STOP! Comma Police! Do You Know ALL the Rules?
Why punctuation matters for every content writer
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Comma /kɒmə/: a punctuation mark used to divide the sections of a sentence.
When used accurately, these little guys blend into the page. But get them wrong and you could lose all the writing authority you accrued.
Understanding the mechanics of language is an important foundation for any writer to build. Accuracy is the first pillar of building trust in and increasing the value of your work. Of course, the content, style, and structure of your articles are what readers consume, but punctuation errors will take centre stage if you let them.
You might be thinking — Grammarly checks my comma use.
I’ve got some bad news. Grammarly is far from perfect. Not only does it often make incorrect suggestions, but it won’t teach you to the ‘why’ of comma use.
If you abdicate responsibility for editing to a machine, you lose agency over your own words. You’re also admitting that you’d prefer not to learn and grow your skills as a writer. Learn the foundation of grammar and you’ll be more cognizant of sentence variety. And your writing will flow better too.
The most important comma fact I’d like to impart is this:
Commas do not simply represent ‘a pause’.
They separate clauses or sections in a sentence.
That’s why it’s crucial to identify the grammatical items within your sentences so you can place commas correctly.
Want to know the rules of comma use? Read on.
The basics (6 rules)
1. Use commas to separate independent clauses when they are joined by these coordinating conjunctions: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so (FANBOYS).
e.g. The game was over, but the crowd refused to leave.
2. Use commas after introductory a) clauses, b) phrases, or c) these subordinating conjunctions: if, since, after, when, as, while, although, because, until, before (ISAWAWABUB).
e.g. Because he was sleeping, I was extra quiet
3. Use commas to separate three or more words, phrases, or clauses written in a series.
e.g. She promised to lower taxes, protect the environment, reduce crime, and end unemployment.
4. Use a comma near the end of a sentence to separate contrasted coordinate elements or to indicate a distinct pause or shift.
e.g. He was merely ignorant, not stupid.
5. Don’t use commas to set off essential elements of the sentence, such as clauses beginning with that (relative clauses).
e.g. The book that I borrowed from you is excellent.
6. Don’t use a comma to separate the subject from the verb.
e.g. A bear in the woods must not be disturbed.
Advanced comma use (10 rules)
1. Use a pair of commas in the middle of a sentence to set off clauses, phrases, and words that are not essential to the meaning of the sentence.
e.g. This restaurant has an exciting atmosphere. The food, on the other hand, is rather bland.
2. The Oxford comma (or serial comma) is the comma placed before the final item in a list of three or more items. It is optional (and tends to be favoured in American style guides), but make sure to be consistent with use or non-use.
e.g. He promised to lower taxes, protect the environment, reduce crime, and end unemployment. (with Oxford comma)
e.g. He promised to lower taxes, protect the environment, reduce crime and end unemployment. (without Oxford comma)
3. Use a comma to separate two or more coordinate adjectives that describe the same noun. Never add an extra comma after the final adjective.
e.g. He was a difficult, stubborn child.
4. Use commas to set off phrases at the end of the sentence that refer back to the beginning or middle. These ‘free modifiers’ can go anywhere.
e.g. Nancy blew a kiss from the ship, laughing nervously.
Smiling heartily, I waved back.
5. Use commas to separate all geographical names, items in dates (except the month and day), addresses, and titles in names.
e.g. Portsmouth, New Hampshire, gets its name from Portsmouth, England.
e.g. July 22, 1959, was a momentous day in his life.
e.g. Gregory House, MD, is a cranky individual.
6. Use a comma to shift between the main discourse and speech.
e.g. “I left,” said Amanda, “because you were rude.”
In 1848, Marx wrote,“Workers of the world, unite!”
note: in some style guides, the comma preceding the quote is optional.
7. Use commas wherever necessary to prevent possible confusion or misreading.
e.g. To George, Harrison had always been an idol.
(George and Harrison are two different people in the example; George Harrison was a famous musician)
8. Don’t put a comma between the two verbs or verb phrases in a compound predicate (verbs with the same subject).
e.g. We laid out our snacks and began to study.
9. Don’t put a comma between the two nouns in a compound subject or compound object.
e.g. (compound subject): The manager from your office and his boss at corporate are dating.
e.g. (compound object): Pam told me that the job was still available and that her boss wanted to interview me.
10. Don’t put a comma after the main clause when a dependent (subordinate) clause follows it.
e.g. The cat scratched at the door while I was pooping.
With any luck, you’re now clear on punctuation use. No more getting stopped by the comma police!
There are a few more nuances to comma use, but hopefully, I’ve covered the majority of the rules. If you have any questions about punctuation, feel free to comment.
For in-depth explanations and comma exercises, writers can visit the Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL).
Philip Charter is a short-fiction author and a coach for content writers. To download his free writing tips eBook or get in touch, visit his links page.
