COMMA
Series
| coordinate
adjectives | compound
elements and sentences | introductory
elements | interrupters
| nonessential
examples | expressions
of contrast | dates
and addresses | confirmatory
questions | names
and titles | clarification
1. In a
Series – Place a comma between three or more items connected by a
coordinating
conjunction.
Example:
Caution:
Do not place commas between two items separated by
and or between three items separated from
one another by ands.
Incorrect:
Correct:
Remember to place a comma before the coordinating conjunction
joining the last two elements of the series. Otherwise, the intended
meaning of the sentence may not be clear.
Confusing:
Confusing:
2.
Between Coordinate Adjectives –
Place commas between equal adjectives with no
coordinating
conjunction between them.
Example:
Incorrect:
3.
Before FANBOYS between Independent Clauses in Compound
Sentences
The war lasted for two years,
but very few people supported
it.
Caution: Do not place a comma between two items with FANBOYS when
one item is not a complete
sentence.
Incorrect:
Caution: Do not place a comma after
the FANBOY.
Incorrect:
Note: The comma may be omitted between
independent clauses if a sentence is very short.
Example:
4.
Nonessential Adjective Clauses /
Nonessential participial phrases
-
Separate
unneeded
adjective clauses and
participial
phrases from the rest of the sentence.
Examples:
Caution:
Do not separate needed adjective clauses and participial phrases from
the rest of the sentence.
Incorrect:
5.
Introductory Elements -
Place a comma after
certain introductory elements.
A. Long prepositional phrases or a succession of prepositional
phrases
Examples:
Note: With short introductory
prepositional phrases, the comma is optional.
Examples:
B. Participial
phrases
Examples:
C. Gerunds as objects
of prepositions
Example:
Caution:
Do not separate gerunds functioning as sentence subjects from the
rest of the sentence.
Incorrect:
Correct:
D.
Adverbial infinitives
Example:
Note: To test whether the introductory
infinitive is adverbial, place "in order" in front of the
infinitive. If the resulting sentence makes sense. the
introductory infinitive is adverbial and should be followed by a comma.
Caution:
Do not place a comma after an introductory infinitive that is not
adverbial.
Incorrect:
Correct:
Caution:
Do not place a comma before an adverbial infinitive at the end of the
sentence.
Incorrect:
Correct:
E.
Adverbial clauses
Example:
Incorrect:
Correct:
F. Mild interjections (well, yes, no, why,
etc.)
Examples:
6. To
separate Interrupters
A. Parenthetical expressions and transitions (in
my opinion, unfortunately,
moreover, of course,
as a matter of fact,
indeed, for example, etc.)
Example:
B. Nonessential Appositives (renamers)
Example:
Caution: Do
not separate essential appositives with commas.
Incorrect:
In the above example, the appositive is essential since there is
more than one daughter.
Therefore, do not place commas around
the appositive.
Correct:
C. Direct Address
Examples:
7.
Nonessential Examples Introduced by such
as, especially, particularly
Examples:
Caution: Do not
separate essential examples with commas.
Incorrect:
Correct:
8.
Expressions of Contrast
Examples:
9. Dates
and Addresses -
When a date or address with several parts occurs in a
sentence, place a comma between each element and after
the last part.
Examples:
Caution:
When the date or address has only one element or has
its individual parts separated by words in the sentence, do not
use a comma within or after the date or address.
Incorrect:
Correct:
10.
Before Confirmatory Questions -
Place a comma between the confirmatory
question and the statement that precedes it.
Example:
11. Name
followed by Jr., Sr., Ph.D., M.D.
Example:
12. To
clarify otherwise Misreadable Word Groups
Examples:
