,Comma Sense

Twelve Basic Suggestions

The Center for Academic Excellence presents . . .

Commas Demystified

Commas can be tricky to use. Students often have a difficult time deciding when to put them in, or when to leave them out. The following suggestions will make this decision simpler, reducing the mystery to a matter of common sense.

(1) Use a comma to separate words (or groups of words) in a series:

I went to Lance’s to buy bread, butter, and milk.

James unlatched the window, looked around stealthily, then made good his escape.

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(2) Use commas to separate adjectives modifying the same noun:

It was a fine, sunny day.

The large, loping hound started to bark furiously.A

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(3) Use a comma before the conjunction in a compound sentence:

I couldn’t see him, but I knew he was there.

He dropped his fork on the floor, so he decided to use a clean one.

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(4) Use one or two commas, as needed, to set off words

which interrupt the thought of the sentence:

Simon, however, will not be going.

You are, consequently, the prize-winner.

My mother, who lives out-of-state, still considers herself a Hoosier.

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(5) In direct quotations, commas are used to separate speech from commentary:

She said, “I am glad to be in Indiana.”

“I am,” she said, “so glad to be in Indiana.”

“I am glad to be in Indiana,” she said.

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(6) Use a comma after a mild interjection, or after introductory

words and phrases:

Oh dear, I just missed my bus.

Well, look who the cat dragged in!

In all, four houses have been sold.

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(7) Use commas to set off nouns of direct address:

Pete, where are you?

Come in, Nancy.

Hey, Bonehead! Whaddup?

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(8) Use a comma after a person’s last name when it precedes the first name (in an alphabetical listing, for example):

Dickinson, Emily

Frost, Robert

Shakespeare, William

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(9) Commas separate days, months, and years:

Day and Year: November 11th, 1936

Month and Year: July, 1875

Day, Month,Year: Sunday, 13th March, 1960

She was born on November 11, 1875, in Frankfurt, Germany.

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(10) A comma is customarily used after the salutation or the complimentary close of a letter:

Dear Mr. Jones,

Yours sincerely,

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(11) The names of towns and states are separated with a comma:

North Manchester, Indiana

Hamburg, Germany

I drove to Brussels, Belgium, last week.

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(12) Use a comma to separate people’s names from their qualifications, degrees, or titles:

Alec Coyle, DDS.

Jane Ball, RN.

Dagny Boebel, PhD.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Joseph Smith, Sr.

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Short Name for Each “Rule”:

When you are tempted to use a comma, ask yourself which of the Twelve Suggestions applies. If you cannot justify the use of the comma, leave it out.

1. Lists2. Adjectives3. Conjunctions4. Interruptions5. Quotations6. Introductions7. Names8. Reversals9. Dates10. Letters11. Countries12. Titles

Brief Quiz

1. Well I really wish she hadn’t been late.

2. My sister who works at Biaggi’s is a chef.

3. I own a shotgun but I have never used it.

4. Jonathan have you seen my keys?

5. He said “Paris is one of my favorite cities.”

6. I was born in Paris France but I grew up in Brussels.

7. I saw a long low building in the distance.

8. She ironed her blouse shone her shoes and then drove quickly to work.

9. Dr. Jonathan Watson Ph.D. will be today’s guest lecturer.

10. William Shakespeare was reputedly born on April 23rd 1564.

Lists—Adjectives—Conjunctions—Interruptions—Quotations—Introductions—Names—Reversals—Dates—Letters—Countries—Titles

Brief Quiz—Grading Key

1. Well, I really wish she hadn’t been late. Introductions

2. My sister, who works at Biaggi’s, is a chef. Interruptions

3. I own a shotgun, but I have never used it. Conjunctions

4. Jonathan, have you seen my keys? Names/Introductions

5. He said, “Paris is one of my favorite cities.” Quotations

6. I was born in Paris, France, but I grew up in Brussels.

Countries/Interruptions

7. I saw a long, low building in the distance. Adjectives

8. She ironed her blouse, shone her shoes, and then drove quickly to work. Lists

9. Dr. Jonathan Watson, PhD, will be today’s guest lecturer. Titles/Interruptions

10. William Shakespeare was reputedly born on April 23, 1564. Dates

Lists—Adjectives—Conjunctions—Interruptions—Quotations—Introductions—Names—Reversals—Dates—Letters—Countries—Titles

The End

Po

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t Presen

tation

by M

ark A. S

pald

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, BA

, ME

d, M

A, 2007.