A General Overview
Background
While a period may indicate the end of a sentence (there's a reason they're called "full stops" in England), a comma serves a different purpose: it indicates a smaller break in the sentence. When used correctly, commas can be quite effective in communicating complex concepts more clearly to the reader; unfortunately, people often misuse and abuse this incredibly important piece of punctuation. One of the main reasons for this misuse is the fact that people often struggle to understand the individual components of sentences (it is essential to know the difference between an independent and dependent clause, for example, to comprehend comma use) and tend to not fully understand the basic comma rules. Use the list below as a quick reference for your comma needs.
Basic Comma Rules
COMMAS IN SERIES
- Use commas to separate three or more words or phrases in a series.
- Example: You should do this for this reason, that reason, and the other reason.
- Note: The comma before the word “and” (which functions as a coordinating conjunction, also known as a F.A.N.B.O.Y) is referred to as either a serial comma or the Oxford comma.
COMMAS IN INTRODUCTORY PHRASES
- Use commas after phrases, clauses, or small words that introduce the main idea of your sentence.
- These commas will usually follow transitional words or phrases.
- Example: After the battle, the rangers returned to the command center.
- Note: An introductory phrase like the one above must immediately precede the subject of the sentence. If it does not, then it will modify the wrong subject and alter the meaning of your sentence, which is referred to as a dangling participle.
- Incorrect Example: Thinking back to the fair, the aromas of sweet pumpkin spice and fried desserts Eliza remembered were hanging in the air.
- Correct Example: Thinking back to the fair, Eliza remembered the aromas of sweet pumpkin spice and fried desserts hanging in the air.
- Example: After the battle, the rangers returned to the command center.
COMMAS IN APPOSITIVE PHRASES
- Use commas to offset non-essential components of the sentence. These components are known as appositives.
- Example: My daughter, Rose, just got back from traveling with an unusual man who called himself The Doctor.
- Example: Tommy, in the meantime, was with his girlfriend, Kimberly, fighting the monsters attacking Angel Grove.
COMMAS IN DATES AND ADDRESSES
- Use a comma when noting dates and addresses
- Example: Mocksville, North Carolina
- Example: May 15, 2019
COMMAS IN COORDINATE ADJECTIVES
- Use a comma between coordinate adjectives not joined by an “and.” Coordinate adjectives are words that are separate from each other in a sentence that both modify the same word.
- Example: She was a tall, skinny girl with beautiful auburn hair.
COMMAS IN QUOTES
- Commas are necessary to use when introducing a quote, whether this be from research or in dialogue for a fictional narrative.
- Example: In his inaugural address, Franklin Delano Roosevelt famously said, “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
- Note: The word “that” is never used before the introduction of a quote. In the example above, it would be improper to say Franklin Delano Roosevelt famously said that, “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
Infographics and Videos
Comma Infographic 1
Printable: Full Color |
Comma Infographic 2
Printable: Full Color |