The Right Way To Use Commas (,)

Description:

A punctuation mark used to separate ideas and/or elements in a sentence, which helps the reader better understand what’s written. Also used to indicate a pause.

Uses:

The comma is used often in writing and quite a bit of the time, too often. The problem arises when writers are uncertain as to what the proper usage of a comma is, choosing to use it to indicate a pause for instance, when one is not necessary. As Oscar Wilde once said, “I have spent most of the day putting in a comma and the rest of the day taking it out.” Even the best writers struggle with the rights and wrongs, so don’t get discouraged. Just try and keep in mind a few rules that should guide you through.

1. Use commas to separate ideas and/or elements in a series (of three or more things). Place a comma between each, including the last two elements. While some will say that a comma isn’t necessary before the “and” of a series, it is always best to include it in order to avoid confusion. For example, “The bows are available in pastel pink, purple, paisley, and black and white.” The final element “black and white” is a single item. If the comma is not present before “and black and white,” it could read “purple, paisley and black and white” with “black” and “white” being separate.

2. Connect independent clauses with a comma and a little conjunction word, such as “and,” “but,” or “yet.” When there is doubt, always use a comma. For example: “I was going to go skiing, but I went to the theater instead.”

3. To mark off information that is non-essential to the meaning of a sentence. This is additional information, such as an interjection or that of a relative clause. For instance, one might say, “My friend Shu, who was actually here just a moment ago, is going to the concert tomorrow.” The middle part, “who was actually…” is non-essential and thus, can be marked off. If removed, the sentence would still make sense: “My friend Shu is going to the concert tomorrow.”

4. Introductory elements should also be closed with a comma, so that the sentence doesn’t run together. To avoid confusion, always use a comma. An example would be, “Opening the door, she stepped through and screamed, ‘Murder!’”

5. As for quotes, always place a comma before the quote unless it is preceded by “that” or occurs within a larger structure and the term/word is simply quoted, such as “that” in this sentence. For quotes however, always set them off with commas, outside the first quote and inside the continuing quote. For example: “If you’d kindly follow me,” said the butler, “I will show you to the sitting room.”

6. Use commas to separate adjectives that appear in a series. For instance, “The dress was a blend of chiffon, satin, tulle, and lace.” If an “and” can be placed between the adjectives and the sentence (phrase) still makes sense, then a comma should be used. If an “and” is unnecessary or doesn’t make sense, then a comma should not used. For example, “the little blue bird” would not make sense as “the little and blue bird.”

7. Use commas to set off names that are being responded to directly, whether at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence. For example:  

• Michael, are you going to the ballpark today?
• I’m not sure if you were going to the game already, Michael, but I have tickets.
• Would you like to go to the game, Michael?

8. In letters, a comma is usually found after the salutation. For example, “Dear Martin,” with a skip of a line and then the letter’s composition.

9. Use commas to set off a city/state combination within a sentence. For instance, “We were driving to San Francisco, California, in the early morning.” The comma after “California” is necessary. However, if “California” becomes possessive, then the comma can be dropped. No one would write, “Did you see San Francisco, California’s, landmarks too?”

10. Also use commas to clarify things typographically. For example, for city/state, name/title, and long numbers. Say, for a number in the millions, commas can help avoid confusion. Rather than looking like this “1234567,” it will look like this “1,234,567.”

Misuse:

Commas are an important tool in writing, yet if they’re used improperly, then it can lead to confusion for the reader. If not enough commas are used, then a sentence’s ideas/elements could run together. On the other hand, overuse of commas could create confusion as well, not to mention disrupt the flow of reading.

For instance, above, it is said a comma should be used for names in direct address. If not careful, some may believe all names should be bracketed with commas. This is not so.