Everything English

Appropriate use of commas brings clarity to the copy you are proofreading, and to achieve that one has to follow certain basic rules of comma usage.

• Items/persons or any other series of noun forms in a sentence must be separated with a comma.

Examples:

The teacher distributed drawing books, color pencils, some water colors and a paint brush.

He wrote a letter to my aunt, her brother, sister, and her mother.

Note that in the second example, a comma precedes the “and” in the sentence, highlighting the fact that separate letters were written to the aunt’s sister and her mother. Without the comma preceding the “and,” the sentence would have read as if a common letter was written to the aunt’s sister and her mother.

• Two independent clauses can be linked with a comma to make a compound sentence.

Examples:

We had pleasant showers today, but it was better yesterday.

The sky is overcast, yet there is no rain.

Conjunctions such as “for,” “nor,” “yet,” “but,” “and,” etc that can link two independent clauses may be preceded with a comma. Also, a comma should be used before “etc.”

• An “and” between two adjectives in a sentence can be replaced by a comma.

Examples:

That tall and muscular man is in his 50s.

That tall, muscular man is in his 50s.

• Names and designations must include a comma between them.

Examples:

Prof Rao, MSc, M Phil, HOD (Botany)

Oh! Here you are, Prof. Rao!

• Geographic distinctions as well as dates of month followed by year should have commas.

Examples:

Bangalore, Karnataka is known as “the Silicon Valley of India”.

I was born on May 6, 1977.

• An Introductory word, phrase, dependent clause, adverbial clause, or a non-essential clause must be followed with a comma.

Examples:

Comma after an introductory word: Thanks, you’ve been very kind!

Comma after a phrase: I see, so when will you come home then?

Comma after a dependant clause: Since I am a teacher, I like to emphasize on the importance of good handwriting.

Comma after an adverbial clause: Standing at the doorstep, the little fellow smiled.

Comma in between a non-essential clause: I was, in any case, prepared for the verdict.