Commas
Key Issues for Comma Usage
There are many uses for commas, but in writing fiction, editors and publishers prefer a simple approach. Hence, most instances in novels or stories where commas are required fall into a handful of circumstances. The trend for reduction is commas is due to space constraints and costs in publishing. |
1) Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction
(and, but, for, nor, or, so, yet)
which connects two independent clauses (a clause like a sentence).
E.g. Jeremy went to the store, but he forgot to buy milk.
2) Use a comma to separate a string of coordinate adjectives before a noun.
The tall, brown, wooden fence.
Notice there is no comma after the adjective immediately in front of the noun.
There is no comma separating a non-coordinate adjective, e.g. hyphenated adjective or where a word modifies an adjective.
The extraordinarily tall, brown, lattice-topped fence.
The extraordinarily modifies tall, not the fence. The lattice modifies topped, not the fence, because the whole fence is not lattice, only the top.
3) Use a comma when a subordinate clause, word or phrase introduces the primary clause.
While Jesse rowed the boat, Annie baled water as fast as she could.
The reverse is not true. No comma comes before the connecting advertb when the primary clause begins the sentence.
Annie baled water as fast as she could while Jesse rowed the boat.
If you get your school work in on time, then ice cream can be enjoyed by the class. Remember, a comma before 'then.'
When you finish, clean the black boards, please.
4) Use a comma when you need to show sharp contrast. Look for the words: not, but, nor, yet, never
Andrew, not Aaron, was chosen as King of the Prom.
5) Use a comma to show a series of nouns.
Karen won the Booker Prize, a cake and her local library’s Book of the Year Prize for her second novel.
Some add a comma before the ‘and’ in a series, and technically, both are acceptable, but with the trend towards omission, it makes sense to leave it out.
6) Use a comma to set off a phrase or words that qualify but don’t change the meaning of a sentence if you removed them because they are considered non-essential to the sentence.
Sally, the oldest in the group, went to the theatre in New York City.
7) Use a comma to show dialog tags are a part of the whole sentence.
“You should visit the play,” Felix said.
“Normally,” Stevie sighed, “we would have finished before you arrived.”
Carla asked, “Why weren’t you finished on time?”
8) Use a comma after a date; after a city, before a state; when there are titles after names and between street addresses, cities and states.
October 5, 2010 and San Francisco, CA and Sara Markham, Ph.D. and 17905 Ford Avenue, Wellington, North Dakota.
9) Use a comma to clarify the meaning where it could cause confusion if you didn’t.
To Bill, Clinton was the best President of the United States.
(and, but, for, nor, or, so, yet)
which connects two independent clauses (a clause like a sentence).
E.g. Jeremy went to the store, but he forgot to buy milk.
2) Use a comma to separate a string of coordinate adjectives before a noun.
The tall, brown, wooden fence.
Notice there is no comma after the adjective immediately in front of the noun.
There is no comma separating a non-coordinate adjective, e.g. hyphenated adjective or where a word modifies an adjective.
The extraordinarily tall, brown, lattice-topped fence.
The extraordinarily modifies tall, not the fence. The lattice modifies topped, not the fence, because the whole fence is not lattice, only the top.
3) Use a comma when a subordinate clause, word or phrase introduces the primary clause.
While Jesse rowed the boat, Annie baled water as fast as she could.
The reverse is not true. No comma comes before the connecting advertb when the primary clause begins the sentence.
Annie baled water as fast as she could while Jesse rowed the boat.
If you get your school work in on time, then ice cream can be enjoyed by the class. Remember, a comma before 'then.'
When you finish, clean the black boards, please.
4) Use a comma when you need to show sharp contrast. Look for the words: not, but, nor, yet, never
Andrew, not Aaron, was chosen as King of the Prom.
5) Use a comma to show a series of nouns.
Karen won the Booker Prize, a cake and her local library’s Book of the Year Prize for her second novel.
Some add a comma before the ‘and’ in a series, and technically, both are acceptable, but with the trend towards omission, it makes sense to leave it out.
6) Use a comma to set off a phrase or words that qualify but don’t change the meaning of a sentence if you removed them because they are considered non-essential to the sentence.
Sally, the oldest in the group, went to the theatre in New York City.
7) Use a comma to show dialog tags are a part of the whole sentence.
“You should visit the play,” Felix said.
“Normally,” Stevie sighed, “we would have finished before you arrived.”
Carla asked, “Why weren’t you finished on time?”
8) Use a comma after a date; after a city, before a state; when there are titles after names and between street addresses, cities and states.
October 5, 2010 and San Francisco, CA and Sara Markham, Ph.D. and 17905 Ford Avenue, Wellington, North Dakota.
9) Use a comma to clarify the meaning where it could cause confusion if you didn’t.
To Bill, Clinton was the best President of the United States.