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What Is a Comma (,)

While a period ends a sentence, a comma indicates a smaller break. Some writers think of a comma as a soft pause—a punctuation mark that separates words, clauses, or ideas within a sentence.

Comma with Subjects and Verbs

  • My sister Simona, is an executive at JPMorgan. (Wrong)
  • My sister Simona is an executive at JPMorgan. (Correct)
  • The things that ends well, can also offer lots of suffering. (Wrong)
  • The things that ends well can also offer lots of suffering. (Correct)
  • Driving through snow, sleet, wind, and darkness, is a miserable way to travel. (Wrong)
  • Driving through snow, sleet, wind, and darkness is a miserable way to travel. (Correct)

Comma Between Two Nouns in a Compound Subject or Object

Don’t separate two nouns that appear together as a compound subject or compound object.


  • Simona, and her team will be planning a dinner next Sunday. (Wrong)
  • Simona and her team will be planning a dinner next Sunday. (Correct)
  • Simona will prepare a salad bowl, and pasta for dinner. (Wrong)
  • Simona will prepare a salad bowl and pasta for dinner. (Correct)

Listings

Comma is not required when listing two items. If there are more than two items, then comma is required to separate items.

  • She bought apples, bananas. (Wrong)
  • She bought apples and bananas. (Correct)

Comma Between Two Verbs in a Compound Predicate

Don’t separate two verbs in a compound predicate with a comma.

You get a compound predicate when the subject of a sentence is doing more than one thing.


  • Simona will run, and drive the car. (Wrong)
  • Simona will run and drive the car. (Correct)

This mistake is most common when the predicate is made up of long verb phrases.

  • I meant to buy tickets for Simona’s show, but ran out of time. (Wrong)
  • I meant to buy tickets for Simona’s show but ran out of time. (Correct)

However, to make action clear that who performed it, comma can be used.


Examples:

  • Simona spotted the man who entered the dinner, and waved.

In the sentence above, you need the comma to make clear that it was Simona who waved, not the man.

Comma Splices

When two independent clauses are joined with comma instead of a conjunction or a semicolon; this fault is called Comma splice

This fault can be fixed by adding a conjunction or changing the comma to a semicolon.


Examples:

  • We were out of milk; I went to the store. (Wrong)
  • We were out of milk, so, I went to the store. (add conjunction)
  • We were out of milk; I went to the store. (add semicolon)

Or

  • We were out of milk. I went to the store. (add period and construct new sentence)

Comma After Introductory Phrase

A comma normally follows participle phrases and prepositional phrases that introduce a sentence.


Examples:

  • Grabbing her umbrella, Kate raced out of the house.
  • Confused by her sister’s sudden change in mood, Jill stayed quiet.
  • Confused by her sister’s sudden change in mood, Jill stayed quiet.
  • After the show, Cleo will be signing autographs.

Comma is also used to clear the confusion and avoid ambiguity.


Examples:

  • Before going the family said bye. (unclear)
  • Before going, the family said bye. (clear)
  • Let’s eat grandpa. (unclear)
  • Let’s eat, grandpa. (clear)

Comma Within a Comparison

Comma is not used before than when making a comparison.


Examples:

  • This tin is heavier, than that tin. (Wrong)
  • This tin is heavier than that tin. (Correct)
  • Hardcover books are more expensive, than paperback books. (Wrong)
  • Hardcover books are more expensive than paperback books. (Correct)

Commas with Interrupters and Parenthetical Elements

Interrupters are little thoughts that pop up in the middle of a sentence to show emotion, tone, or emphasis. A parenthetical element is a phrase that adds extra information to the sentence but could be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence. Both interrupters and parenthetical elements should be set off with commas.


Examples:

  • The rainy weather I was amused to see was beginning to clear. (Wrong)
  • The rainy weather, I was amused to see, was beginning to clear. (Correct)
  • Harry’s painting skills if you can call them skills left something to be desired. (Wrong)
  • Harry’s painting skills, if you can call them skills, left something to be desired. (Correct)

Comma with a Tag Question

A tag question is a short phrase or even a single word that is added to the end of a statement to turn it into a question. Writers often use question tags to encourage readers to agree with them. A tag question should be preceded by a comma.


Examples:

  • These rose plants are beautiful, aren’t they?
  • You didn’t actually write a 600-page action thrilled novel, did you?

Comma with Direct Address

When addressing another person by name, set off the name with commas.


Examples:

  • Mom, I can’t find my shoes!
  • Clara, there’s message for you.
  • Hello, Chester.

Comma with an Appositive

An appositive is a word or phrase that refers to the same thing as another noun in the same sentence. Often, the appositive provides additional information about the noun or helps to distinguish it in some way. If you could remove the appositive without changing the meaning of the sentence, it is said to be non-essential and should be set off with commas. If the appositive is necessary, it is said to be essential and it should not be set off with commas.


Examples:



1. Nonessential appositives:

  • My dad, Sylem, is an amazing businessperson.
  • The painter, one of the city’s most promising young artists, began showing his work in art galleries before he was sixteen.


2. Essential appositives:

  • Edgar Allan Poe’s poem The Raven is a classic.
  • Alec Baldwin’s brother Stephen is the most underrated Baldwin.

Commas in Dates

When writing a date in month-day-year format, set off the year with commas.


Examples:

  • July 4, 1776, was an important day in American history.

  • I was born on Sunday, May 12, 1968.

In the day-month-year format, however, commas are unnecessary.


Examples:

  • Applications are due by 31 December 2016.

If referencing a day of the week and a date, use a comma.


Examples:

  • On Tuesday, April 13, at three o’clock, there will be a meeting for all staff.
  • Please join us on Saturday, June 14, 2010, for the marriage of Annie and Michael.

When referencing only a month and year, you don’t need a comma.


Examples:

  • The region experienced record rainfall in March 1999.

Comma Before but

Use a comma before the word but if it is joining two independent clauses.


Examples:

  • Cleo is a good singer but she is an even better dancer. (Wrong)
  • Cleo is a good singer, but she is an even better dancer. (Correct)

If but is not joining two independent clauses, leave the comma out.


Examples:

  • My teacher is tough, but fair. (Wrong)
  • My teacher is tough but fair. (Correct)
  • Life is, but a dream. (Wrong)
  • Life is but a dream. (Correct)

Comma Before and

When a list contains only two items, do not use a comma before the and.


Examples:

  • My dog Charlie is cute, and smart. (Wrong)
  • My dog Charlie is cute and smart. (Correct)
  • Cleo’s favourite activities are singing on stage, and relaxing in the sunshine. (Wrong)
  • Cleo’s favourite activities are singing on stage and relaxing in the sunshine. (Correct)

Commas with Lists

When a list contains more than two elements, use commas to separate them.


Examples:

  • Julie loves ice cream books and kittens. (Wrong)
  • Julie loves ice cream, books, and kittens. (Correct)

List might be made up of nouns, verbs, adjectives, or clauses.


Examples:

  • Cleaning the house and garage
  • Raking the lawn
  • Taking out the garbage
  • To list these three chores in a sentence, it can be written as:
  • I cleaned the house and garage, raked the lawn, and took out the garbage.

To list these three chores in a sentence, it can be written as:


  • I cleaned the house and garage, raked the lawn, and took out the garbage.

Serial Comma (Oxford Comma)

When there are three or more items in the list, commas should separate each element of the list. However, the final comma—the one that comes before and — is optional. This comma is called the serial comma or the Oxford comma.

Use of serial comma is a style choice. In your own writing, you can decide for yourself whether to use it or not—just be consistent.


Examples:

  • Mary needs bread, milk, and butter at the grocery store. (With serial comma)
  • Mary needs bread, milk, and butter at the grocery store. (With serial comma)
  • I still have to buy a gift, pack the suitcases, and arrange for someone to water the plants while we are at the wedding. (With serial comma)
  • I still have to buy a gift, pack the suitcases and arrange for someone to water the plants while we’re at the wedding. (Without serial comma)

Keep in mind, though, that occasionally the serial comma is necessary for clarity.


Examples:

  • I dedicate this award to my parents, Jane Austen and Albert Einstein. (Without serial comma)
  • I dedicate this award to my parents, Jane Austen, and Albert Einstein. (With serial comma)

In the sentence above, it looks like “Jane Austen and Albert Einstein” is an appositive, rather than two more elements in a list. The writer seems to be saying that her parents are Jane Austen and Albert Einstein. However, writing the same sentence with serial comma makes it clear that they are separate elements.


A serial comma eliminates the possibility of misreading, so use it where there is a chance of misreading the sentence.

Comma Separating a Verb and Its Object


Do not separate a transitive verb from its direct object with a comma.


Examples:

  • I am glad I trained, Charlie not to beg for scraps. (Wrong)
  • I am glad I trained Charlie not to beg for scraps. (Correct)
  • Mary said, she likes chocolate. (Wrong)
  • Mary said she likes chocolate. (Correct)

Comma with Non-restrictive Clause

A non-restrictive clause offers extra information about something mentioned in a sentence, but the information is not essential, as sentence gives complete idea of the thing. Non-restrictive clauses are usually introduced by which or who and should be set off by commas.


Examples:

The clause “which Chester recommended” is non-restrictive because “Posey’s Cafe” is already specific. Identifying it as the restaurant recommended by Chester add any necessary information required to complete the message.

  • Posey’s Cafe, which Chester recommended, is a fantastic restaurant.
  • My wife, whom I love dearly, is a brilliant physicist.
  • The clause “whom I love dearly” is non-restrictive because as it would still be clear that it is the same person—“my wife” is already specific.

Examples:

The clause “whom I love dearly” is non-restrictive because as it would still be clear that it is the same person—“my wife” is already specific.

  • My wife, whom I love dearly, is a brilliant physicist.

Comma with Restrictive Clauses

A restrictive clause adds necessary information about something that is mentioned in a sentence. Restrictive clauses are often introduced by that or who and should never be set off by commas.


Examples:

The clause “that Chester recommended” is essential information in the above example. If it is removed, there would be no way to tell which restaurant is recommended by Chester.

  • The cafe, that Chester recommended, is a fantastic restaurant. (Wrong)
  • The cafe that Chester recommended is a fantastic restaurant. (Correct)

Comma Between Correlative Conjunctions

    Correlative conjunctions are conjunctions that come in pairs (such as either/or, neither/nor, and not only/but also) and connect words or phrases in a sentence to form a complete thought. Typically, commas are unnecessary with correlative conjunctions.


Examples:

  • Either the blue shirt, or the red sweater will look good with your jeans. (Wrong)
  • Either the blue shirt or the red sweater will look good with your jeans. (Correct)
  • You can wear a pashmina not only for warmth, but also for fashion. (Wrong)
  • You can wear a pashmina not only for warmth but also for fashion. (Correct)

Comma Between Direct Quote and Attributive Tag

An attributive tag is a phrase like “he said” or “she claimed” that identifies the speaker of a quote or piece of dialogue. Attributive tags can come before, after, or even in the middle of a quote. Use commas to separate attributive tags from quotations.


Examples:

  • The professor remarked, “How attentive you have been today!”
  • “Once you know the solution,” Tiffany said, “the whole problem seems very simple.”
  • “You have ice cream on your nose,” my friend snickered.
  • “When you leave the house,” my mother yelled, “don’t slam the door!”

If a quotation before attributive tag ends in a question mark or exclamation point, however, there is no need for a comma.


Examples:

  • “You have a spider on your nose!”, my friend yelled. (Wrong)
  • “You have a spider on your nose!” my friend yelled. (Correct)
  • “Where did that spider come from?”, I asked. (Wrong)
  • “Where did that spider come from?” I asked. (Correct)

Comma inside Quotation Marks

Commas are placed before closing quotation marks.


Examples:

  • “Pass me that thesaurus,” said Matthew.
  • “We’re going down to the soup kitchen to help serve dinner,” her mother called.

Comma Before Parenthesis

Parentheses are used to give additional information to the reader which otherwise interrupt the flow of the sentence. Commas should be placed if required as a part of sentence and after closing parenthesis.


Examples:

  • After opening the new cookie tin, (and eating several of the cookies), Chester had a hard time replacing the lid. (Wrong)
  • “After opening the new cookie tin (and eating several of the cookies,) Chester had a hard time replacing the lid. (Wrong)
  • After opening the new cookie tin (and eating several of the cookies), Chester had a hard time replacing the lid. (Correct)

Comma Between an Article and Noun

Do not use a comma between an article and a noun.


Examples:

  • < The company managers accidentally scheduled the, weekly meeting for Saturday. (Wrong)
  • The company managers accidentally scheduled the weekly meeting for Saturday. (Correct)

Comma with ‘As Well As’

The phrase “as well as” usually does not require commas unless it is part of a non-restrictive clause.


Examples:

  • Please proofread for grammatical errors as well as spelling mistakes.
  • Spelling mistakes, as well as grammatical errors, are distracting to readers.

Comma with ‘Such As’

The phrase “such as” requires commas if it introduces a non-restrictive clause.


Examples:

  • Coniferous trees, such as pine and spruce, do not drop their needles in the winter.

If “such as” introduces a restrictive clause, omit the commas.


Examples:

  • Trees such as pine and spruce do not drop their needles in the winter.

Comma Before Too

Using a comma before “too” is optional.


Examples:

  • I like mangoes too. I too like mangoes.
  • I like mangoes, too. I, too, like mangoes.