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Punctuation 1: Comma, Series
• Separate three or more equally ranked
words, phrases, or short clauses with
commas. Place a comma between each
item and before the conjunction and, but, or
nor.
Example with words:
Example with phrases:
Example with short clauses:
Comma, Parenthetical
Set off with commas any words that are
unnecessary for the grammatical
completeness of the sentence and that
interrupt its natural flow. A partial listing
of these parenthetical expressions are:
Accordingly
Also
Consequently
Furthermore
Hence
However
In addition
In fact
In the meantime
Indeed
Nevertheless
Of course
On the other hand
Perhaps
Secondly
Therefore
Too
Yes
Comma, Parenthetical
Beginning
Middle
End
Comma, Direct Address
Set off with commas nouns used in direct
address. Capitalize only proper nouns.
Beginning of a sentence
Middle of a sentence
End of a sentence
Comma, Appositive
An appositive renames or explains the noun
that appears directly before it. Set off with
commas appositive expressions.
Within a sentence
End of a sentence
Comma, Appositive
When appositive expressions are needed to
identify the nouns they rename or explain,
omit the commas. Also, omit the commas
with one-word appositives.
Indicates which one
One-word appositive
Comma, Appositive
Another appositive form is a college degree
that follows directly after the name of an
individual. Set off the degree in commas.
Degree abbreviated
Degree written in full
Comma, Dates
Separate combinations of weekday, calendar
date, and year with commas. No commas
are used, however, with a calendar date
expressed alone.
Calendar date—no commas
Calendar date and year—commas
Weekday and calendar date—commas
Weekday, calendar date, and year—commas
Comma, Dates
Expressions of month and year are written
without commas.
Without commas
Comma, Addresses
Use commas to set off a state name following
the name of a city.
Within a sentence
Commas, Addresses
In the body of a document, spell out and
separate with commas the parts of an
address.
Name and complete address
Comma, Coordinating
Conjunctions
When two complete independent thoughts are
joined by a coordinating conjunction (and,
but, or, nor), place a comma before the
conjunction.
Comma, Independent Adjectives
When two or more independent adjectives
modify a noun, separate the adjectives with
commas. Reverse the adjectives and insert
the word and to test whether or not the
adjectives are independent.
Independent adjectives
Adjectives not independent
Comma, Introductory Phrases
and Clauses
A sentence appearing in normal order follows
a subject-verb-object pattern.
Normal order
However, when a sentence is inverted, it
contains an introductory phrase or clause.
Comma, Introductory Phrases
and Clauses
Place a comma after an introductory
expression that contains any verb form.
Comma, Restrictive Phrases and
Clauses
Restrictive phrases and clauses are essential to
the meaning of a sentence. If they are
removed, the meaning of the sentence
would be altered or unclear.
Essential for identification or meaning
Comma, Nonrestrictive Phrases
and Clauses
Nonrestrictive phrases and clauses add an
additional idea but do not substantially
modify the meaning of a sentence. If they
are were removed, the meaning of the
sentence would not be altered.
Use commas to set off nonrestrictive word
groups from the remainder of the sentence.
Additional idea
Comma, Contrasting or
Contingent Expressions
Contrasting or contingent expressions should
be set off by commas. Come words often
used to introduce contrasting expressions
are but, never, not, seldom, and yet.
Comma, Clarity
Separate with a comma two identical verbs
that appear together in a sentence.
Comma, Clarity
Words repeated for emphasis are separated by
a comma.
Comma, Short Quotations
Use a comma to separate from the rest of the
sentence a complete sentence set off in
quotation marks.
Beginning Quotation
Ending Quotation
Interrupted Quotation
Comma, Short Quotations
No comma is needed when a quotation at the
beginning of a sentence ends with a
question mark or exclamation mark.