The comma is one of the most important punctuation marks in the English language. It’s used to separate words, phrases, and clauses and can be used to indicate pauses and shifts in meaning and to clarify the structure of a sentence.
While a period ends a sentence, a comma indicates a smaller break. Some writers think of a comma as a soft pause—a punctuation mark that separates words, clauses, or ideas within a sentence.
Here are rules for using commas with examples
Use commas to denote a pause in a sentence. This is especially common in long sentences that contain several clauses.
Examples:
I went to the store, bought some apples, and then went home.
(Here, the commas help to break up the sentence and make it easier to read.)
Use Commas to Separate Items in a Series
Commas are used to separate items in a series of three or more.
Examples:
My favorite colors are blue, green, and yellow.
We had bacon, eggs, and toast for breakfast.
I bought apples, oranges, and bananas from the store.
When you have a list of only two items, DON’T use the comma before the “and.”
Example:
Incorrect:
I bought apples, and oranges at the store.
Correct:
I bought apples and oranges at the store.
One has to be careful with using the serial comma, to prevent misunderstanding.
Example:
Incorrect: I invited my loved ones, the president and his wife
(The use of the serial comma in this sentence is wrong because it implies that the president and his wife are loved ones.)
Correct: I invited my loved ones, the president, and his wife
Use Commas to Separate Independent Clauses
Commas are used to separate two independent clauses when they are joined by a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).
Example:
I wanted to go to the beach, but it was raining.
Commas are NOT used to separate two complete sentences. Use a period (.) or semicolon here (;).
Example:
Incorrect:
I went to the store, I bought some apples.
Correct:
I went to the store; I bought some apples.
OR
I went to the store. I bought some apples.
When used incorrectly with independent clauses, it can lead to run-on sentences. This is called a “comma splice.”
A comma splice is a type of run-on sentence where two independent clauses are joined with a comma instead of a period or coordinating conjunction.
Examples of comma splices:
She loves to read, she reads books every day.
I went to the store, I bought some apples.
These sentences are incorrect because they are missing a conjunction or a period. To fix these sentences, you can add a coordinating conjunction such as “and” or “but” after the comma, or you can replace the comma with a period (.) or a semicolon (;)
Corrected:
She loves to read. She reads books every day.
I went to the store, and I bought some apples.
I went to the store; I bought some apples.
Also Read:
Use Commas between Correlative Conjunctions
When correlative conjunctions such as either/or, neither/nor, not only/but also, and both/and are used in a sentence, a comma should be used to separate them.
Examples:
I can either stay home and watch a movie, or I can go out with my friends.
Not only did she pass the test, but she also got the highest score in the class.
Use Commas After Introductory Clauses and Phrases
Commas are used after introductory clauses and phrases. For example:
Examples:
After lunch, we went for a walk.
Use Commas with Sentence Adverbs
Sentence adverbs, such as "obviously," "frankly," and "fortunately," should usually be set off from the rest of the sentence with a comma. When the sentence adverb is at the beginning of the sentence, put a comma after the adverb. When the sentence adverb is at the end of the sentence, put a comma before the adverb.
Examples:
Obviously, she was not ready for the test.
Surprisingly, he passed with flying colors.
She was an excellent dancer, obviously.
He was able to finish the project on time, fortunately.
The class was able to understand the material quickly, surprisingly.
Use a comma to separate individual items in an address list
Example:
John Smith, 123 Main Street, Chicago, IL, USA, Phone: 555-123-4567
Rules of use of commas with dates
If written in the Month-Day-Year format, commas should be placed between the day and the year.
Examples:
January 25, 2020
April 11, 2021
However, when written in Day-Month-Year format, commas are not necessary.
Examples:
25 January 2020
11 April 2021
When only the month and year are given, no comma should be used.
Examples:
January 2020
April 2021
When writing the day of the week and the date, a comma should be used after the day of the week.
Examples:
Saturday, January 1, 2020
Sunday, April 15, 2021
Using commas after interjections
Interjections, such as well, yes, why, hello, and hey, are used to express emotion or add emphasis to a statement. Include a comma after any of these words when they are used to begin a sentence.
Examples:
Well, my dog is a beagle.
Yes, I'm looking forward to meeting you.
Hello, how can I help you?
Hey, did you hear about the new policy?
When addressing a person, use commas before their name, nickname, term of endearment, or title. This is done to set off the name, nickname, term of endearment, or title from the rest of the sentence.
Examples:
Hi, Sarah
Good morning, sweetheart.
Hey, Mr. Smith
Use Commas to Separate Direct Quotations
Commas are used to separate direct quotations from the rest of the sentence. For example:
Example:
My mom said, “Be sure to take out the trash.”
Use Commas to Set Off Non-Restrictive Phrases
Commas are used to set off non-restrictive phrases. Non-restrictive phrases are phrases that are not necessary to the meaning of the sentence.
Examples:
I visited the Lincoln Memorial, a famous landmark, last summer (Here, the phrase famous landmark” is set off by commas since it is not essential to the meaning of the sentence.)
My sister, who is a doctor, lives in New York. (Here, the phrase “who is a doctor” is set off by commas since it is not essential to the meaning of the sentence.)
One has to be careful with surrounding words around the comma.
Example:
Karl’s sister, Joan, loves playing the piano. If you strip off the non-essential part, "Joan,” it reads as “Karl’s sister loves playing the piano," implying that he has only one sister.
However, if Karl has more than one sister, you should rewrite the sentence without the comma as “Karl's sister Joan loves playing the piano,” so it is clear that Joan is one of his sisters.
Commas with Question Tags
A "question tag" is a short question that is added to the end of a declarative or imperative sentence. It is used to confirm or challenge the statement that has just been made.
When it comes to using commas with question tags, they should be used to separate the statement from the tag. This is done to ensure that the tag is easily distinguishable from the statement.
Examples:
You have done that already, haven't you?
She's an amazing singer, isn't she?
Use Commas to Separate Adjectives, Adverbs
When two or more adjectives are used together to describe a noun, a comma should be used to separate them. Similarly, when two or more adverbs are used together to describe a verb, a comma should be used to separate them.
Examples:
Adjectives: She was wearing a bright, colorful dress.
Adverbs: He drove slowly, carefully through the intersection.
Space should be placed after a comma, not before.
These are the basic rules for using commas. Following these rules will help you create clearer and more effective sentences.
Using commas correctly is an important part of writing in English. Knowing when and how to use commas will help you to write clearly and effectively.
Remember, use a comma when there is a chance of misreading a sentence. This rule is important to ensure clarity in writing. It can prevent confusion by separating two related ideas.
Examples:
Incorrect: After washing my friend went home. (This could imply that I washed my friend instead of reading washing as a separate activity.)
Correct: After washing, my friend went home.