Comma Guidelines for Clear Writing (with Examples)

One of the generally used punctuation marks, an errant comma will be the distinction between an entire sentence and an entire mess. On this put up, we’ll discover seven comma guidelines that may preserve your writing concise and coherent.

Earlier than we dive in, what’s a comma anyway? You possibly can consider a comma as a lighter model of a interval. Whereas a interval ends a sentence full-stop, a comma is a smaller, softer pause. It might probably separate phrases, clauses, or concepts inside one sentence.

1. Two full sentences can solely be linked with a comma when utilizing a coordinating conjunction.

A coordinating conjunction is a conjunction positioned between phrases, phrases, clauses, or sentences of equal rank. English has seven major coordinating conjunctions — for, and, nor, however, or, but, so — that can be utilized to weave collectively two full sentences with a comma. You should utilize the mnemonic FANBOYS to recollect them.

Each of the above ideas are full sentences. Nevertheless, the dearth of one among our FANBOYS after the comma leads to a comma splice. The sentence is clunky with out the presence of a coordinating conjunction to hyperlink the 2 full ideas in a single sentence.

That is extra prefer it! “So” is the coordinating conjunction that hyperlinks these two full sentences collectively. Each ideas might stand alone separated by a interval, however our FANBOYS enable us to hyperlink them along with the assistance of a comma. The Grateful Useless is your favourite band? It is sensible that you simply traveled thus far to see them.

2. Use a comma to hyperlink an incomplete sentence with an entire sentence.

An incomplete sentence doesn’t categorical a totally shaped thought and may’t stand by itself. Nevertheless, you should use a comma to hyperlink an incomplete sentence with a totally shaped sentence that expounds upon and completes the thought. For instance:

“Though I had work within the morning” is an incomplete sentence. Ending it with a interval makes it right into a cliffhanger of an unfinished thought, however a comma can save the day.

Using a comma and the next full sentence “I traveled 3,500 miles to see the Grateful Useless in Copenhagen.” make this right into a grammatically right sentence. One thing tells me you didn’t make it to work the subsequent day, although!

3. Use the Oxford comma.

The Oxford comma is a controversial subject on this planet of punctuation. There’s nice historic debate on whether or not the Oxford comma is important, however we right here at HubSpot advocate utilizing it for accuracy and readability in your writing.

What’s the Oxford comma?
The Oxford comma is the ultimate comma in a listing of issues. For instance: I would like a stapler, some rye bread, and a gallon of glue.

I don’t know what you would be making, however that’s the correct use of an Oxford comma in a listing of things. Right here’s one other instance:

This sentence states that you simply watched a documentary about three distinct and influential New Yorkers. The Oxford comma makes it clear that these are three completely different individuals. If we omit the Oxford comma, issues can get a bit of complicated:

Until Babe Ruth lived a secret lifetime of crime and thin-crust pizza, you’ll be able to see how the absence of the Oxford comma on this sentence might confuse readers. Whereas each variations of the sentence are technically right, we advocate the Oxford comma to make sure your sentences are freed from ambiguity.

4. Use a comma between two coordinate adjectives that describe the identical noun.

Coordinate adjectives are two or extra adjectives that describe the identical noun. If you happen to flip-flop your adjectives or pop an “and” in between them and the sentence nonetheless is sensible, you then’ve obtained coordinate adjectives. If you happen to’re utilizing coordinate adjectives, bear in mind to separate them with a comma.

Psychedelic and spontaneous are coordinate adjectives as a result of they collectively describe the noun, which is the music of the Grateful Useless. You possibly can reverse the order or substitute the comma for an “and” and the sentence means the identical factor. We advocate utilizing a comma.

It is refined, however the sentence doesn’t stream appropriately and not using a comma between psychedelic and spontaneous.

5. Use a comma (or pair of commas) to separate non-essential info in a sentence.

Though we admire the knowledge, “in a quest for the right rack of ribs” is non-essential to the primary level of the sentence, which is that my father-in-law spent means an excessive amount of on his grill. You should utilize a single comma with the non-essential info firstly of the sentence, or a pair of commas to rope it off within the center, however don’t overlook your commas when including extraneous element.

With out commas to separate the non-essential info, the sentence is long-winded and grammatically incorrect. I’ll take a pair of commas with these ribs, please!

6. Be sure you place commas appropriately when utilizing quotes.

On the whole, it’s best to use a comma to introduce quotes or dialogue in a sentence.

The explanation we want a comma on this instance is that the quoted materials is syntactically unbiased, which means it stands other than the encircling sentence. Don’t be impolite! Introduce that mid-sentence quote with a comma.

Nevertheless, as there usually are within the English language, there are exceptions to this rule. If the quote blends into the encircling sentence, usually with the usage of a conjunction, you’ll be able to omit the comma.

No comma is important on this instance as a result of the quote blends into the sentence with the usage of the conjunction “that.”

7. Put a comma earlier than “whereas” to distinction two concepts.

In case you are utilizing “whereas” in a sentence to basically imply “though” or “whereas,” bear in mind to position a comma earlier than it to maintain the which means of your sentence clear.

Using “whereas” on this sentence permits us to distinction two BBQ ideologies.

With out the comma, the which means of whereas technically adjustments to “concurrently,” which doesn’t make sense on this context.

Moreover, if you’re utilizing “whereas” firstly of the sentence, it’s best to place a comma on the finish of the clause that it introduces.

Using a comma after the clause that “whereas” introduces permits us to retain the which means as “whereas” and distinction the 2 concepts.