Dr. Susanne George Bloomfield

Composition and Literature

THE DREADED COMMA

If you can master these six comma rules, it will solve most of your comma problems. The rest most people don't remember either! Often comma errors occur because writers are too hurried (or too lazy) to take the time to carefully edit each sentence of a long paper.

I. Before Coordinating Conjunctions

Use the comma before coordinating conjunctions (and, or, nor, but, for, so, yet) that join two main clauses (a clause has both a subject and a verb).

I completely forgot about my writing assignment last night, so I thought of a creative excuse.

"Dr. Bloomfield," I said, "I couldn't hand in today's paper, for my computer hard drive crashed at ten o'clock last night."

II. After Introductory Elements

Use a comma after sentence elements that appear before the main clause, such as transitions, phrases, and subordinate clauses. (Subordinate clause are introduced by words such as because, when, although, if, since, after, before, during, etc.)

Next, the electricity went off, so my electric typewriter wouldn't work.

Fortunately for me, I found a pencil.

Because the lead was broken, I had to go to Walmart to buy a pencil sharpener. [If the subordinate clause does not come first, don't use a comma: I had to go to Walmart to buy a pencil-sharpener because the lead was broken.]

III. Around Parenthetical Elements

Use commas to set off parenthetical sentence elements .(An element is parenthetical if it supplies information not essential to the clear meaning of the sentence. To test the element, remove it from the sentence; if the basic idea remains the same, then the element should be set off with commas.)

I searched every aisle, believe it or not, and couldn't find a sharpener.

However, many rows of pens, bright and colorful, tempted me.

IV. Between Items in a Series

Use commas between items in a series of three or more elements, which may be single words, phrases, or clauses. The formula is a, b, and c.

One beautiful pen had polka dots of hot pink, purple, and chartreuse.

Others had designs of neon stars, yellow ducks, or twirling ballerinas.

I chose the twirling ballerinas, I danced to the checkout counter, and I opened my wallet.

V. Between Adjectives

Use commas between coordinate (equal) adjectives before a noun. To test whether they are coordinate adjectives, insert the word "and" between them. If the adjectives are coordinate, you will feel no awkwardness in reading them.

Only a torn, folded Snickers coupon and two steel gray quarters lurked inside.

VI. Before and/or after Absolute or Modifying Phrases

Absolute or Participial phrases, which modify the whole sentence, should be set off by commas.

Hearing the cashier ask for eighty-nine cents, I returned the pen and went home.

I collapsed on the sofa, waking the next morning as the sun filtered in the east window.

I came to class, hoping for compassion, and recounted my tale.

The professor understood, and I returned to my seat, much wiser than the day before.