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Comma Punctuation Rules

This document provides guidelines for using commas correctly in sentences. It explains that commas should be used to separate elements in a list, connect independent clauses, set off introductory phrases, and frame quoted material. Specific rules and examples are given for each context to illustrate proper comma usage.

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Rajvi Sampat
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29 views

Comma Punctuation Rules

This document provides guidelines for using commas correctly in sentences. It explains that commas should be used to separate elements in a list, connect independent clauses, set off introductory phrases, and frame quoted material. Specific rules and examples are given for each context to illustrate proper comma usage.

Uploaded by

Rajvi Sampat
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Comma Punctuation Rules & Examples:

Learn How To Use Commas


English Punctuation: How to Use Commas Correctly
Commas are used to separate a sentence’s elements, to connect independent clauses,
to avoid confusion, and much more. Here, we offer a brief, basic guide to using
commas correctly.

Using Commas to Separate a Sentence’s Elements


Commas provide clarity, particularly in sentences that contain several different
elements.

 Always use commas to separate the elements of a series of three or more


things, particularly the last two. “She saddled her horse, hopped on, and rode
off into the sunset.”
 You may have learned that it’s not necessary to use a comma before “and” –
and that’s fine in most cases. However, there are some times when adding a
comma before “and” can help to prevent confusion, particularly when a series
of words includes terms that have a tendency to glom together (like spaghetti
and meatballs). “He went to the grocery store, where he bought cheese,
spaghetti, and meatballs.”

How to use Commas and Conjunctions to Connect


Independent Clauses
Conjunctions are words such as and, for, nor, but, yet, and so.

 Use a comma after a conjunction to provide balance. “We drove to the beach,
but we left since the parking lot was full.”
 One of the most common comma placement errors is the usage of a comma
after a conjunction rather than before: “Nancy’s schedule was very busy but,
she always made time to go to the gym.”

Using Commas to Set Off a Sentence’s Introductory


Element
While it is not always necessary to use a comma after a sentence’s introductory
element, it’s usually a good idea to do so since omission can lead to hesitancy or
confusion.

 Notice how the comma in this sentence infuses the words with greater meaning:
“While lighting the candles on John’s birthday cake, Susan realized that he
would soon be an adult.”

If you are ever in doubt about whether to use a comma after an introductory element,
err on the side of caution and insert a comma – it’s never incorrect to do so.

Using Commas to Accentuate Parenthetical Elements


Parenthetical elements, or added information, increase a sentence’s value by providing
additional information that isn’t necessary for getting one’s point across, but that is
worth stating.

 In this sentence, the parenthetical element is italicized: “The North River


Bridge, which was built in 1902, collapsed on Saturday.”

In the example above, the parenthetical information provides the reader with a sense
of context that helps provide insight into the cause of the bridge’s collapse.
When writing about locations, such as cities, states, and nations, treat the middle
element as parenthetical. For example:

 We visited Bozeman, Montana, last summer.


 London, England, is a destination everyone should visit at least once.

When the state or nation takes on a possessive form, the rule no longer applies. For
example:

 Williamsburg, Virginia’s connection with our nation’s history is well-known.

In addition, the second comma is dropped when the location’s name is compounded,
as follows:

 Facebook, as a Boston, Massachusetts-based company, is now known


throughout the world.

Using Commas to Frame Quoted Elements


Many writers use quoted material rarely, if ever. Because it’s fairly uncommon to use
quotes in everyday writing, this rule can be difficult to remember. If ever in doubt,
find a page from an article that incorporates several quotations and uses it as a model
for constructing sentences with quotes.

 “The question is,” said Mary, “why it is possible to make the same words mean
many things.”
 In Lectures in America, Gertrude Stein writes, “A long complicated sentence
should force itself upon you.”

As the above examples illustrate, commas generally separate quotes from the
remainder of the sentence, which usually introduces or explains the quotation.

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