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Commas
End marks are used to separate complete thoughts. Commas,
however, are generally used to separate words or groups of
words within a complete thought. If you fail to use necessary
commas, you may confuse your reader.
CONFUSING
CLEAR
The members of the team are Jo Ann Jerry Lee Darrin
Marcia and Jeanne. [How many members?]
The members of the team are Jo Ann, Jerry Lee,
Darrin, Marcia, and Jeanne. [five members]
Items in a Series
MECHANICS
STYLE
TIP
Some writers do not use a
comma before the conjunction and, or, or nor when it
joins the last two items in a
series. However, sometimes
such a comma is needed to
make the meaning clear.
Notice how using a comma
before and changes the
meaning in these examples.
21f. Use commas to separate items in a series.
A series is three or more items written one after the other. The
items may be single words or word groups.
Words in a Series
Sugar cane, bananas, and citrus fruits are grown in Jamaica.
[nouns]
Yesterday I dusted, vacuumed, and mopped. [verbs]
The day was wet, cold, and windy. [adjectives]
EXAMPLES
Grandma, Mom, and Dad
came to the game. [Three
people were at the game.]
Word Groups in a Series
At the beach we swam, built sand castles, and played
volleyball. [predicates]
Grandma, Mom and
Dad came to the game.
[Grandma is being told
who came to the game.]
Including the comma
before the conjunction in
such a series is not incorrect, so it is best always
to use this comma.
I searched for the lost contact lens in the sink, on the counter,
and on the floor. [prepositional phrases]
Please punch the time card when you arrive, when you take
lunch, and when you leave. [clauses]
When all the items in a series are joined by and, or, or nor,
do not use commas to separate them.
EXAMPLES
I’ve seen snakes and lizards and toads in our yard.
Shall we go bowling or rent a movie or listen to CDs?
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Punctuation
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Exercise 3
21
f, g
Proofreading Sentences for the Correct
Use of Commas
Most of the following sentences need commas. If a sentence
needs commas, write the word before each missing comma;
then, add the comma. If a sentence is already correct, write C.
1. Beverley DeGale Claire Jackson and Iman won
Candace Awards in 1997.
1. DeGale, Jackson,
1. I finished my dinner brushed my teeth combed my hair
and ran out the door.
2. The nurse checked the patient’s pulse took his temperature
and gave him a glass of water.
3. For lunch we had milk tuna sandwiches and pears.
4. Cora Jack and Tomás all entered the contest.
5. Marcus plays golf and football and volleyball.
6. The U.S. Marine Corps is prepared for battle on land on
the sea and in the air.
7. For her birthday on September 27, my sister wants a dog
and a cat and a hamster and a bird.
8. Jan told Raul where she had been, where she was, and
where she was going.
9. This project is fun easy fast and inexpensive.
10. Balloons were floating in the living room the kitchen the
bedrooms and the dining room.
21g. Use commas to separate two or more adjectives that
come before a noun.
EXAMPLES
Pita is a round, flat bread of the Middle East.
James Earl Jones certainly has a deep, strong,
commanding voice.
Do not place a comma between an adjective and the noun
immediately following it.
INCORRECT
Alexandra and I found an old, rusty, bicycle in the
vacant lot down the street.
CORRECT
Alexandra and I found an old, rusty bicycle in the
vacant lot down the street.
HELP
Use a semicolon
rather than a comma
between phrases in a series
when the phrases contain
commas.
EXAMPLE
The three sections of this
project will be due on
Tuesday, March 3; on
Thursday, March 19; and
on Friday, April 3.
Reference Note
For more information
about semicolons, see
page 577.
Commas
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MECHANICS
EXAMPLE
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TIPS
&
TRICKS
To see whether a comma
is needed between two
adjectives, insert and
between the adjectives (tall
and pine, for example). If
and sounds awkward there,
do not use a comma.
Another test you can
use is to switch the order
of the adjectives. If the
sentence still makes sense
when you switch them, use
a comma.
Sometimes the last adjective in a series is thought of as
part of the noun. In that case, do not use a comma before the
last adjective.
EXAMPLES
The tall pine tree [not tall, pine tree] swayed.
Kimchi is a spicy Korean dish [not spicy, Korean dish]
made with pickled cabbage.
Exercise 4
Proofreading Sentences for the Correct Use
of Commas
For each of the following sentences, write the word that
should be followed by a comma; then, add the comma.
If a sentence is already correct, write C.
EXAMPLE
1. Mrs. Hirata taught us several beautiful old Japanese
folk songs.
1. beautiful,
MECHANICS
1. His calm wrinkled face told a story.
2. François Toussaint L’Ouverture was a brilliant patriotic
Haitian leader.
3. The huge lively wriggling kingfish dropped from the hook.
4. There’s a sleek shiny bicycle in the store window.
5. The sound of the soft steady rain put me to sleep.
6. We read Chief Black Hawk’s moving farewell speech.
7. I washed my hands in the cold clear spring water.
8. May I please have some of that spicy delicious soup?
9. The old diary had ragged yellowed pages.
10. The crowded dining room is filled with people celebrating
my parents’ anniversary.
STYLE
TIP
In your reading, you may
see very short compound
sentences that do not use
commas.
Compound Sentences
21h. Use a comma before and, but, for, nor, or, so, or yet
when it joins independent clauses in a compound sentence.
EXAMPLES
EXAMPLE
I’m tired and I’m hungry.
However, a comma before a
conjunction in a compound
sentence is always correct.
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Chapter 21
Theo will bring the potato salad, and Sarah will bring
the apple juice.
Congress passed the bill, but I believe the president
vetoed it.
I went to bed early, for I had a big day ahead of me.
Punctuation
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21
h
NOTE
Do not confuse a compound sentence with a simple
sentence containing a compound verb. No comma is needed
between the parts of a compound verb.
COMPOUND SENTENCE
We ran relay races first, and then we
ate lunch.
SIMPLE SENTENCE
We ran the relay races first and then
ate lunch. [The sentence contains a
compound verb.]
However, a compound verb made up of three or more verbs
generally does require commas.
We ran the relay races, ate lunch, and then
prepared for the individual races.
EXAMPLE
Exercise 5
Reference Note
For more information on
compound sentences,
see pages 274 and 395.
For more information on
compound verbs, see
page 312.
Correcting Compound Sentences by
Adding Commas
EXAMPLE
MECHANICS
Some of the following sentences are compound and need to
have commas added. If a sentence needs a comma, write the
word or numeral before the missing comma; then, add the
comma. If a sentence is already correct, write C.
1. The storm brought heavy rain but a tornado did
the most damage.
1. rain,
1. At the Native American Heritage Festival, Mary Johns
wove baskets from sweet grass and Alice Billie made rings
from beads.
2. The sailboat was almost hidden by the fog yet we could see
part of the mast.
3. German Silva of Mexico was the fastest male runner in the
1994 and 1995 New York City Marathons and Tegla
Loroupe of Kenya was the female winner in both races.
4. Would you like to play checkers or shall we go to the lake
instead?
5. I called my friends and told them the news.
6. Jim practiced the piano piece all month for he wanted to
do well at the recital.
Commas
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7. Many people are used to celebrating New Year’s Day on
January 1 but the Chinese New Year begins between
January 21 and February 19.
8. The lake contains fish and is home to several alligators.
9. The old oak tree shaded the house but the shade kept the
grass from growing.
10. I wanted to buy a camera so I mowed yards in the neighborhood to earn extra money.
Interrupters
21i. Use commas to set off an expression that interrupts a
sentence.
Two commas are used to set off an interrupting expression—
one before and one after the expression.
MECHANICS
EXAMPLES
My favorite gospel singers, BeBe and CeCe Winans,
were on TV last night.
As you leave, Jesse, please close the door quietly.
Sometimes an “interrupter” comes at the beginning or the
end of the sentence. In such cases, only one comma is needed.
EXAMPLES
Yes, I’ll call back later.
How did you do in karate class today, Kami?
(1) Use commas to set off appositives and appositive
phrases that are not necessary to the meaning of a sentence.
An appositive is a noun or a pronoun that identifies or
describes another noun or pronoun beside it. An appositive
phrase is an appositive with its modifiers.
EXAMPLES
A gymnast, Mrs. Shaw, will coach us. [The appositive
Mrs. Shaw identifies the gymnast.]
This book is about geology, the science of the earth
and its rocks. [The science of the earth and its rocks is
an appositive phrase that identifies geology.]
Do not use commas when an appositive is necessary to the
meaning of a sentence.
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Punctuation
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EXAMPLES
21
i
My cousin Roberto lives in Puerto Rico. [I have more
than one cousin and am using his name to identify
which cousin I mean.]
The character Alice is based on Alice Liddell. [Alice is
one of several characters; the appositive tells which
character is meant.]
Exercise 6
Punctuating Appositives
Most of the following sentences contain at least one error in
the punctuation of appositives and appositive phrases. Write
each word that should be followed by a comma, and add the
comma. If a sentence is already correct, write C.
EXAMPLE
1. Two cold drinks lemonade and punch were
available to the guests.
1. Two cold drinks, lemonade and punch, were
available to the guests.
MECHANICS
1. The park a beautiful place
for a party was lit by streetlights and had a bandstand.
2. Our hosts Mr. and Mrs.
Worthington greeted us at
the entrance.
3. Some of the men were
wearing boaters straw hats
popular at the time.
4. My friend Eliza Wolcott sat
in the shade at our table.
5. Do you see an empty table a
quiet place for conversation?
6. Somehow a puppy the pet of
one of the guests got onto
Pierre Auguste Renoir, Ball at the Moulin de la Galette
(1876). Paris, Musée d’Orsay, Paris, Giraudon/Art Resource, New York.
the dance floor.
7. Edward Finch, the best dancer has his choice of partners.
8. Music mostly waltzes filled the air.
9. A young woman in a striped dress a new bride, is
remembering her wedding.
10. Listen to laughter and lively conversation, the sounds of
happy people.
Commas
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(2) Use commas to set off words used in direct address.
EXAMPLES
Ms. Jacobs, please explain the assignment.
Do you know who Santa Anna was, Beth?
You’re right, Inés, to say he was a Mexican general.
In the sentences above, the words Ms. Jacobs, Beth, and Inés are
nouns of direct address. They identify the person or persons
spoken to or addressed.
Exercise 7
HELP
Some sentences
in Exercise 7 need more
than one comma.
Correcting Sentences by Adding Commas
For each of the following sentences, write each word that
should be followed by a comma; then, add the comma.
EXAMPLE
1. Are you sure you left your book in the room James?
1. room,
MECHANICS
1. Michi will you read the haiku you wrote?
2. Carla please bring me the newspaper when you finish
with it.
3. Did you bring the tickets Jorge?
4. After all the work we’ve done Ann it would be a shame to
turn it in late.
5. If you mow the lawn Kelly I’ll rake the clippings.
6. Please Mom can you drive me to rehearsal?
7. Mr. Ferguson you have a telephone call.
8. You are dismissed class.
9. How long have you worked here David?
10. The problem my friends is simply lack of effort.
Introductory Words, Phrases, and Clauses
21j. Use a comma after certain introductory elements.
(1) Use a comma after yes, no, or any mild exclamation
such as well or why at the beginning of a sentence.
EXAMPLES
Yes, you may use my pencil.
Why, it’s Arthur!
Well, I think you should apologize.
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j
(2) Use a comma after two or more introductory prepositional phrases.
EXAMPLE
In the valley at the base of the hill, a herd of
buffalo grazes.
Also, use a comma after a single long introductory
prepositional phrase.
EXAMPLE
On the winter morning when Kenan discovered
the strange visitor, the rosebush burst into bloom.
Use a comma after a single short introductory prepositional
phrase when the comma is necessary to make the sentence clear.
Reference Note
For more about prepositional phrases, see
page 361. For more
about adverb clauses,
see page 391.
CONFUSING In the evening sunlight faded in the western sky.
In the evening, sunlight faded in the western sky.
[The comma is needed so that the reader does not
read “evening sunlight.”]
CLEAR
(3) Use a comma after an introductory adverb clause.
After the show is over, we will go out to eat.
MECHANICS
EXAMPLE
NOTE
An adverb clause that comes at the end of a sentence
usually is not preceded by a comma.
EXAMPLE
We will go out to eat after the show is over.
Exercise 8
Using Commas with Introductory Elements
If a comma is needed in a sentence, write the word before the
missing comma and add the comma. If a sentence is already
punctuated correctly, write C.
EXAMPLE
1. After he left we noticed that his hat was on
the table.
1. left,
1. Before eating the birds were singing noisily.
2. On the table in the kitchen dinner was getting cold.
3. Although he trained hard for a month, Juan could not
break his own record.
4. Yes that is a cardinal.
5. On her way to school in the morning Roseanne was thinking about her project.
Commas
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6. When I have time on the weekends I like to hook rugs.
7. Well you had better make up your mind soon.
8. With the decorations in the living room in place Julie was
ready for her mother’s birthday party.
9. In the corner of the room a night light showed the way
to the door.
10. Because the snow cover was so thin the deer had no
trouble finding food.
Conventional Uses
21k. Use commas in certain conventional situations.
(1) Use commas to separate items in dates and addresses.
EXAMPLES
Bill Cosby was born on July 12, 1937, in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania.
Saturday, May 10, will be the day of the soccer playoff.
MECHANICS
My aunt has lived at 41 Jefferson Street, Northfield,
Minnesota, since 1998.
Notice that a comma separates the last item in a date or in an
address from the words that follow it. However, a comma does
not separate a month from a day (July 12) or a house number
from a street name (41 Jefferson Street).
NOTE
No punctuation is used between the state abbreviation
and the ZIP Code.
EXAMPLE
STYLE
TIP
Business letters use a colon,
not a comma, after the
salutation.
(2) Use a comma after the salutation of a personal letter and
after the closing of any letter.
EXAMPLES
EXAMPLE
Dear Ms. Hinojosa:
Exercise 9
Reference Note
For more about
writing letters, see
“Writing” in the Quick
Reference Handbook.
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Chapter 21
Cerritos, CA 90701
Dear Grandma and Grandpa,
Love,
Dear Tyrone,
Sincerely,
Using Commas Correctly in Conventional
Situations
Write the following items and sentences, inserting or deleting
commas as needed.
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k, l
1. Friday February 11 is the first day of the fair.
1. Friday, February 11, is the first day of the fair.
1. Yours truly
2. Shirley Chisholm was born on November 30 1924, in New
York City.
3. The first female principal chief of the Cherokee Nation is
Wilma Mankiller, who was born near Rocky Mountain
Oklahoma.
4. Write to me at 327, Adams Way Darrouzett TX 79024.
5. The Harvest Carnival is on Friday October 29 2001.
6. Dear Uncle Sig
7. Address orders to Pretty Good Camping Supplies P.O. Box
528 Southborough, MA, 01772.
8. He made his stage debut on May, 25, 1928 in London
England.
9. Friday July 5 2002 will be my grandparents’ golden wedding anniversary.
10. The main office in Santa Barbara California has a new fax
number.
HELP
Commas are
also used in numbers
greater than and including
one thousand. Use a
comma before every third
digit to the left of the
decimal point.
EXAMPLE
7,386,149.00 [seven
million three hundred
eighty-six thousand one
hundred forty-nine]
Unnecessary Commas
21l. Do not use unnecessary commas.
Too much punctuation can be just as confusing as not
enough punctuation, especially where the use of commas is
concerned.
CONFUSING
CLEAR
My friend, Jessica, said she would feed my cat and my
dog while I’m away, but now, she tells me, she will be
too busy.
My friend Jessica said she would feed my cat and my
dog while I’m away, but now she tells me she will be
too busy.
Have a reason for every comma or other mark of punctuation that you use. When there is no rule requiring punctuation
and when the meaning of the sentence is clear without one, do
not insert any punctuation mark.
Commas
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MECHANICS
EXAMPLE
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Review C
Go to the Chapter Menu
for an interactive activity.
Proofreading a Letter for the Correct Use
of Commas
The sentences in the following letter each contain an error
in the use of commas. Rewrite the letter, adding or deleting
commas as needed.
EXAMPLES
[1] July, 6, 2001
1. July 6, 2001
[2] Dear Tom
2. Dear Tom,
Dear Tom,
MECHANICS
[1] Well on July 4, 2001, Aunt Lil
kept her promise and took me up in her
airplane. [2] Wow! What a view of the
canyons valleys, and plateaus we had!
[3] We flew over a hill, and saw a small
herd of mustangs. [4] Aunt Lil circled
above the horses and the plane’s shadow
frightened the stallion. [5] The whole
herd stampeded with tails, and manes and
hooves flying in a storm of dust all the
way down into the valley. [6] One black
colt trailed behind but his mother
quickly nudged him onward. [7] In a
moment the swift sturdy mustangs,
descendants of the fiery steeds of the
Spanish conquistadors, were galloping
into the woods. [8] I wish you could
have seen them Tom! [9] At least I
remembered my camera so here is a picture of those beautiful horses.
[10] Yours truly
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