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:
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:
Example:
Incorrect:
Correct:
F. Mild interjections (well, yes, no, why, etc.)
Examples:
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:
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:
