Punctuation, Part 1
Basic Comma Applications
What Will
You Learn?
To separate items in a SERIES with commas
To set off PARENTHETICAL words and
phrases with commas
To use commas in DIRECT ADDRESS
To set off APPOSITIVES with commas
To set off parts of DATES with commas
To use commas with parts of ADDRESSES
To use commas with CONJUNCTIONS
To set off INTRODUCTORY phrases and
clauses with commas
Comma, Series
Separate three or more equally ranked words, phrases, or
short clauses with commas. Place a comma between each
item and before the conjunction and, but, or nor.
words
Please order stationery, envelopes, and laser
printer paper.
phrases
Ask the insurance agent to notify his client, obtain
the necessary information, and process the papers
before April 10.
short
clauses
Mr. Harris wrote the report, I edited it, and Chris
prepared the final copy.
Comma, Parenthetical
Set off with commas any words that are unnecessary for the
grammatical completeness of the sentence and that interrupt
its natural flow. A partial listing of these parenthetical
expressions is given below and on the following slide.
accordingly
after all
also
as a matter of fact
as a result
in the meantime
in other words
indeed
nevertheless
no
Comma, Parenthetical
as a rule
consequently
of course
on the contrary
for example
fortunately
furthermore
hence
on the other hand
perhaps
secondly
therefore
however
in addition
in fact
too
under the circumstances
without a doubt
in the first place
yes
Comma, Parenthetical
beginning of
a sentence
In the meantime, we will hold your order until we
hear from you.
middle of a
sentence
You may, however, wish to convert interest
earnings to premiums for additional insurance
coverage.
end of a
sentence
You may apply for a grant, of course.
no
interruption
Perhaps you would be able to share an office
temporarily with one of our accountants.
Comma, Direct Address
Set off with commas nouns used in direct address. Capitalize
only proper nouns.
beginning of
a sentence
Mr. Lee, will you be able to obtain additional
copies of this report for our staff?
middle of a
sentence
We are pleased, Dr. James, that you will be a
guest speaker at our annual convention.
end of a
sentence
I certainly agree with you, ladies and
gentlemen.
Comma, Appositive
An appositive renames or explains the noun that appears
directly before it. Set off with commas appositive expressions.
within a sentence
We believe that our manager, John
Goldman, will be promoted to vice
president.
end of a sentence
We feature Sinclair office furniture,
the most popular line nationwide.
Comma,
Appositive
When appositive expressions are needed to
identify the nouns they rename or explain, omit
the commas. Also, omit the commas with oneword appositives.
indicates
which one
My student Lauren Scott was offered a
position with Field Enterprises.
one-word
appositive
When will your brother Erik be eligible
for promotion?
Comma,
Appositive
Another appositive form is a college degree
that follows directly after the name of an
individual. Set off the degree in commas.
degree
abbreviated
Karen Lawton, MD, is credited with
having made the discovery.
degree written
in full
The invocation was delivered by The
Reverend Donald L. Forbes, Doctor
of Divinity.
Comma,
Appositive
Abbreviations after company or individual names are
another form of appositives. Use commas to set off
these abbreviations.
after name of Please make your check payable to Brenda C.
individual
Ingram, CPA, to ensure payment credit for the
preparation of your income tax return.
Refer the patient to Michael Bennett, MD.
after name of Club Travel, Ltd., made all the arrangements for
company
our European tour.
Comma,
Appositive
Omit the commas with Jr., Sr., and Roman numerals in
the names of individuals unless an individual chooses to
use them. Omit the commas with Inc. or Ltd. when the
companies themselves do not use them.
omission of
commas
Please ask Robert L. Bailey Sr. to sign the
contracts.
omission of
comma
We sent the order directly to Majestic Linens
Inc.
Comma, Dates
Separate combinations of weekday, calendar date, and year
with commas. No commas are used, however, with a calendar
date expressed alone.
calendar date―
no commas
After April 1 all plant tours will be
discontinued.
calendar date and
year―commas
After April 1, 2012, all plant tours will be
discontinued.
weekday and calendar
date―commas
After Tuesday, April 1, all plant tours will
be discontinued.
weekday, calendar
date, year―commas
After Tuesday, April 1, 2012, all plant
tours will be discontinued.
Comma, Dates
Expressions of month and year are written
without commas.
without
commas
In March 2012 our company will move
its operations to Atlanta.
without
commas
Digital Discoveries' annual sales had
peaked to more than $90 million by
December 2011.
Comma, Addresses
Use commas to set off a state name following the
name of a city.
within a
sentence
Will you visit the Portland, Oregon,
branch before you return to Chicago?
end of a
sentence
All our dividend checks are issued from
Dayton, Ohio.
Comma, Addresses
In the body of a document, spell out and separate with
commas the parts of an address.
name and
complete
address
We sent the contract to John Morgan, Plant
Manager, Winston Furniture Manufacturing
Company, 1853 Fountain Avenue, Atlanta,
Georgia 30314-1101.
complete
address only
Mrs. Green's new address is 9653 Third
Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43203-2034.
Comma,
Coordinating
Conjunction
When two complete independent thoughts are joined
by a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor),
place a comma before the conjunction.
two independent
clauses joined by
and
Three members of our Research
Department have analyzed consumer
demands, and they concluded there
is no market for this product.
two independent
clauses joined by
but
Our plant tours have been discontinued, but you may wish to show
your class our film on developing
and manufacturing robotic devices.
Comma,
Coordinating
Conjunction
no second
independent
clause―no
comma
Three members of our Research
Department have analyzed consumer
demands and concluded there is no
market for this product.
I believe that you will like the location
and that the house will suit your needs
perfectly.
Comma, Introductory Phrases and Clauses
A sentence appearing in normal order follows a subjectverb-object pattern. However, when a sentence is
inverted, it contains an introductory phrase or clause.
normal
order
Ellen will take Mr. Smith's place for the next
few months.
Dr. Hoffman left early because you canceled
your appointment.
inverted
order
For the next few months, Ellen will take
Mr. Smith's place.
Because you canceled your appointment,
Dr. Hoffman left early.
Comma, Introductory Phrases and Clauses
Place a comma after an introductory expression that
contains any verb form OR four or more words.
verb form
attend
If you attend the meeting, be sure to take
notes for Mr. Todd.
verb form
see + ing
Seeing her chance for success, Ms. White
accepted the assignment immediately.
verb form
locate + ing
Upon locating the information, please
forward it to our office.
Comma, Introductory Phrases and Clauses
verb form
startle + d
Startled by the news, Mr. Kahn refused to make
any prediction about future deliveries.
infinitive
to improve
To improve our computer system, we hired a
team of consultants.
introductory
with four or
more words
At the last department meeting, two members
were absent.
introductory
with fewer
than four
words
During this week we expect to submit formal
bids on these three contracts.
Comma, Introductory Phrases and Clauses
In some cases an introductory expression may be preceded by
a clause. Disregard this clause in determining whether or not
to place a comma after the introductory expression.
verb form
We believe that if Mr. Martin accepts the
position, he will move to Dallas in September.
no verb form―
four or more
words
Ms. Rose explained that in view of the current
situation, we will be forced to close operations in
our Toledo plant.
no verb form―
fewer than four
words
He indicated that after next month he would be
able to accept additional responsibilities.
Comma, Introductory Phrases and Clauses
Occasionally the verb form in a short introductory
expression may be understood. Place a comma
after such introductory expressions.
verb form
understood
If (it is) necessary, call Mrs. Rollins for
further instructions.
Although (it is) short, this report contains
all the information we need.
Template courtesy of PresentersUniversity.com,
sponsored by InFocus Corporation.