How to Use a Comma
A comma is one of the most recognizable punctuation marks in the written language. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most misused. But, no more! Thanks to a few basic rules, the comma can be used appropriately. Read more to learn how to use a comma correctly.
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Instructions
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Use a comma to seperate items in a list. When you have a list within a sentence that includes three or more nouns, use a comma to separate them. For example, “He bought rice, beans, and tortillas.” In some instances, the final comma in a list may be omitted.
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Use a comma after the introductory part of a sentence. For example, “Letting the door shut behind her, she realized belatedly that she had locked herself into the office.” Also, a comma must be included before and after the name of a person who is directly addressed within a sentence. For example, “Please tell me, Mia, why you need the keys to the office again?”
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Use a comma to seperate a conjuction that joins two or more clauses. Conjunction words (“and,” “but,” “for,” etc) that are used to bring two independent clauses together, must be separated by a comma. For example, “The fire burned all day, but the smoke dissipated by the late morning.”
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Replace an adjective that should be separated by “and” with a comma. “She is a perky and happy receptionist.” could also be written as, “She is a perky, happy receptionist.” This doesn’t really clarify the meaning of the sentence but does quicken the pace when it is being read.
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Place a comma before and after a parenthetical statement. A parenthetical statement can be removed from a sentence without diminishing the overall meaning. For example, “The 3-alarm fire coverage, which had been going on since 7am, had already managed to cover all of the important facts about the story.”
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Use a comma when including a date and location in a sentece. Use a comma between the day and year of a date when including the month, day, and year. Also, use a comma after the year. For example, “It was on September 9, 1981, that we first met.” Additionally, use a comma between the city and state when including a location in a sentence. For example, “He has lived in Houston, Texas, for his entire life.”
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Use a comma to seperate a quote within a sentence. If you are including a quote within a sentence, be sure to use a comma to separate it from the rest of the sentence. For example, “Mayor Blowhard was heard to say, ‘This is a good day to run a city!’” is an example of this rule.
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