Comma Tips

Commas can be tricky. Follow these simple tips to conquer the common comma conundrums.

Use a comma or and between two or more equal adjectives that modify the same word or words.

• Identify the adjectives
  Clover is a small quirky pooch. 
  They are docile therapy dogs. 

• Can the adjectives be reversed without changing meaning?
  Clover is a quirky small pooch.  Yes.
  They are therapy docile dogs.  No.

• Can the word and be sensibly inserted between the adjectives?
  Clover is a small and quirky pooch.  Yes.
  They are docile and therapy dogs.  No.

• If yes to both questions, the adjectives are equal and should be separated by a comma.
  Clover is a small, quirky pooch. 
  

• If no to both questions, the adjectives are not equal and should not be separated by a comma.
  They are docile therapy dogs.
  

 

Use commas to set off nonessential information in a sentence.

• Identify the phrase.
  Myrtle who is the best dog ever loves to eat edamame. 
  Joseph prefers to live in states where there are mountains.

• Remove the phrase.  Does the fundamental meaning of the sentence change?
  Myrtle loves to eat edamame.  No.
  Joseph prefers to live in states.  Yes.

• If no, the phrase is nonessential and should be set off with punctuation.
  Myrtle, who is the best dog ever, loves to eat edamame. 
  

• If yes, the phrase is essential and should not be set off with punctuation.
  Joseph prefers to live in states where there are mountains.

 

Understand dependent and independent clauses

Comma usage can be a tricky concept to get a handle on, but learning how to correctly identify dependent and independent clauses will help you to identify many common errors.  See our worksheet on dependent and independent clauses for more information.

 

Do not use a comma after a subject or a verb.

Subjects, verbs, and objects or complements enjoy each other’s company.  Separating them with a comma disrupts the flow of a sentence, making the sentence choppy and difficult to read.

Incorrect The mountain climber, ate like a bear.
Correct The mountain climber ate like a bear.

Incorrect Hibernating bears do not appreciate, alarm clocks.
Correct Hibernating bears do not appreciate alarm clocks.

 

Use commas between the subject, verb, and object or complement only when other words between these elements require punctuation.

Incorrect Cogsworth the animated clock from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast loved to be in charge.
Correct Cogsworth, the animated clock from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, loved to be in charge.

 

Use a comma before coordinating conjunctions, not after them.

Incorrect Alarm clocks frustrate Emilee and, she loves to turn them off.
Correct Alarm clocks frustrate Emilee, and she loves to turn them off.

Note Do not use a comma after conjunctions, including because.

 

Do not separate a pair of elements joined by and, or, or nor.

While it is necessary to separate items in a series of three or more, a pair of words, phrases, or subordinate clauses, subordinate clauses are already separated by and, or, or nor, so they need no comma. 

Incorrect Emilee went to the grocery store to buy milk, and bananas.
Correct Emilee went to the grocery store to buy milk and bananas.

Note Only separate a pair of elements with a comma if the two elements are main clauses (see our other worksheets on commas and dependent and independent clauses to find out more about punctuating between two main clauses).

 

 

Works Cited

Fowler, H. Ramsey, and Jane E. Aaron. The Little, Brown Handbook. 11th ed. New York: Longman, 2010. Print.

 

For practice excercises, please refer to the Commas Worksheet.

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