammer, saw, and
chisel.
·
Between Complete Thoughts (Separated by
Coordinating Conjunctions)
When two sentences are joined together by a coordinating
conjunction (see the section on coordinating conjunctions for a list of them),
a comma is used to separate them. Place the comma in front of the coordinating
conjunction, as in this example:
Tom walks to school,
but his brother drives to work.
·
After introductory material
After introductory words, phrases, and clauses, commas
are needed, but short and unemphatic ones usually do not need them.
(Introductory word): No, I am not interested in buying
a new car.
(Phrase): Disappointed with his English
grade, Kumar decided to become a business major.
(Clause): When it rains, the streets are
flooded.
(Short and Unemphatic): Yesterday she bought a computer.
·
Before and after Parenthetical Expressions
Put commas in front and behind parenthetical
expressions. Parenthetical expressions
(also called nonrestrictive clauses) are those words, phrases, or clauses that
are not germane to the meaning of the sentence.
Avoid putting commas in either front or behind restrictive clauses,
which are important to the meaning of the sentence. Examples are provided
below.
(Nonrestrictive): The boy, who lives in the red
house, bought a scooter.
(Incorrect restrictive form): Children enjoyed the cartoon
movie, Nemo.
(Correct restrictive form): Children enjoyed the cartoon movie Nemo.
·
With transitions
A comma comes after a transition when the transition is
at the beginning or end of a sentence.
In the middle of a sentence, a transition will take a comma in the front
and back.
(At the beginning): As a result, the marketing company
is going to take part in an opinion survey.
(At the end): Fried chicken is full of saturated
fat, for example.
(In the middle: The graph, thus, is an example of
the increase of prostrate cancer among African American males.
·
With direct quotations
Commas are used after direct quotations. Shorter quotations do not take commas, as
shown below.
Benjamin Franklin is
purported to have said, “A penny saved is a penny earned.
My mother has called
me a “spendthrift” many times.
·
Between adjectives
When two or more adjectives modify the same noun, use
commas to separate them. The rule is if
you can separate the adjectives with and,
put a comma, as in this instance:
The sleek, black horse
won two consecutive races.
·
With direct address
A comma or commas should be used with words of direct
address. Examples are as follows:
(At the beginning, one
comma): Dr. Silva,
please answer your phone.
(In the middle, two commas): My job, Ms. Smith, is to check
your blood pressure.
·
With titles, addresses, dates, and numbers
Examples of use of commas for titles, addresses, dates,
and numbers are provided below,
(Title): Michael Higgins, Ph.D., teaches
American history to graduate students.
(Address): Mrs. Lawrence mailed the package
to 1203 Whispering Wood Road, Jackson, Tennessee 38305.
(Numbers): 1,000
100,000
1,000,000