Basic Commas Rules in Writing
The word comma means “a piece cut off” in Greek.
Rule 1: Commas are used to separate three or more words, phrases, or clauses in a series. (The serial comma.)
Example: Study for a test several days before, after school, and just before falling asleep at night.
When you have three or more items in a series, you generally use a comma before the coordinating conjunction. Some handbooks and style guides will tell you that this comma is optional, but my advice is to put it in. The pattern looks like this:
item + , + item + , + coordinating conjunction + item
Example: Swatting olives off the kitchen counter, dragging toilet paper streamers through the house, and terrorizing the house plant has consumed another of Felix’s days.
Here’s how I remember it-WARNING THIS IS MORBID!- To be a serial killer, you have to kill more than 2 people. To use a serial comma, you have to list more than 2 things.
Rule 2: Commas separate adjectives in a list modifying a noun (act as a replacement for “and” and “or”).
Example: It was a dark, stormy night.
Rule 3: Commas are used after a group of words before the subject of a sentence that do not form a complete sentence (an introductory dependent clause).
Example: If you enjoy computer games, you will love the newest download.
What is a dependent clause?
Dependent Clause - A dependent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and verb but does not express a complete thought. A dependent clause cannot be a sentence. Often a dependent clause is marked by a dependent marker word.
Some common dependent markers are: after, although, as, as if, because, before, even if, even though, if, in order to, since, though, unless, until, whatever, when, whenever, whether, and while.
Rule 4: Commas are used to set off introductory words and phrases including introductory adverbial, participial, and infinitive phrases as well as longer prepositional phrases.
Example: Hopefully, we will be on time for the appointment. (word)
Not wanting to disturb him, she tiptoed to the dresser. (phrase)
What is an adverbial phrase?A phrase that collectively modifies a verb, adjective, another adverb or aprepositional phrase.
….participial phrase? A participial phrase is a group of words consisting of a participle and the modifier(s) and/or (pro)noun(s) or noun phrase(s) that function as the direct object(s), indirect object(s), or complement(s) of the action or state expressed in the participle, such as: Removinghis coat, Jack rushed to the river.
….infinitive phrase? An Infinitive Phrase is a group of words consisting of an infinitive and the modifier(s) and/or (pro)noun(s) or noun phrase(s) that function as the actor(s), direct object(s), indirect object(s), or complement(s) of the action or state expressed in the infinitive, such as: We intended to leaveearly.
….prepositional phrase? What is a Preposition? A preposition links nouns, pronouns and phrases to other words in a sentence. The word or phrase that the preposition introduces is called the object of the preposition. A preposition usually indicates the temporal, spatial or logical relationship of its object to the rest of the sentence as in the following examples:
The book is on the table.
The book is beneath the table.
The book is beside the table.
She held the book over the table.
She read the book during class.
In each of the preceding sentences, a preposition locates the noun "book" in space or in time.
A prepositional phrase is made up of the preposition, its object and any associated adjectives or adverbs. A prepositional phrase can function as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb. The most common prepositions are "about," "above," "across," "after," "against," "along," "among," "around," "at," "before," "behind," "below," "beneath," "beside," "between," "beyond," "but," "by," "despite," "down," "during," "except," "for," "from," "in," "inside," "into," "like," "near," "of," "off," "on," "onto," "out," "outside," "over," "past," "since," "through," "throughout," "till," "to," "toward," "under," "underneath," "until," "up," "upon," "with," "within," and "without."
Rule 5: Commas are used between independent clauses (a group of words that makes a complete sentence) joined by a coordinating conjunction (for,and, nor, but,or, yet, so).
Example: The grass was too tall, so I mowed it.
When you connect two main clauses with a coordinating conjunction, use a comma. The pattern looks like this:
main clause + , + coordinating conjunction + main clause.
Example: While I am at work, my dog sleeps on the bed, and my cat naps in the bathtub.
Sentence, sentence.
Rule 6: Commas separate nonessential phrases and clauses from the rest of the sentence.
Example: The camera, I believe, has a warranty.
Rule 7: Commas set off an appositive (a word or phrase that renames a noun).
Example: Lisa, my cousin, works in a hospital.