COMMAS FOR THE TIMID AND THE BRAVE: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW
When it comes to making comma errors, students generally fall into two categories: those
who avoid commas altogether and those who sprinkle commas like salt on an order of fries.
Don't fall into either of these traps: use these six rules to help you use these important marks of
punctuation with confidence and competence.
COMMA RULE 1: Use a comma in compound sentences; put a comma before the
conjunctions for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so when they connect two complete sentences.
1. Mitch needed someone to proofread his paper, so Angel volunteered.
2. Ron has almost finished his draft, but Ryan is still working on his.
NOTE: Be sure that the conjunctions in fact connect two independent clauses (complete
sentences). The following sentence is merely one sentence--a subject and two verbs. In
sentences like this, no comma is needed:
3. Neil tried to leave early but couldn't get his car started.
COMMA RULE 2: Put a comma between items in a series--a list of three or more items.
4. Leslie stopped by to turn in her prewriting, rough draft, essay, and tape.
5. Arnold left a note for his roommate, grabbed his backpack, and headed out the door.
COMMA RULE 3: Put a comma after an introductory expression that is not part of the
main subject-verb pattern. The introductory expression can be a word, a phrase, or a
dependent clause.
6. Yes, Adrian will be there.
7. Well, Nicole hasn't made up her mind.
8. However, Gina and Joyce have other plans.
9. In the middle of class Thursday, Matt fell asleep.
10. Yawning widely, Chris turned in his essay.
11. When the students left, the room was suddenly silent.
COMMA RULE 4: When a sentence directly addresses someone by name, separate the
name from the rest of the sentence with a comma.
12. I heard, Claudia, that you passed your exams.
13. Heather, have you finished reading Wendy's essay?
14. I was surprised to see you at the game, Lisa.
COMMA RULE 5: Watch for transitional expressions that interrupt the flow of a sentence.
These transitions include words and phrases like however, moreover, finally, therefore, of
course, on the other hand. Transitional words can be used in different positions in
sentences. If the transition is in the INITIAL position, serving as an introductory phrase,
put a comma after it. If the transition is in the MIDDLE position and interrupts a single
sentence, just surround it with commas. If the transition comes between two complete
sentences, put a semi-colon before it and a comma after it.
18. Of course, Linda was not really surprised.
19. However, Brett simply had not expected it.
20. Elise and Jeff were, of course, happy to be in class.
21. Christina, however, was not so sure.
22. Humbert, on the other hand, was already at Happy Hour.
23. Bob won the chemistry award; of course, we knew he deserved it.
24. Reed wanted to go to the party; however, he knew he should study.
COMMA RULE 6: Put commas around nonessential (also called nonrestrictive) material.
Look especially for who, or which clauses, appositives*, participial phrases**.
25. Michael Jordan, who retired early from basketball, was the most famous athlete of
the last decade.
26. The Chicago Bulls won three championships in a row, which put them in the
company of teams like the Lakers and the Celtics.
*Toni Morrison, winner of the National Book Award, read from Beloved, her most
famous novel.
**Brett, sighing loudly, wished the film would end.
**Looking anxiously around the room, Aaron waited for a sign.