Commas
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Commas in Compound Sentences
A comma should precede the coordinating conjunction that connects two independent clauses.
No comma is needed if one side of the conjunction is not an independent clause.
Examples
Example 1
Incorrect: Tony bought a new TV on Black Friday and I bought a new computer on Cyber Monday.
Correct: Tony bought a new TV on Black Friday, and I bought a new computer on Cyber Monday.
Example 2
Incorrect: I like writing papers, and reading books.
Correct: I like writing papers and reading books.
Correct: I like writing papers, and I like reading books.
Other Resources
- “When Words Collide”
- Seventh Edition pg. 102
- Eighth Edition pg. 99
- Ninth Edition pg. 85
- https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/598/01/
Commas in Complex Sentences
When a dependent clause starts the sentence, a comma is needed before the independent clause begins. (That sentence was another example.)
If the dependent clause follows the independent clause, then no comma is necessary.
Examples
Incorrect: Because I liked the play I decided to go again next year.
Correct: Because I liked the play, I decided to go again next year.
Correct: I decided to go to the play again next year because I liked it.
Other Resources
- “When Words Collide”
- Seventh Edition pg. 102
- Eighth Edition pg. 100
- Ninth Edition pg. 85
- https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/573/02/
Commas in compound sentences
A comma should precede the coordinating conjunction that connects two independent clauses.
No comma is needed if one side of the conjunction is not an independent clause.
Examples:
Example one
Incorrect: Tony bought a new TV on Black Friday and I bought a new computer on Cyber Monday.
Correct: Tony bought a new TV on Black Friday, and I bought a new computer on Cyber Monday.
Example two
Incorrect: I like writing papers, and reading books.
Correct: I like writing papers and reading books.
Correct: I like writing papers, and I like reading books.
Additional resources:
“When Words Collide” Seventh Edition, pg. 102
“When Words Collide” Eighth Edition, pg. 99
“When Words Collide” Ninth Edition, pg. 86
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/598/01/
Commas in complex sentences
When a dependent clause starts the sentence, a comma is needed before the independent clause begins. (That sentence was another example.)
If the dependent clause follows the independent clause, then no comma is necessary.
Examples:
Incorrect: Because I liked the play I decided to go again next year.
Correct: Because I liked the play, I decided to go again next year.
Correct: I decided to go to the play again next year because I liked it.
Additional resources:
“When Words Collide” Seventh Edition, pg. 102
“When Words Collide” Eighth Edition, pg. 100
“When Words Collide” Ninth Edition, pg. 85
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/573/02/
Modifiers separated by commas
Test: Can you insert the word “and” between the two modifiers? If yes, then you are usually good to use the comma.
Examples:
Example one
Incorrect: Jane liked the sweet bubbly soda.
Correct: Jane liked the sweet, bubbly soda.
(Jane liked the sweet and bubbly soda.)
Example two
Incorrect: He handed me the sticky small candy.
Correct: He handed me the sticky, small candy.
(He handed me the sticky and small candy.)
Additional resources:
“When Words Collide” Seventh Edition, pg. 118
“When Words Collide” Eighth Edition, pg. 115
“When Words Collide” Ninth Edition, pg. 97
Commas in quotes
Commas (and periods) always belong inside of the quotation marks.
Do not use a comma before a partial quote because the quote is completing the sentence.
Examples:
Correct: “We didn’t win,” John said.
Incorrect: “We didn’t win”, John said.
Correct: Mike explained the idea to us as being “part of a much larger picture.”
Incorrect: Mike explained the idea to us as being, “part of a much larger picture.”
Additional resources:
“When Words Collide” Seventh Edition, pg. 109
“When Words Collide” Eighth Edition, pg. 106
“When Words Collide” Ninth Edition, pg. 90
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/577/03/
Commas in attribution
When the attribution (who said it) comes before the quote, a comma should follow the word “said” right before the quote.
(NOTE: If more than one sentence is in the quote, a colon should be used in place of a comma – see example two.)
When the attribution comes after the quote, a comma, instead of a period, should end the quote (if it is a complete sentence). An exception is if the quote is a question, then it would keep its original question mark. Likewise, if a quote needs an exclamation point, it would keep its exclamation point.
Examples:
Example one
Correct: Joe said, “I wish it would snow.”
Incorrect: Joe said “I wish it would snow.”
Example two
Correct: My professor said: “Wise men have been known to be wrong before. I don’t think that you are an exception.”
Incorrect: My professor said “Wise men have been known to be wrong before. I don’t think that you are an exception.”
Example three
Correct: “I would like some more bacon,” Kevin said.
Incorrect: “I would like some more bacon” Kevin said.
Incorrect: “I would like some more bacon.” Kevin said.
Commas in a series
Place a comma between each individual item in a series.
The Oxford comma is a comma right before the last item in a series. See the incorrect section of example one.
AP Style prefers not using the Oxford comma. There are some exceptions to this, however, as some series have more than one “and,” creating confusion for the reader if the Oxford comma is not included (see example two).
Examples:
Example one
Correct: For breakfast, I had bacon, eggs, sausage and pancakes.
Incorrect: For breakfast, I had bacon, eggs, sausage, and pancakes.
Example two
Correct: Our sandwich options included peanut butter and jelly, ham and cheese, and peanut butter and honey.
Nonrestrictive vs. restrictive
Appositives
Appositives are nouns/ pronouns or noun/pronoun phrases that rename other nouns. They are offset by commas.
Simple test to know if it is an appositive: Can you replace the initial noun with the appositive?
Examples:
Ex. 1: Sally, the mayor’s wife, explained why she left the Navy.
(The mayor’s wife explained why she left the Navy.)
Ex. 2: She decided to invite John, her ex-boyfriend, to the party.
(She decided to invite her ex-boyfriend to the party.)
Additional resources:
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/596/01/
Commas in dates
When a date contains the day, month and year, surround the year with commas.
Examples:
Correct: They decided to host the party Jan. 10, 2015, in Kate’s backyard.
Incorrect: They decided to host the party Jan. 10 2015 in Kate’s backyard.
Additional resources:
“Associated Press Stylebook” Punctuation: comma
Period
A period is used to end a sentence.
It is also always placed inside of quotes (like the comma).
Examples:
A period is used to end a sentence.
She said, “I don’t think I like that idea.”
Additional resources:
“When Words Collide” Seventh Edition, pg. 101
“When Words Collide” Eighth Edition, pg. 98
“When Words Collide” Ninth Edition, pg. 84
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/566/01/
Semicolon
A semicolon can connect two independent clauses that are related to each other. They will often use a conjunctive adverb (like however or although) to connect the two thoughts further.
Examples:
Correct: Frank studied hard for the test; he received the highest grade in the class.
Incorrect: Frank studied hard for the test, he received the highest grade in the class.
Correct: Frank studied hard for the test; therefore, he received the highest grade in the class.
Incorrect: Frank studied hard for the test, therefore, he received the highest grade in the class.
Additional resources:
“When Words Collide” Seventh Edition, pg. 109
“When Words Collide” Eighth Edition, pg. 106
“When Words Collide” Ninth Edition, pg. 91
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/566/01/