for Commas:Print Versions http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/prinUgrammar/g-comma
dW ut PurdueUniversity:Proofreading
Proofreading for Commas
Brought to you by the PurdueUniversityOnlineWriting Lab at
p .ur d u e . e d u
h t t p: / / o w l . e n o l i s h
Compound Sentence Commas
1. Skim your paper, looking only for the seven coordinatingconjunctions:
and, nor, but, so, for, or, and Yet.
2. Stop at each of these words to see whether there is an independent clause
(a complete sentence), on both sides of it. (For more help, see our handout
o n i n d e o e n d e n tc l a u s e sa t
h t t p : / / o w l . e n ql i s h .p u r d u e . e du / h an d o u t s / qr am m a r / q c l a u s el' r t ml . )
3. If so, place a comma before the coordinating conjunction. Examples:
She wanted to buy a new car, but she didn't have enough money to do
so.
The wind blew fiercely, and the rain poured down'
Alaska was not the last state admitted into the US, nor does it have
the lowest total poPulation.
Comma Splices
2. See whether you have an independentclause (a sentence) on both sides of
the comrna.
3. If so, change the sentence in one of the following ways:
. r€word the sentence to change one clause into a subordinate (or
d e p e n d e n t )c l a u s e( s e e o u r h a n d o u t o n d e p e n d e n tc l a u s e sa t
. u r d u e . e d u / h a n d o u t sr /aqm m ar / q c l a u s eh. t m l )
h t t p :/ / o w l . e n gl i s h p
. add a coordinatingconjunction after the comma
. replace.thecomma with a semicolon
. replace the comma with a period, question mark, or exclamation point,
and capitalizethe first word of the second clause
comma sptice: Americans speak too rapidly, this is a common complaint
by foreign visitors.
correct: Americansspeak too rapidly; this is a common complaint by
i !'
foreign visitors.
correct: Foreignvisitors commonly complain that Americansspeak too
r a p i dl y .
Introductory Commas
Introductory commas after dependent clauses
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1' Skim your paper, looking only at the first two or three words of
each sentence.
.*, ,a1*.1",*
,
2. Stop if one of these words is a dependentmarker such as while,
because, when, if, after, when, etc. (see our CommasAfter
Introductionsat
http://owl.enqlish.purdue.edu/handouts/qra
mmar/q commaint.html).
3. If necessary,placea comma at the end of the introductory
dependentclause.Examples:
WhileI was writing,the phonerang.
Becausethe weatherwas bad, we decidedto cancelour
p l a n n e dp i c n i c .
After the last guestsleft the party, we had to begincleaning
the house.
Other introductory commas
1. Skim your paper, looking only at the first word or two of each
sentence.
2. Stop if the word or phrase . . .
. ends in -ing
. is an infinitive (to + verb)
. is an introductory word (well, y€s, moreover, etc.)
3. Pface a comma at the end of the introductory phrase. Examples:
To get a good grade, you m[rst turn in all your homework
problems.
Walking to work, Jim stopped for coffee at the diner.
Yes, I agree that the exam was difficult.
' qrl
4. If the sentence begins with a prepositionalphrase (a phrase
beginning with ln, at, on, between, with, etc.), place a comma after
the prepositionalphrase if it is longer than three words or suggests a
distinct pause before the main clause. Examples:
On his way to work, Jim stopped for coffee at the diner.
In those days we wrote with a pen and paper.
Across the street from the library, an old man waited for a bus.
- Disruptive Commas
General guidelines
1. Go throughthe paper,stoppingat each comma.
2. If the comma isn't necessaryfor clarityor calledfor by a rule, get
rid of it.
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for Commas:Print Versions http://owl.english.purdue.edufrandouts/print/grammar/g_com
For disruptive commas between "oilp"und verbs
or objects
1. Skim your paper,stoppingonly at the coordinatingconjunctions:
and, or, nor, but, so, for, or, and yet.
2. check to see whetherthere is an independentcfause(sentence)on
both sidesof the conjunction.If so, placea comma beforethe
conjunction.If not, do not placea comma beforethe conjunction.
disruptive comma?They bought two pizzas,but ate only one.
correct:They bought two pizzasbut ate only one.
For disruptive commas between subjects and
verbs
1. Find the subject and verb in each of your sentences.
2. Make sure that you have not separated the subject from the verb
with one comma. It's often all right to have a pair of commas between
a subject and verb for nonessentialclausesand phrases that might be
added there, but rarely is a single comma acceptable.(For more help,
s e e o u r h a n d o u to n n o n e s s e n t i acl l a u s e sa t
http ://owl.enq Iish.pu rdue.edu/ha ndouts/qra m ma r/o com maess.html. )
I
Jt t r -
sitting in the train statigFrT-is.th€.,,..::::::::.j:-:a:.-.-.;r-=,,-,--_--i::---.,it:
.,,^- -' -.disrgptiue.co.mmaz.Tfiat,man
.:-.-..:..
":: ----'
p€irsdrnTm supposed to meet.
correct; That man sitting in the train station is the person I'm
supposed to meet.
Series Commas
1 . S k i m y o u r p a p e r , s t o p p i n ga t t h e c o n j u n c t i o n s .
2. check to see if these conjunctions link words, phrases, or clauseswritten
in a series.
3. If so, place commas after each word, phrase, or clause in the series
(except the last one, as demonstrated in this sentence: no comma after the
word clause). Exam ples:
Peoplewho are trying to reduce saturated fat in their diets should
a v o i d e g g s , m e a t , a n d t r o p i c a lo i l s .
The candidate promised to lower taxes, protect the environment,
r e d u c ec r i m e , a n d e n d u n e m p l o y m e n t .
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Proofreadingfor commas:hint Versions h@://owl.engtish.purdue.edulhandoutvprint/grammar/g_commal
Commas with Nonessential Elements
1. skim your paper,roo.king
fora phraseorcfausein eachsentencethat
explainsor gives more informationabout a word or phrase
it. (see alsoour handout,commas with Nonessentiar that comesbefore
Erementsat
commaess.h
2. rf you can delete the phraseor crauseand stiil keep
the meaning,the
phraseor clauseis probabrynonessentiat
and needst*o .oo,,nus, one before
and one after (unressthe phraseor crauseis at the
end of the senten;"1.
3' As an alternatetest for a nonessentiarphraseor
,,bythe
clause,
way" beforeit. If that seemsappropriateto the meaning, try saying
the phraseor
clau.seis probablynonessential.
To understandthe esse"ntial
vs. nonessential
distinction/comparethe followingsentences.In the first,
the clauseuvho
cheat is essential;in the second,the clausewho often
,h"ut, is nonessential.
Students who cheat only harm themselves.
Fred, who often cheats, is just harming himself.
The folrowing information must remain intact
on every handout pranted for distribution.
This page is located at
http://owl.en9lish. purdue.edulhandouts/prinVgrammar/g_commaproof.
html
Copyright O1995-2003 by OWL at purdue University
and purdue University- All rights
reserued.
inctuding printing and distributing our handouts,
constitutes acceptance
1,.:.:i.,l]::,"1
oI
our terms and conditions of fair use, available at
To contact OWL, please visit ortr contact information
Daoe at
http://owl.engtish.purdue.edu/tablconract.htmt
to nnili"iigtt
5of5
penon to cail or email.
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7/8/2003t2:52Pt\
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: Proofreadingfor commas:Print versions
h@://owl.english.purdue.edu/handoutvprint/grammar/g_comma
Commas with Nonessential Elements
1. skim your paper,rookingfora phraseorcfausein
eachsentencethat
explainsor givesmore informationabout a word or phrase
that comesbefore
it. (see alsoour handout,commas with Nonessentiar
Erementsat
.l
2. rf you can delete the phraseor crauseand stiil keep
the meaning,the
phraseor clauseis probabrynonessentiar
and needst*o .o.mas, one before
and one after (unressthe phraseor crauseis at the end
of the senten."j.
3' As an alternatetest for a nonessentialphraseor
clause,try saying ,,bythe
way" beforeit. If that seemsappropriateto the meaning,
the phraseor
clauseis probablynonessential.
To'understand
the esse-ntial
vs. nonessential
distinction,comparethe followingsentences.In the first,
the clausewho
cheat is essential;in the second,the clausewho often
cheatsisnonessentiaf."*
Students who cheat only harm themselves.
Fred, who often cheafs, is just harming himself.
The following information must remain intact
on every handout printed fordistribution.
This page is tocated at
http://owl.english. purdue.edulhandouts/prinVgmmmar/g_com
maproof. html
Copyright O1995-2003 by OWLat purdue University
and purdue University. All rights
reserued.
printing and distributing our handouts,
constitutes acceptance
Y.t:.:_t,,lj::,a-":jnduding
of
our terms and conditions of fair use, availableii
To contact OWL, please visit orrr contact information page
at
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/lab/contact.ntmt
to n"i1"r," ,Lnt person to catt or email.
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