The Comma
And Other Commonly Confused Types of Punctuation
THE COMMA:
You may have learned that if there is a pause in your sentence, you need a comma. This is NOT true; there are many
places where you can pause, but a comma would be wrong. However, if a comma is correct, a pause will sound natural,
so if the pause sounds odd, take the comma out (the ‘pause rile’ can tell you if a comma is unacceptable, but not if a
comma is necessary).
3 basic comma usages:
1. Lists
Items in a list of three or more things need to be separated with a comma, although the last comma (before
and) is now considered optional by some.
James, Mary, and Beth threw an awesome party last night.
Michael cooked, washed dishes, and complained the whole time.
I went to the store and bought cookies, ice cream, and pasta.
Note that the position of the list does not determine whether or not a comma is needed.
Note that no comma is necessary in the following sentence because only two items are joined:
Daniel brought the chips but forgot the salsa.
2. Coordinating Conjunctions
A coordinating conjunction (and, for, nor, but, yet, so, or) can be used with a comma to join two sentences.
Alice swept up the broken glass, and Phil mopped the bathroom.
Johnny had volunteered to help, but no one could find him later that day.
3. Extra Information
Extra information is any word or phrase which is not a complete sentence, but rather modifies a complete
sentence by providing extra detail. First, identify the complete sentence (Subject Verb and, sometimes,
Object). Subject, verb, extra info
Disgusted by the mess, the dog went outside to sleep.
The dog, disgusted by the mess, went outside to sleep.
The dog went outside to sleep, disgusted by the mess.
Notice that no words were added or subtracted in these sentences. With the extra information added between
commas, you have the ability to make the sentence sound how you want it to sound.
Additional Comma Usages:
4. After an Introductory Element
Very often, we introduce our sentences with a word or phrase to make it sound or transition better.
Introductory elements include:
Moreover
First
In the
As a result
Therefore
Then
beginning
However
As a result
Consequently
In the story
Therefore
In the story, Rebecca was stunned when Raul cheated on her.
Therefore, she thought she would never love again.
However, she was willing to try.
5. Between Dependent and Independent Clauses
An independent clause is one that can stand alone as a complete sentence:
I went to the store.
A dependent, or subordinate, clause cannot stand alone. It also contains a subject and verb, but the
subordinator (a word or phrase) makes it dependent.
Subordinators:
after
in order that
unless
that
although
once
until
which
as
provided
when
whichever
because
that
whenever
who
before
rather than
where
whoever
even if
since
whereas
whom
even
so that
wherever
whose
though
than
whether
whosever
if
that
while
whomever
though
why
In the typical sentence, the independent clause (IC) comes first, and the dependent clause (DC) comes
second.
IC DC:
I went to the store
because I wanted chocolate.
IC
DC
On its own, I wanted chocolate is a complete sentence; the word because makes it dependent.
When the dependent clause (DC) is placed first and the independent clause (IC) second, a comma is
placed in between.
DC, IC:
Because I wanted chocolate,
I went to the store.
6. Before Quotes
When you quote from a person, movie, book, etc., you need a comma before the quote starts.
The author says, “People need to read more.”
Mom yelled, “Take out the trash.”
Note that a comma is not needed when the quote comes before the person who said it.
“Stop” shouted the police man.
7. Direct Address
A direct address is when you are directing a statement to a person.
Let’s eat, Grandma!
Can I borrow the car, Jill?
The Semicolon:
;
The semicolon is used to separate two independent clauses. An independent clause can function by itself as a full
sentence.
Subject Verb (Object): I
hate
homework.
S
V
O
When using a semicolon, you have the option of whether or not to include a coordinating conjunction (and, so,
for, nor, but, yet).
I hate homework; and I wait until the last second to do it.
I hate homework; I wait until the last second to do it.
The semicolon sometimes functions in the same way as a period. The difference is that a semicolon is used to
connect those two sentences because the ideas connect.
The Colon:
The colon is an overlooked but versatile form of punctuation. It functions to explain, prove, or list elements that
come before it.
There are three branches of government: legislative, judicial, and executive.
The En Dash:
The en dash is one of the rarest but most fun punctuation marks to use. It can separate interjections, introduce
witty comments, and include otherwise extra information not usually found in academic papers.
Thomas Jefferson was adamant about abolishing slavery—I find it ironic that he owned slaves himself.
According to existentialist philosophy—something I’ve been researching on my own—only the individual
can decide what is true.
The en dash functions much like the commas that separate extra information or like a set of parentheses. Have fun
with the en dash; with it, there is potential for great writing.