Comma
Use a comma between
coordinate adjectives (adjectives that are equal and reversible).
He is a strong, healthy man.
The irritable, fidgety crowd
waited impatiently for the rally speeches to begin.
The sturdy, compact suitcase
made a perfect gift.
We stayed at an expensive
summer resort. (You would not say “expensive and summer resort”, so no comma.)
Use a
comma when an -ly adjective is used with other adjectives:
Felix was a lonely, young
boy.
I get headaches in brightly
lit rooms. (Brightly is not an adjective because it cannot be used alone with rooms; therefore, no comma
is used between brightly and lit.)
After
introductory words, phrases, and clauses
Hoping for the best, we
checked our luggage.(Avoid comma splices (two independent clauses joined only by a comma).
Instead, separate the clauses with a period, with a comma followed by a
coordinating conjunction, or with a semicolon.)
Use a
comma after an introductory phrase, prepositional phrase, or dependent clause.
To get a good grade, I must
complete all my projects.
Because he had an accident at
work, we cancelled our holidays.
After the wedding, the couple
left on their honeymoon.
Because of the high cost, we
decided not to go.
We were planning to go, but
the meeting was canceled.
Use
a comma after a transitional element (however, therefore, nonetheless, also,
otherwise, finally, instead, thus, of course, above all, for example, in other
words, as a result, on the other hand, in conclusion, in addition)
For example, the Red Sox,
Yankees, and Indians are popular baseball teams.
When to use a comma before "and": “, and”
You need
to put a comma between the different items in a list, as in the following
sentences:
Saturday morning started with
a hearty breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, and French toast.
The school has a vegetable
garden in which the children grow cabbages, onions, potatoes, and carrots.
When to
use a comma after "And": “and,”
The Dead Sea is a place of
mystery: the lowest surface on earth, the purported sites of Sodom and
Gomorrah, supposed font of curative waters and, despite its name, a
treasure trove of unusual microbial life.
Use a
comma to separate the day of the month from the year and after the year.
October 25, 1999. (25 October
1999). Monday, October 25, 1999
Michael arrived at Ellis
Island, New York, on February 14, 1924.
They met for the first time
on August 27, 1972, in Seattle, Washington.
If any
part of the date is omitted, leave out the comma.
They met in December 2003 in
Mill Valley.
Before
conjunctions, (Conjunctions are words that link two independent clauses
together). Use a comma to join 2 independent clauses by a comma and a
coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).
Drew wanted to experience
ballroom dancing before his wedding, so he signed up for lessons at a local
hall.
Simone bought three new pairs
of shoes, even though she had put herself on a tight budget just last week.
Road construction can be
inconvenient, but it is necessary.
The new house has a large
fenced backyard, so I am sure our dog will enjoy it.
When you reach the traffic
light on Berkshire Road, turn right onto Springfield Blvd.
Many of concepts, terms, and
issues related to social classes are also used in Marxsist criticism, which
stems from the works of the nineteenth-century German philosopher Karl Marx.
Solar energy, which can be
used to heat water and buildings and generate electricity, is an inexhaustible
source and causes fewer environmental problems than do fossil fuels.
The Romantic Movement in the
arts, inspired in part by the American and French revolutions, emerged towards
the end of the eighteenth century.
Use a
comma to separate the city from the state and after the state. Some businesses
no longer use the comma after the state.
I lived in San Francisco,
California, for twenty years. I lived in San Francisco, California for twenty
years.
Use commas
to surround degrees or titles used with names. Commas are no longer required
around Jr. and Sr. Commas never set off II, III, and so forth.
Al Mooney, M.D., knew Sam
Sunny Jr. and Charles Starr III.
Use a
comma with quoted words. In a quote that precedes a tag and is not a question
or an exclamation. After a tag that precedes a direct quote:
"Yes," she
promised. Todd replied, saying, "I will be back this afternoon."
“I remember,” Luis
recollected, “the first time I was allowed to walk home from school by myself.”
David whined, “I am famished.”
“I am famished,” whined
David.
If
something or someone is sufficiently identified, the description following it
is considered nonessential and should be surrounded by commas.
My brother, Isaac, is the
best player on the team.
Freddy, who has a limp, was
in an auto accident. ( Freddy is named, so the description is not essential.)
The boy who has a limp was in
an auto accident. (We do not know which boy is being referred to without further
description; therefore, no commas are used.)
Use commas
before or surrounding the name or title of a person directly addressed.
Will you, Aisha, do that
assignment for me?
Yes, Doctor, I will.
Sean Kelly, Financial Officer
for Manufacturing, reported the quarter's earnings.
Did you wash your hands,
Michael?
Use commas
to set off expressions that interrupt the flow of the sentence.
I am, as you have probably
noticed, very nervous about this.
Around
nonessential clauses, parenthetical phrases, and appositives (A nonessential or
non-restrictive clause is a word or group of words that are not necessary for
the sentence’s completion; a parenthetical phrase interrupts the flow of a
sentence; and an appositive is a word or group of words that rename the noun
preceding them)
Matt’s mother, Janie
(appositive), who has trouble with directions (nonessential clause), had to ask
for help.
When
starting a sentence with a weak clause, use a comma after it. Conversely, do
not use a comma when the sentence starts with a strong clause followed by a
weak clause.
If you are not sure about
this, let me know now. Let me know now if you are not sure about this.
Between words in a list the
university hired a woman to direct the Bursar’s, Financial Aid, and Registrar’s
offices.
To avoid
confusion, use commas to separate words and word groups with a series of three
or more.
My $10 million estate is to
be split among my husband, daughter, son, and nephew. (Omitting the comma after “son” would indicate
that the “son and nephew” would have to split one-third of the estate.)
Use a
comma in a number. 15,000,000
Use a
comma after phrases of more than three words that begin a sentence.
To apply for this job, you
must have previous experience.
If the
phrase has fewer than three words, the comma is optional.
On February 14 many couples
give each other candy or flowers. On February 14, many couples give each other
candy or flowers.
Use
a comma to separate elements in a series. Although there is no set rule that
requires a comma before the last item in a series, it seems to be a general
academic convention to include it. The examples below demonstrate this trend.
Which river, the Nile or the
Amazon, is longer?
Colds, like many other
viruses are highly contagious.
On her vacation, Lisa visited
Greece, Spain, and Italy.
In their speeches, many of
the candidates promised to help protect the environment, bring about world
peace, and end world hunger.
Use
a comma to separate nonessential elements from a sentence. More specifically,
when a sentence includes information that is not crucial to the message or
intent of the sentence, enclose it in or separate it by commas.
John's truck, a red
Chevrolet, needs new tires.
Maureen’s three sisters,
Molly, Shannon, and Patricia, are all spending the summer at their grandmother’s
beach house.
Turnips, a root vegetable,
can be mashed, roasted, or used in casseroles.
Between
equally important adjectives (be careful not to separate adjectives that
describe each other)
The reporter spoke with
several intense, talented high school athletes.
