Comma Rules

I. Commas should be used after some introductory words, phrases, or clauses. A. Use commas after introductory verbal phrases Infinitive phrase (infinitive = to + verb) To win that game, we must be very well prepared. Participial phrase (participle = verb that ends in in –ed or –ing) Tired after their long march, the soldiers were ready to sleep. Running quickly down the stairs, Mrs. Harris tripped.

I. Commas should be used after some introductory words, phrases, or clauses. B. Use a comma after an introductory adverb clause (adverb clause = subordinating conjunction + subject & verb) (For a list of subordinating conjunctions, see p. 436 in Writer’s Choice) After we had made the long hike, we were ready to sleep. Because they had made the long hike, the soldiers were tired. If a subordinate clause comes at the beginning of a sentence, no comma is needed. No comma is needed if the subordinate clause comes after the main clause.

I. Commas should be used after some introductory words, phrases, or clauses. C. Use commas after the words yes and no used conversationally and after mild interjections. Yes, they were tired after the match. No, they could not sleep. Well, I know they are exhausted. Oh, I did not know they were asleep.

I. Commas should be used after some introductory words, phrases, or clauses. D. Use a comma after an introductory prepositional phrase that contains either a verbal, a dependent clause, or more than one preposition. After lunch we visited the museum. After eating lunch, we visited the museum. After the lunch that we had at the hotel, we visited the museum. After the lunch at the hotel in Paris, we visited the museum.

II. Commas with Coordinate Elements A. Commas should be used before the coordinating conjunctions and, but, or, or nor that joins two independent clauses. (Independent clause = subject & verb that can stand alone) The soldiers had made a long march, and they were ready to sleep. The soldiers had made a long march, but they were not yet ready to sleep. The soldiers may make their long march tomorrow, or they may wait until Tuesday. The soldiers can not march today, nor will they be ready to march tomorrow. The soldiers made a long march and were ready to sleep.

II. Commas with Coordinate Elements B. Commas should be used after each item in a series of words, phrases, or clauses. (Series = three or more items) The soldiers carried food, cameras, and camping equipment. The soldiers marched around the city, through the countryside, and into the forest. The mayor wondered why the soldiers were camping near the city, how far they had marched, and when they would leave. I recommended Louise, my sister; Marian, my best friend; and May, my first cousin.

II. Commas with Coordinate Elements C. Commas should be used between coordinate (of equal value) adjectives. (If the word and could be placed logically between two or more adjectives modifying a noun, the adjectives are coordinate.) The word order of coordinate adjectives can usually be reversed. The tourists admired the large, impressive museum. The tourists admired the large historical museum.

II. Commas with Coordinate Elements D. 1. Commas should be used to emphasize contrasting coordinate elements. The soldiers were supposed to march on Tuesday, not Monday. I bring you not peace, but a sword. He enjoys working with animals, not with people.

II. Commas with Coordinate Elements D. 2. Commas should be used to set off interrogative elements that follow a declarative sentence. The soldiers were tired, weren’t they? He had to quit his job, didn’t he?

II. Commas with Coordinate Elements D. 3. Commas should be used to indicate the omission of a word. Kim made lemonade; Pat, cookies. To err is human; to forgive, divine.

III. Commas with Nonrestrictive (Nonessential) Elements A restrictive (essential) element is necessary in the sentence to tell which particular one or ones about the thing it modifies or renames. A restrictive element does not require a comma. A nonrestrictive (nonessential) element is not necessary in the sentence; it is extra information.

III. Commas with Nonrestrictive Elements A. Use commas to set off nonrestrictive participial phrases. Tired after their long march, the soldiers were ready to sleep. The soldiers, tired after their long march, were ready to sleep. The soldiers entered the abandoned building, trembling with fright.

III. Commas with Nonrestrictive Elements B. Use commas to set off nonrestrictive appositives. (An appositive renames a noun or pronoun that comes before it.) Milton’s poem commemorating the death of Edward King, “Lycidas,” was published in the eighteenth century. Milton’s poem “Lycidas” was written commemorate the death of Edward King.

III. Commas with Nonrestrictive Elements C. Use commas to set off nonrestrictive adjective clauses. Milton’s “Lycidas,” which commemorates the death of Edward King, was published in the seventeenth century. Milton’s poem that commemorates the death of Edward King is called “Lycidas.”

III. Commas with Nonrestrictive Elements D. Use a comma to set off an adverb clause at the end of a sentence only if that clause shows a strong contrast or gives a reason and is introduced by the words for, as, or since. The soldiers needed a night’s sleep, for they had made a long march.

IV. Commas should be used to set off nominative absolutes. A nominative absolute is a noun-participle construction. The march having been completed, the soldiers were given some free time.(NA) They walked briskly, the night being cold.(NA) Having completed the march, the soldiers were given some free time. (PP)

V. Use commas to set off transitional words and expressions. Transitional words & expressions include: accordingly, afterwards, consequently, for example, furthermore, hence, however, in fact, meanwhile, moreover, nevertheless, on the other hand, previously, therefore, and thus.

V. Use commas to set off transitional words and expressions. A. When the previous expressions are used simply as transitional words, set them off with commas. The soldiers will, therefore, take a long rest. They were, moreover, extremely tired. The soldiers, however, could not go to sleep.

V. Use commas to set off transitional words and expressions. B. Some transitional expressions can serve other functions; in those cases punctuation is different. 1. The soldiers were tired after their long march; however, they were not ready to sleep. (two independent clauses)

V. Use commas to set off transitional words and expressions. B. Some transitional expressions can serve other functions; in those cases punctuation is different. 2. However the soldiers did their work, they could not please their leader. (adverb modifying the verb did)