Again in the Middle of a Sentence

Lesson 13: Commas

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What is a comma?

A comma is a punctuation mark that can be used in many dissimilar ways. Mainly, it's used to carve up things—for instance, two thoughts in a sentence, multiple adjectives, or items in a list.

There are many rules that tell united states of america how commas should be used, but don't let it scare you. With a little exercise, it'll start to feel like 2nd nature. Some rules are set in stone. They work the same manner every fourth dimension, so you don't accept to recall about them too much. Other rules are more than complicated. In these cases, you take to understand the meaning of the sentence to know when and where to use the comma.

Using commas

The basic rules for using commas are pretty foolproof. In other words, they're easy to apply to your writing considering they always work the same style. Yous don't accept to worry about whatsoever special exceptions or wonder where the comma is supposed to go. Each rule tells you exactly what to practise.

Joining two sentences

Y'all already know how to join ii sentences using conjunctions similar and, or, but, and so. We exercise it all the time in regular conversation, if not in writing.

As yous can see, the comma goes between the two sentences, correct before the conjunction. Information technology tells y'all where one thought ends and another begins. Placing the comma after the conjunction would be wrong because the conjunction is role of the second thought.

Listing items in a sentence

Commas tin also exist used to dissever three or more items in a list. But place a comma between each item (and an appropriate punctuation marking at the end). The last particular is usually joined by a conjunction like and, or, or nor. Like the rule for joining sentences, the comma goes right before the conjunction.

Identify names and dates

In that location are certain types of place names (for example, metropolis/country and state/land) that are always separated past a comma when yous write them out. You can run across this rule in action on any mailing envelope.

Phoenix is a place inside Arizona—that'due south why there's a comma betwixt the city and state. This dominion applies whenever you refer to a place in a similar way, whether it'due south MTV Studios , Times Foursquare (which isn't even a metropolis, country, or country) or England , United kingdom.

Dates work near the same way. For instance, when you lot write the full date, it should wait something similar this: January 1, 2014. It's virtually as if the twenty-four hours and the month are inside the year—which is truthful, in a way. We're talking about January ane in the year 2014. That's why there's a comma between the appointment and year.

Quotations

Quotations are usually fabricated upwards of two things: a quote (what the person said) and a tag (the person who said it). Commas play an important role too—they separate the quote from the tag, so we tin tell they're divide simply connected.

So where does the comma go? It depends on the layout of the sentence. Here are three examples.

• Before the quote: Vanessa asked, "Is anyone else hungry?"
• Later the quote (inside the quotation marker): "I could get for some pizza," said Elizabeth.
• Both means (in the middle of a quote): "I desire pizza," said Rick, "but not with anchovies!"

To learn more, accept a await at our lesson on Quotation Marks.

There are two commas missing from the example beneath. Can you tell where they're supposed go? Click the dots to see if you lot're right!

Nope!

That'due south not quite right, simply you're shut. Remember: when joining 2 sentences, the comma e'er goes before the conjunction.

That'due south right!

This is where the first comma should go—correct earlier the conjunction . It tells you where one thought ends ( I heard a sound in the attic ) and some other one begins ( I went to see what it was ).

Try once more!

This should be a period , not a comma. You can tell because the next sentence is a consummate judgement (and in that location'south no conjunction joining them together).

Correct!

This is a good instance of a quote that comes after a tag. In a case like this, the comma always goes before the quote (outside the quotation marks).

More commas

To apply commas in more complicated sentences, yous'll take to use your judgment. This means you'll need to think near each judgement (and make sure yous really empathise what makes it work) before you tin utilize the comma.

Don't let this scare you lot. As always, it'due south not the end of the world if you lot brand a mistake. If you lot get stuck on a rule, effort looking closely at the instance—sometimes it helps to run across the dominion in activeness. If you're non a native English language speaker, these rules can be especially difficult to grasp. Y'all may desire to inquire someone you know for aid, such every bit a friend, coworker, or teacher.

Adjectives

Another fourth dimension y'all employ commas is when you have two or more than adjectives in a judgement. Merely place the comma between them—this separates them and makes the sentence easier to read.

This rule is pretty universal, but it isn't always truthful. You lot should simply utilize a comma if the adjectives are interchangeable.

Interchangeable ways yous tin list the adjectives in any order and information technology won't alter the meaning of the sentence. To find out if ii adjectives are interchangeable, try reversing them—and so see if the judgement still makes sense.

Here's the aforementioned case with a different pair of adjectives: succulent and frozen. This fourth dimension, the adjectives aren't interchangeable. (If you reverse them, y'all can probably see why.) This means they shouldn't be separated with a comma.

The truth is, frozen yogurt is more than than just an adjective followed by a noun. Information technology's type of thing, like a miniature poodle, striped shirt, or even hot chocolate. All of these examples are made up of 2 words, only they represent a single thing. If you split up them with a comma—or write them in a dissimilar club—the words lose their meaning.

Introductory clauses

You lot might already know that an incomplete judgement is a fragment. When you begin a sentence with a fragment, it'southward called an introductory clause. (To acquire more than, bank check out our lesson on Fragments.)

It's perfectly OK to begin a judgement this fashion, then follow information technology with a complete thought. You merely have to dissever these thoughts with a comma. This makes the sentence easier to read, and it as well tells the reader where to pause if needed.

In the example higher up, the thing before the comma (while you lot were sleeping) is a fragment; the thing after the comma (I gave you a new haircut) is a consummate judgement. The comma is necessary simply if the clause introduces the sentence. If the phrases were written in the opposite order, you wouldn't use a comma.

What about expressions similar luckily, however, and equally you tin can see? Information technology'due south more than common to see these at the starting time of a judgement, only they can announced the cease as well. Dissimilar introductory clauses, they don't necessarily add anything new to the sentence. Regardless, they should e'er be separated by a comma. For example: I gave yous a new haircut, every bit you tin can run into.

Nonessential clauses

You should also use commas to dissever nonessential clauses that appear in the heart of a sentence. A nonessential clause is something that adds meaning but that isn't completely necessary. In other words, if you lot took it out the judgement would still mean basically the aforementioned thing.

To detect out if a clause is nonessential, try removing it from the sentence, then see how it sounds. The sentence above would still brand sense if we removed the detail about the ascot. It would be: Steve is very tidy.

If the clause was essential, we wouldn't be able to remove it. Try this judgement instead: Men who wear ascots are very tidy. If nosotros take out the detail nigh the ascot, we're left something slightly different: Men are very tidy. This is far also general to be truthful—later on all, some men are really sloppy. This is how you know the clause is essential to the judgement'south meaning.

Other cases

As yous gain more experience with commas, you'll encounter cases when your judgment matters more ever. These cases are more difficult to define, but they build on the rules we just discussed.

For instance, some sentences end with a type of fragment called a gratis modifier. This is but a fancy discussion for something that clarifies or relates to another part of the sentence. When yous use a free modifier like this, always separate it with a comma.

Other sentences cease with a distinct suspension, followed by something more than cryptic. That final beat could be the proper noun of the person you're talking to, a argument of confirmation, or a single give-and-take. Whatever it is, that beat out also should exist separated by a comma.

Below are two sentences that include a serial of commas—i is right, and the other is non. Employ what you just learned to decide which one is correct, so click the dots to see if you lot're correct!

Not quite!

Here, an essential clause has been mistaken for a nonessential clause . The sentence should be written without commas instead:

Those who alive in drinking glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

Correct!

The comma in this sentence is used correctly. It separates the introductory clause ( if you proceed making that face ) from the residual of the judgement ( information technology'south going to stay that style ).

Common comma mistakes

Joining two sentences without a conjunction

People frequently make the fault of using a comma to join 2 sentences without a conjunction. For example:

Notice how the first version of the sentence is missing something? It needs a conjunction like and or but to join the two halves properly. You could also use a semi-colon to right information technology instead: She was a modest-town-daughter; he was a metropolis boy . Or you could rewrite the sentence as two sentences, with a period in between.

Joining a compound subject area or predicate

Remember how yous're supposed to employ a comma to separate three or more items in a list? Be conscientious not to go overboard and start separating 2 items that belong together (in other words, a compound bailiwick or predicate).

It might assistance to call up of the compound as a unmarried idea or thought. In the case above, the gym teacher and the chief are both role of Aunt Ruth's dating history—and they're the but things listed. You wouldn't pause them up unless and the principal was rewritten as a complete judgement. For example: Aunt Ruth used to date the gym teacher, simply she dumped him for the principal .

When a fragment follows a judgement

It's easy to misfile a fragment at the finish of a judgement with an introductory clause—they exercise await similar. We already touched on this rule when we went over introductory clauses, but it can't hurt to review it once more.

A fragment only works as an introductory clause if it'due south at the beginning of a sentence. If it's at the end, you don't demand a comma. In this example, the sentence would need a comma only if information technology was written in the contrary guild: While my hubby went camping, I went to Vegas .

Forcing a pause

Using a comma to force the reader to pause is a common fault. But remember: Commas are meant to brand things easier to read, not necessarily influence the way they're read.

If you desire the reader to pause, you lot'll have to get creative with your formatting. For case, you could use an ellipses (a very mutual manner of indicating a pause), like in the example above. Or yous could write the give-and-take you want to emphasize in all caps or italics. This way, the reader tin really experience the weight of it: And THAT is how you deep-fry a turkey .

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Source: https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/grammar/commas/1/

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