Using Commas

Use Commas in Lists

•Use commas to separate three or more elements in a series.
• A comma is optional (but recommended) before “and”
• Business Administration involves courses in communication,
computer applications, accounting, and business principles.
Between Adjectives
•Use commas between coordinate adjectives
• (if the comma could be replaced by “and”)
• A warm, wet puddle appeared by the dog.
• A warm and wet puddle appeared by the dog.
•No comma is needed between adjectives that act separately
• (cannot be replaced by “and”)
– This was the third smelly mess of the week.
• (no commas)
Use Commas to Interrupt
•To set off the names of people being addressed
• We look forward to your visit, Miss Piggy.
•To restate names or titles (appositives)
• Arnold Ziffle, Manager of Pork Processing, comes in every
Monday.
•To interject comments

• We will, of course, keep your resume on file.

• It is a profitable thing, if one is wise, to seem foolish. Aeschylus

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Joining Independent Clauses
•Use commas to join independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction: and, or,
but, nor, so
• Show me a man with both feet firmly on the ground, and I will
see a man who can't get his pants off!
• It's a small world, but I wouldn't want to have to paint it. Steven
Wright
•A comma may not be needed with short clauses
• Vote early and vote often. Al Capone
• You can lead a boy to college but you can't make him think.
Introductory Material
• When he looked over my resume, he shook his head sadly.
(introductory clause)
• As a matter of fact, I do own the road. (introductory phrase)
• Okay, I’ll buy it. (interjection)
Dependent Clauses
• When a dependent clause begins the sentence, a comma is
needed.
• Because he needed money, Hal robbed a gas station.
–A comma is not needed when a dependent clause ends the
sentence.
• Hal robbed a gas station because he was too lazy to work.

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Commas Clarify Meaning
•Use commas, when needed, to clarify meaning
• Those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach.
•Notice how punctuation changes the meaning in these sentences
• A woman, without her man, is nothing.
• A woman: without her, man is nothing.
Do Not Use Commas
• To separate a subject from a verb
•Employers all over the world are looking for people with computer
skills. (no commas)
•My supervisor noticed that money was missing. (no commas)

• When joining short independent clauses

• You are ugly and your mother dresses you funny.
Do Not Use Commas
• When joining restrictive clauses
• You should wear shoes at work that are comfortable for walking.
–(The underlined clause is essential to the meaning)

However
– Non-restrictive clauses do require commas
•I recommend that you buy work shoes that are both comfortable and
stylish, but these can be hard to find.
–(The underlined clause is not essential to the meaning)

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