Grammar Guide II: Commas and How to Use Them

Commas can be tricky, and knowing where to put them can be even trickier. This guide has resources and tips to help you along your comma journey!

Make sure to use a comma before any conjunction (and, or, but, for, nor, so, yet) that combines to separate clauses.

What this means: When you have two separate clauses in your sentence that are split by a conjunction (like “and” for example), you need a comma to separate those clauses properly

Example: Today I went to the store, and I bought some apples.

Make sure to use a comma after any dependent clause that is beginning a sentence.

What this means: A dependent clause is a clause that has a subject and verb, but does not make sense on it’s own. Due to the fact that it cannot stand alone, it needs a comma to separate it from the rest of the sentence.

Example: When I went on a walk today, the breeze felt amazing on my face.

Make sure to use a comma before using an appositive anywhere in a sentence.

What this means: An appositive is a phrase that “renames” or gives more information about another phrase in a sentence. When an appositive is being used, a comma must separate it from the clause(s) it surrounds.

Example: A dove, a type of bird, flew by me today on my walk. 

Make sure to separate items in a series with commas.

What this means: When listing anything in a sentence, the items must be separated by commas.

Example: I went to the store to buy eggs, milk, toilet paper, and chips, but they were out of everything!

Make sure to use a comma after an introductory element in a sentence. 

What this means: Starting a sentence with an adverb or words like “however”, “furthermore”, etc. require a comma after them before continuing the sentence.

Example: Finally, my family was able to get a nice picture for our Christmas card.

Always use a comma when implementing a quote into a paper. 

What this means: Before you begin a quote in your paper, if there is any writing before it, a comma must be used.

Example: As once said by Shakespeare long ago, “No”.

Use a comma when you are beginning any sentence with a stand alone “yes” or “no”.

What this means: Make sure to use a comma after “yes” or “no” if that is how you choose to begin a sentence.

Example: Yes, I unloaded the dishwasher this morning. 

Make sure to use a comma between two adjectives that modify one noun.

What this means: If you are describing something in your sentence with more than one adjective in a row, there must be a comma to separate them.

Example: The large, colorful rainbow curved right over my house. 

Be aware of using a comma before the word but, it should only be used when connecting two independent clauses. 

What this means: Only use a comma before but if the information before or after has a subject, verb, and can stand on its own.

Example: I wanted to speak, but I was unable to get out the words. 

Remember to not use a comma to keep a verb a part from the subject it’s relating to.

What this means: In this instance, commas are required if you have a list of things or are using a prepositional phrase.

Example: Wrong: My dog, is a very good swimmer. Right: The Cowboys, Seahawks, and Broncos play this Sunday.

Watch out for nouns used as compound subjects or objects that are separated by commas.

What this means: Nouns placed with each other as compound subjects or objects shouldn’t be put apart by commas. A comma in a situation like this would be an unneeded pause in the sentence. 

Example: Wrong: Matt, and Ben are going to get groceries. Right: Matt and Ben are going to get groceries. 

Make sure to refrain from comma use with compound predicates containing two verbs. 

What this means: Compound predicates, sentence subjects performing multiple actions, are meant to stay together when two verbs are in the sentence.

Example: Wrong: James is playing offense, and defense for the football team. Right: James is playing offense and defense for the football team.

Beware of the common mistake of comma splicing.

What this means: This is when two independent clauses aren’t made into two separate sentences, have a conjunction, or semicolon.

Example: Wrong: The mall was closed, we went back to the house. Right ways: The mall was closed. We went back to the house. The mall was closed, so we went back to the house. The mall was closed; we went back to the house.

Watch out for the use of commas with comparisons.

What this means: The word “than” doesn’t need a comma before when it’s being used to compare something in a sentence.

Example: Incorrect: My team is better, than yours. Correct: My team is better than yours.

Make sure to include commas with your interrupters or parenthetical elements.

What this means: Interrupters are ideas placed in the center of sentences that reveal how we feel, sound, and what we pay much attention to. Parenthetical elements are phrases consisting of more information than a sentence needs to complete it.

Example: Incorrect: My bike the best one I ever had is the fastest on the block. Correct: My bike, the best one I ever had, is the fastest on the block.

Remember to add a comma before a question tag.

What this means: Question tags make small phrases or a word ending statements a question. 

Example:  Incorrect: This is the best steak I ever had isn’t it? Correct: This is the best steak I ever had, isn’t it?

Please make sure to add commas with a direct address.

What this means: It’s appropriate to use commas after addressing people by name.

Example: Incorrect: Dad can I go to the playground? Correct: Dad, can I go to the playground?

Don’t forget to add commas with dates.

What this means: If a sentence has a date in month-day-year format, add a comma after it. If it’s a day-month-year format, no commas are needed. If a sentence includes a week day and date, add a comma. If there’s a month and year, no commas are needed. 

Examples: Incorrect month-day-year format: March 21, 2009 was when I first received my driver’s license. Correct: March 21, 2009, was when I first received my driver’s license. Incorrect day-month-year format: Make sure the rent money is given to the landlord by, 9 April 2018. Correct: Make sure the rent money is given to the landlord by 9 April 2018. Incorrect day week and date format: On Friday September 19 we will go get supplies for the party. Correct: On Friday, September 19, we will go get supplies for the party. Incorrect month and year format: The amusement park opens in, April 2012. Correct: The amusement park opens in April 2012.

Remember to add commas between coordinating adjectives.

What this means: Commas should be put between multiple adjectives describing a noun in a sentence.

Example: Incorrect: Dave can be a nice calm relaxed person in times of controversy. Correct: Dave can be a nice, calm, relaxed person in times of controversy.

Watch you use commas in sentences with “and”.

What this means: In sentences containing only two listed items with and, no comma is required.

Example: Incorrect: Jacob is a strong, and smart wrestler. Correct: Jacob is a strong and smart wrestler.

Make sure to include commas in sentences with lists.

What this means: Lists with more than two components need commas separating them.

Example: Incorrect: The Cowboys Jets and Eagles play at 1 pm. On Sunday. Correct: The Cowboys, Jets, and Eagles play at 1 pm. On Sunday.

Refrain from using commas to separate a verb and its object.

What this means: Commas aren’t allowed to put apart a transitive verb and its direct object.

Example: Incorrect: Charles is, studying for his test. Correct: Charles is studying for his test.

Make sure to add commas with nonrestrictive clauses.

What this means: Nonrestrictive clauses give more information than needed to talk about a thing in a sentence. They’re normally started with which or who, being added with a comma.

Example: Incorrect: James’s toy which his dad bought for him is a spider man action figure. Correct: James’s toy, which his dad bought for him, is a spider man action figure.

Watch commas with restrictive clauses.

What this means: These also include more information, but it’s actually needed for the sentence. They’re usually started with that or who, refraining from comma use.

Example: Incorrect: The toy, that his dad brought, is a spider man action figure. Correct: The toy that his dad brought is a spider man action figure.

Don’t use commas between correlative conjunctions.

What this means: These conjunctions are paired (either/or, neither/or, and not only/but also) and no commas are needed.

Example: Incorrect: Either John will go to the store, or Matt will go. Correct: Either John will go to the store or Matt will go.

Add commas between direct quotes and attributive tags.

What this means: Attributive tags phrases, such as “he said” and “she said” show quotes spoken by a person. In quotes, they may be before, after, or in the middle of them. Comma are required to separate them from one another. Attributive tags with quotes ending in question marks and exclamation points don’t require commas.

Example: Correct: “Dinner is ready,” Matt said, “come get your plate.” Incorrect: “Dinner is ready” Matt said “come get your plate.” Correct: “Put your clothes away!” my mom said.  Incorrect: “Put your clothes away!”, my mom said.

Remember the correct placement of commas inside quotation marks.

What this means: make sure to put a comma before ending a quote with a quotation mark.

Example: Incorrect: “Where is my watch”, said Peter. Correct: “Where is my watch,” said Peter.

Never put commas before parenthesis.

What this means: They are used when extra information in the sentence would mess up its understanding, if used as a nonrestrictive clause. Only put commas after you close parenthesis. Sentences without parenthetical statements that don’t need shouldn’t have commas added if parenthesis are put in them.

Example: Incorrect: By practicing great at training camp, (and out playing the other quarterbacks,) Jake won the starting job. Correct: By practicing great at training camp (and out playing the other quarterbacks), Jake won the starting job.

Watch commas between an article and noun.

What this means: Commas between an article and noun are not allowed.

Example: Incorrect:John asked me to go to the, store for him. Correct: John asked me to go to the store for him.

There are specifics to adding commas with As Well As.

What this means: Only use a comma with this phrase if it’s connected with a nonrestrictive clause.

Example: Incorrect: Dogs as well as mammals make decisions based on their animal instincts. Correct: Dogs, as well as, mammals make decisions based on their animal instincts.

There are specifics to adding commas with Such As.

What this means: If introducing a nonrestrictive clause, add commas with “such as.” If introducing a restrictive clause, commas aren’t needed.

Example: Nonrestrictive Clause: Mike’s cake, such as the chocolate one, looks delicious. Restrictive Clause: The cake such as the chocolate one looks delicious. 

It’s up to you to decide on using a comma before Too.

What this means: You don’t have to use a comma before “too,” but you can if you want.

Example: Correct: Jake is my friend, too. He, too, is my friend. Jake is my friend too. He too is my friend.

Pay attention to commas with addresses.

What this means: Commas are needed to separate address elements, also using them with city-state combos. 

Example: Incorrect: Philadelphia Pennsylvania is a great sports town.Correct: philadelphia, Pennsylvania is a great sports town. Incorrect: The perpetrator was seen going to Roosevelt Blvd. North Philadelphia Pa. 19152. Correct: The perpetrator was seen going to Roosevelt Blvd. North, Philadelphia, Pa. 19152.

Importance of comma use while addressing people.

What this means: Sentences directly addressing people or things need commas.

Example: Incorrect: Go home Bob. Correct: Go home, Bob.

Offset negations and commas.

What this means: Sentences with offset negations need commas. 

Example: Incorrect: The bike not the car has a flat tire. Correct: The bike, not the car, has a flat tire.

Commas with numbers

What this means: Numbers larger than 999 need commas in them, except year and house numbers.

Example: Incorrect: I made $1000 today. Correct: I made $1,000 today.

Commas and clarifications

What this means: Sentences with important clarifications need commas.

Example: Incorrect: Jackson Michaels is having a sale. Correct: Jackson, Michaels is having a sale.

Here are other websites to check if you need more help: