6 Ways To Use Commas

If necessary, separate long sentences into two or more smaller sentences.

This technique may be acceptable to signal pauses when writing dialogue in fiction.

For example, this is a common but incorrect comma usage: “Abraham Lincoln, was the 16th President of the United States. ” Abraham Lincoln is the subject of that sentence and is an essential element. An example of correct comma usage with a name would look like this: “Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, was a lawyer before he became president. ” In this case, the 16th president of the United States is a non-restrictive clause (meaning the sentence makes sense if it’s removed) and is set off with commas on both sides.

Here is an example of a non-restrictive modifier in a sentence: “George Washington, our first president, served two terms. ” While the information in the non-restrictive modifier is helpful, the main clause makes sense if it’s removed: “George Washington served two terms. ” Here is another example of a non-restrictive modifier: “Fatima, who has been studying hard, will probably do well on today’s exam. ” The presence of who (a relative pronoun) in a clause is often a sign that it’s non-restrictive and should be set off by commas.

Make sure to set off the entire modifier with commas, using one at each end. A common comma error is to set off the beginning of the modifier with a comma, but not the end. In almost all cases, relative clauses or phrases beginning with which will be non-restrictive modifiers and should be set off with commas: “The car accident, which occurred at 3 PM, didn’t damage my car too badly. ”

For example, here is an example of a prepositional phrase acting as an interrupter: “It is, in my opinion, an excellent book. ” This phrase isn’t crucial to the meaning, and can be taken out without damage to the sentence. Here is another example: “This road, on the other hand, is well-paved and easy to drive. ” Direct address also falls into this category. For example, here is a sentence interrupted by a direct address to another person: “That’s why I’m appointing you, Thomas, leader of the group. ”

Here is an example of a restrictive modifier in a sentence: “Drivers who exceed the speed limit are reckless. ” This clause is essential to the meaning of the sentence and cannot be removed. Here is another example of a restrictive modifier: “The song named “Roar" is popular; the song named “Latte Love" that I made up yesterday is not. ’’ While these modifiers do offer additional information, they cannot be removed without obliterating the sentence’s meaning: “The song [??] is popular; the song [??] that I made up yesterday is not. ”

In almost all cases, a clause beginning with the relative pronoun that will be restrictive and should not be set off with commas: “The car accident that I had yesterday will really raise my insurance bill. ”

Here is an example of a FANBOYS conjunction connecting two independent clauses: “I checked out three books from the library, but now I find it impossible to read them all. ” If you removed the conjunction, each clause would stand as its own sentence. This conjunction does not connect two independent clauses: “Bai discovered he had everything he needed but a pencil. ” The last part of the sentence cannot stand on its own.

For example, if your sentence joins only two words with a conjunction, do not use a comma: “Give me all the bacon and eggs you have. ” If your sentence uses “for” as a preposition to join a dependent clause, do not use a comma: “I’m saving money for a Hawaiian vacation. ” If your sentence uses “so” to emphasize another word, do not use a comma: “The teacher was so tired of grading bad essays. ” If your sentence uses “so” in the phrase “so that,” do not use a comma: “Elena knew that she should eat her breakfast so that she would not be hungry later. ”

For example, here is a sentence that begins with an introductory adverb: “Unsurprisingly, the one day I forgot my umbrella was the day it rained. ” Adverbs such as when and while usually introduce a restrictive modifier and should usually not be set off by commas. Commas should be used to offset introductory adverbs that modify the entire sentence, not ones that modify a single element of the sentence (such as the verb).

Here is an example of an introductory word beginning a sentence: “No, I cannot come over this morning. ” Here is an example of well as an introductory word: “Well, I’d love a second piece of cake, but I’m on a diet. ” Why can also be used as an introductory word, but be careful: it should only be set off by a comma when it is not essential to the meaning of the sentence. The comma in the sentence “Why, that’s amazing!” is correct. However, you would not use a comma in this sentence: “Why couldn’t you come over this morning?”[6] X Trustworthy Source University of North Carolina Writing Center UNC’s on-campus and online instructional service that provides assistance to students, faculty, and others during the writing process Go to source

Introductory transitions may also take the form of phrases, such as In addition and Despite this ___. Set them apart with commas too.

For example, this is a participial phrase: “Grasping the sword with both hands, Lancelot swung with all his might. ” Grasping the sword with both hands modifies Lancelot, the subject of the main sentence. This is an example of a prepositional phrase: “Throughout the evening, she enjoyed many pleasant conversations at the party. ” Here is an example of an infinitive phrase beginning a sentence: “To win the election, the senatorial candidate has spent more money than anyone else. ” Don’t mistake gerunds (verbal nouns with -ing endings) for an introductory participial phrase. For example, you would not use a comma in this sentence: “Writing with perfect grammar is difficult but achievable. ” The gerund phrase Writing with perfect grammar is the subject of the sentence.

Here is an example of an absolute phrase beginning a sentence: “Her homework completed, Sujata left to meet her friends. ” Here is an example of an absolute phrase concluding a sentence: “The couple hurried home, the cold nipping at their faces. ” This phrase modifies the entire main clause before it.

Common subordinating conjunctions include because, although, whereas, unless and since. For example, here is an adverb clause that begins a sentence: “Because your input at the group meetings is always creative and insightful, I’m putting you in charge of the project. ” Here is an adverb clause later in a sentence: “Joe decided not to ride on the roller coaster, even though he enjoyed it, because he had just eaten a huge chili dog. ”

For example, here is a list separated by commas: “At the store I will buy apples, oranges, pears, and bananas. ” Do not place commas before or after the list or series. This comma usage is incorrect, as shown in this example: “At the store I will buy, apples, oranges, pears, and bananas, to make fruit salad tonight. ” Do not use commas when all the items in a series are linked by and, or, or nor. For example, here is a list of items linked by and: “Kyle and Spike and Brenda and Willow all went to the concert. ” If all of the items in your series are phrases instead of single words, or if the items in your list contain commas, it is acceptable to use semicolons to separate the items instead of commas: “You have a choice of two breakfasts: granola, orange juice, and coffee, which is fairly cheap; or bacon, sausage, and eggs, which is more expensive. ”[10] X Research source

For example, consider this sentence: “I would like to dedicate this book to my parents, my professor and John F. Kennedy. ” With this punctuation, it looks as though your parents are your professor and John F. Kennedy. Using the Oxford comma will prevent this confusion: “I would like to dedicate this book to my parents, my professor, and John F. Kennedy. ” Using an Oxford comma will never be grammatically incorrect, so if you’re unsure whether you need it, use it anyway.

For example, here is a sentence with a series of adjectives that is punctuated correctly: People who purposefully misuse grammar are brutish, irresponsible, mean-spirited troglodytes who mangle our beautiful, versatile language. Some word pairs act as a single word (disc jockey, young man). Commas are not necessary with these. Do not use a comma if the adjectives are joined by a conjunction! Do not use a comma if the adjectives are of unequal weight; for example, if one of the adjectives is a color or number and the other is a quality, you would not use a comma. For example, “I have a big red wagon” would not take commas, while “I have a rusty, well-loved wagon” would.

Here is an example of correct comma usage for a date: “This WikiHow was written on Monday, May 14th, 2007, in Maryland. ” When only the month and year appear, do NOT use a comma: “I wrote this article sometime in May 2007. ” Here is an example of correct comma usage for an address: “Her new address is 1234 Main Street, Anytown, Maryland, 12345. ” When the elements of the address are joined by a preposition, no commas are needed: “It is on Highway 10 near Pensacola in Florida. ”

When writing business letters, it is customary to use a colon rather than a comma: “To Whom It May Concern: [body of letter]”