COMMA RULES

Expos. Writing
When Do I Use Commas?!
1. Use commas to separate independent clauses when they are joined by a coordinating
conjunction (FANBOYS).

~The game was over, but the crowd refused to leave.

~The student explained her question, yet the instructor didn’t seem to
understand.
When Do I Use Commas?!
2. Use commas after introductory a) clauses, b) phrases, or c) words that come before the
main clause. Common starter words for introductory clauses that should be followed by a
comma include: after, although, as, because, if, since, when, while.

While I was eating, the cat scratched at the door.

Because her alarm clock was broken, she was late for class.

If you are ill, you ought to see a doctor.

When the snow stops falling, we’ll shovel the driveway.

#2 Continued…
Beware: Don’t put a comma after the main clause when a dependent (subordinate) clause
follows it, unless there is an extreme contrast between the two:

INCORRECT: The cat scratched at the door, while I was eating.

CORRECT: She was still quite upset, although she had won the Oscar.

b. common introductory words that should be followed by a comma include: yes,

however, well.

Well, perhaps he meant no harm.

However, you may not be satisfied with the results.

When Do I Use Commas?!
3. Use a pair of commas in the middle of a sentence to set off clauses, phrases, and words
that are not essential to the meaning of the sentence. Use one comma before to indicate
the beginning of the pause and one at the end to indicate the end of the pause.

Here are some clues to help you decide whether the sentence element is essential:

● If you leave out the clause, phrase, or word, does the sentence still make sense?
● Does the clause, phrase, or word interrupt the flow of words in the original sentence?
● If you move the element to a different position in the sentence, does the sentence still
make sense?

^^If you answer “yes” to one or more of these questions, then the element in question is nonessential and should be
set off with commas.
#3 Continued...
Here are some example sentences with nonessential elements:

Clause: That Tuesday, which happens to be my birthday, is the only day when I am
available to meet.

Phrase: This restaurant has an exciting atmosphere. The food, on the other hand, is rather
bland.

Word: I appreciate your hard work. In this case, however, you seem to have over-exerted
yourself.
When Do I Use Commas?!
4. Do not use commas to set off essential elements of the sentence, such as clauses
beginning with that. That clauses after nouns are always essential. That clauses following
a verb expressing mental action are always essential.

That clauses after nouns:

The book that I borrowed from you is excellent.

The apples that fell out of the basket are bruised.

#4 continued...
That clauses following a verb expressing mental action:

She believes that she will be able to earn an A.

He is dreaming that he can fly.

I contend that it was wrong to mislead her.

They wished that warm weather would finally arrive.

#4 Continued...

Examples of other essential elements (no commas):

Students who cheat only harm themselves.

The baby wearing a yellow jumpsuit is my niece.

The candidate who had the least money lost the election.
When Do I Use Commas?!
5. Use commas to separate three or more words, phrases, or clauses written in a series.

Words: The Constitution establishes the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government.

Phrases: The candidate promised to lower taxes, protect the environment, reduce crime, and end unemployment.

Clauses: The prosecutor argued that the defendant, who was at the scene of the crime, who had a strong revenge

motive, and who had access to the murder weapon, was guilty of homicide.
When Do I Use Commas?!
6. Use commas to separate two or more coordinate adjectives that describe the same
noun. be sure never to add an extra comma between the final adjective and the noun itself
or to use commas with non-coordinate adjectives.

You can decide if two adjectives in a row are coordinate by asking the following:

● Does the sentence make sense if the adjective are written in reverse order?
● Does the sentence make sense if the adjectives are written with and between them?

He was a difficult, stubborn child. Your cousin has an easy, happy smile. (Coordinate)

They lived in a white frame house. She often wore a gray wool shawl. (non-coordinate)
When Do I Use Commas?!
7. Use a comma near the end of a sentence to separate contrasted coordinate elements or
to indicate a distinct pause or shift.

He was merely ignorant, not stupid.

The chimpanzee seemed reflective, almost human.

You’re one of the senator’s close friends, aren’t you?

The speaker seemed innocent, even gullible.

When Do I Use Commas?!
8. Use commas to set off phrases at the end of the sentence that refer to the beginning or
middle of the sentence. Such phrases are free modifiers that can be placed anywhere in
the sentence without causing confusion.

^If the placement of the modifier causes confusion, then it is not “free” and must remain
“bound” to the word it modifies.

Nancy waved enthusiastically at the docking ship, laughing joyously. (correct)

Lisa waved at Nancy, laughing joyously. (Who is laughing, Lisa or Nancy?)

Lisa waved at Nancy, who was laughing joyously. (correct)

Laughing joyously, Lisa waved at Nancy. (correct)

When Do I Use Commas?!
9. Use commas to set off all geographical names, items in dates (except month and day),
addresses (except the street number and name), and titles in names.

Birmingham, Alabama, gets its name from Birmingham, England.

July 22, 1959, was a momentous day in his life. (If just using month and year, no comma
is needed.)

Who lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC?

Rachel B. Lake, MD, will be the principal speaker.

When Do I Use Commas?!
10. Use a comma to shift between the main discourse and a quotation.

John said without emotion, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“I was able,” she answered, “to complete the assignment.”

In 1848, Marx wrote, “Workers of the world, unite!”

11. Use commas wherever necessary to prevent possible confusion or misreading.

To George, Harrison had been a sort of idol.

Avoid Comma Abuse
Commas in the wrong places can break a sentence into illogical segments or confuse
readers with unnecessary and unexpected pauses.

1. don’t use a comma to separate the subject from the verb.

An eighteen-year old in California, is now considered an adult.

The most important attribute of a ball player, is quick reflex actions.

2. Don’t put a comma between the two verbs or verb phrases in a compound predicate.

We laid out our music and snacks, and began to study.

I turned the corner, and ran smack into a patrol car.

Avoid Comma Abuse
3. Don’t put a comma between the two nouns, noun phrases, or noun clauses in a
compound subject or compound object.

The music teacher from your high school, and the football coach from mine are married.

Jeff told me that the job was still available, and that the manager wanted to interview me.

4. Don’t put a comma after the main clause when a dependent (subordinate) clause
follows it (except for extreme cases).
Avoid Comma Abuse
Some introductory elements don’t require a comma, and sometimes the subject of a
sentence looks like and introductory element but isn’t. Do not use a comma in the
following cases:

● After a brief prep phrase (is it a single phrase of fewer than five words?)
● After a restrictive (essential) appositive phrase
● To separate the subject from the predicate
Avoid Comma Abuse
Each of the following sentences may look like it requires a comma after the opening
segment (marked with an x), but the opening segment is really the subject. It's sometimes
easy to confuse gerund- or infinitive-phrase subjects like the following with nonessential
introductory phrases, so be careful.
Preparing and submitting his report to the committee for evaluation and possible publication[x] was
one of the most difficult tasks Bill had ever attempted.

To start a new business without doing market research and long-term planning in advance[x] would be
foolish.

Extracting the most profit for the least expenditure on labor and materials[x] is the primary goal of a
capitalist.