| 1. We use a comma to separate adjectives which give both similar and different kinds of information in predicative position. (see grammar commentary)
Many omit the comma between the last two adjectives which are usually separated by a conjunction like and or or.
| She was tall, blonde (,) and beautiful. (similar kinds of information)
Our new financial director is young, experienced, but strict. (different kinds of information)
|
| 2. We use a comma to separate coordinate adjectives. (see grammar commentary)
We do not use commas between adjectives which give different kinds of information.
| This is an expensive, ill-planned, wasteful project.
Cf.: Have you met our handsome new financial director?
|
| 3. We use a comma to separate items in a list (words, phrases, clauses).
There is not a rigid rule about a comma before the conjunction introducing the last item, but the British tend not to use it before the conjunction introducing the last item unless the items are long.
The final comma before the conjunction in a series may provide insurance against misreading.
Commas are not used to break up paired phrases.
| We arrived at the concert exhausted, hungry, ill-tempered.
Every morning began in the same way: out of bed, a hurried breakfast, children off to school, a quick clean-up, off to work.
Many dental assistants sterilize instruments, clean patients’ teeth, assist in operations, and keep all records of treatment.
Cf.: I’ve been to France, Italy, Germany(,) and Great Britain.
Cf.: I spent yesterday playing chess, listening to music, and talking about the future.
Unclear: All the children in the family agreed they would need bicycles, motorized bikes and scooters. (Are the scooters motorized as well as the bikes?)
Clear: All the children in the family agreed they would need bicycles, motorized bikes, and scooters. (The scooters are not motorized.)
My favourite breakfast is juice, toast, and bacon and eggs. (We think of bacon and eggs as an inseparable pair.)
Get some drinks, bread, and fish and chips on your way home. (We think of fish and chips as an inseparable pair.)
Cf.: The chef said he needed sausage, ham, bacon, and eggs. (The chef needs four items: sausage, ham, bacon, and eggs.)
|
| 4. We use a comma to set off interrupters. (see grammar commentary)
| Her story, however, will overwhelm adults and mesmerize kids.
The bill introduced by the minority party, I can assure you, will never be passed in its present form.
|
| 5. We use a comma to set off verbal phrases. (see grammar commentary)
| After leaving school, Muckay worked in a restaurant for a year.
To speak English fluently, she practices every day.
Having made her bed, Carry went downstairs.
|
| 6. We use a comma to set off non-restrictive appositives. (see grammar commentary)
| Dorothy, who does my hair, has moved to another hairdresser’s.
(If we leave out who does my hair, the main idea will be clear to us.)
Cf.: The woman who does my hair has moved to another hairdresser’s. (If we leave out who does my hair, the main idea may not be clear to us.)
Mr. Bin, our school bus driver, can be relied on in bad weather as well as good.
Cf.: My brother Bill joined the navy last year.
|
| 7. We use a comma to separate independent clauses (see grammar commentary) joined by coordinating conjunctions and, but, or, nor, for (meaning “because”), yet (meaning “but”), so.
If clauses are short or nicely balanced, the comma can be omitted.
| Tom’s grandfather is over 80, but he still plays golf.
Warral was not at the meeting yesterday, nor was he at work yesterday.
I cannot tell whether she is old or young, forI have never seen her.
Come in and sit down.
I’d like to go but I’m too busy.
Hurry up or we’ll be late.
He can neither read nor write.
She is kind so she helps people.
|
| 8. We use a comma to separate short parallel (similar) clauses not joined by conjunctions.
| I came, I saw, I conquered.
|
| 9. We use a comma to set off adverbial clauses (see grammar commentary) from the rest of the sentence when they begin sentences or interrupt the main clause.
We use a comma to set off a long introductory phrase from the rest of the sentence.
A comma can be omitted when there is no misreading and when these adverbial clauses and introductory phrases are short.
The comma is used when there is a risk of misleading readers.
| If someone gave me the money, I’d buy a car tomorrow.
When she discovered the answer, she reported it to us.
The report, after being read aloud, was put up for consideration.
From middle age on, my uncle saw his health decline gradually.
In good times Hazel and Harry gave no thought to budgeting.
If you arrive early open the windows and sweep out the meeting room.
Above, the eagle flew gracefully through the air.
|
| 10. We use a comma to set off a subordinate clause (see grammar commentary) that follows an independent clause only if the thoughts of the two clauses are not closely related.
A change of subject from the independent clause to the subordinate clause is usually a clear indication that the thoughts of the two clauses are not closely related.
| The police searched for the escaped convict throughout the dense woods, where witnesses had last seen the missing man.
Cf.: Gordon decided to buy the expensive ballet tickets though he could scarcely afford to pay his rent last week.
|
| 11. We use a comma to set off introductory adverbial elements (on the other hand, fortunately), conjunctive adverbs (consequently, furthermore, however), and expressions that illustrate examples (for instance, for example, namely).
| Fortunately, everything worked out all right in the end.
Car prices can vary a lot. For example, in Belgium the VW Golf costs 1,000 dollars less than in Britain.
Your computer,on the other hand, is a digital device.
|
| 12. We use a comma to set off introductory modifiers. (see grammar commentary)
Modifiers are often placed at the beginning of a sentence to give them special emphasis.
| Victorious, the army withdrew a thousand meters and encamped for the night.
Legally, neither candidate had any right to hold public office.
|
| 13. We use a comma to set off phrases that express contrast.
| It’s an old car, but it’s very reliable.
|
| 14. We use a comma to separate direct and split quotations.
When a direct quotation is punctuated with a question mark or exclamation point, no comma is used.
| ‘I must be going,’ she said.
We asked, ‘Will you ever stop talking?’
‘Tell the truth when you go before the grand jury’ the attorney advised, ‘and you will have nothing to fear’.
‘How can you neglect your child?’ the social worker asked. (but: He asked, ‘When did you see her last?’)
|
| 15. We use a comma to separate tag questions.
| Your mother’s a teacher, isn’t she?
|
| 16. We use a comma to indicate the omission of a word used in a parallel construction earlier in the sentence.
| All of us decided to leave on Monday morning; the rest, on Monday night. (The words decided to leave have been replaced by a comma.)
|
| 17. We use a comma to separate adjacent words or two identical words to avoid ambiguity.
| To Mary, Jane was someone special.
We told you, you might regret doing that.
|
| 18. We use a comma to group the digits in thousands in figures of four digits or more (set off the thousands and millions in large numbers).
| 6,435
7,456,189
The crowd was 10,000 strong.
|
| 19. We use a comma to set off dates.
British people put the day first, while Americans generally start with the month.
When the date comes inside a sentence, we write a comma before the year.
A complete date (consisting of a month, day, and year) requires a comma after the day and after the month.
When just the month and the year are given, the comma is usually omitted.
| Br.: 24 February 2011
Am.: June 4, 2010
He was born in Oxford on 14 November, 2009.
He began working for our company on Monday, 12 September, 2003.
February 2011
|
| 20. We use a comma to set off addresses, geographical names.
A comma in not used to separate a state (city) from a zip code.
| They were fortunate in finding cheap equipment at Lyman’s Equipment Shop, 17 Mamaroneck Avenue, Mamaroneck, New York 10543.
|
| 21. We use a comma to set off titles and degrees.
| Robert Aldington, B.A., has been designated managing director.
|
| 22. We use a comma to set off the salutation in correspondence and the complimentary close of a letter.
| Dear Sophie,
Very truly yours,
|
| 23. We use a comma to set off words in direct address.
| Sam, you are my best friend!
|
| 24. We use a comma to set off interjections.
| Oh, it’s a wonderful present!
|
| 25. We use a comma to set off words such as yes, no, wellwhen one of these words is at the beginning of a sentence.
| ‘Dad, can I borrow the car?’ ‘Yes, but be careful.’
‘Do you want to come?’ ‘Well, I’m not sure.’
|
| 26. We use a comma to set off “please” at the end of the request.
| Two pancakes for me, please.
|
