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When in Doubt, Don't Use a Comma
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The comma is such a trickster. So, I will skip the introductory line and cut to the chase.
1 When you have a list of more than two items in a sentence, use a comma. Yes, this comma has a name. In fact, it has many names. It is called the Serial comma, the Oxford comma, the Listing comma, the Harvard comma, or the Series comma. Did I just use one?
The Americans swear by it and the British don’t insist on using it.
2 Oh, follow the same rule when describing something with more than just one adjective. For example, I'm funny, sarcastic, and a typochondriac.
3 The next one in line is the Parenthetical comma. When you want to splice out non-essential information from a sentence, feel free to use this comma. Did you know that the em dash, an alternative for the Parenthetical comma, can be used to set off non-essential information in an informal way?
4 I repeat—did you know that the em dash, which is an alternative for the Parenthetical comma, can be used to set off non-essential information in an informal way? And this is how you use a comma before the clause, "which".
5 When you make introductions, use the comma lest it should feel left out. No, this comma doesn't have a name! Folks, I hope the list of usages isn't overwhelming because… 6 it is time to say "hello" to Compound and Complex sentences! I will not dwell on what these sentences are, I promise, but here are a few tips.
7 Did I forget the times when commas are used for tag questions and after thoughts?
“You will stop now, won't you? We have had enough of this grammar lesson, already!”
Yes, I will.
There you go—the most frequent scenarios when a comma is used. And while we are at it, why don’t you find the appearance of the trickster in this write-up?
1 When you have a list of more than two items in a sentence, use a comma. Yes, this comma has a name. In fact, it has many names. It is called the Serial comma, the Oxford comma, the Listing comma, the Harvard comma, or the Series comma. Did I just use one?
The Americans swear by it and the British don’t insist on using it.
2 Oh, follow the same rule when describing something with more than just one adjective. For example, I'm funny, sarcastic, and a typochondriac.
3 The next one in line is the Parenthetical comma. When you want to splice out non-essential information from a sentence, feel free to use this comma. Did you know that the em dash, an alternative for the Parenthetical comma, can be used to set off non-essential information in an informal way?
4 I repeat—did you know that the em dash, which is an alternative for the Parenthetical comma, can be used to set off non-essential information in an informal way? And this is how you use a comma before the clause, "which".
5 When you make introductions, use the comma lest it should feel left out. No, this comma doesn't have a name! Folks, I hope the list of usages isn't overwhelming because… 6 it is time to say "hello" to Compound and Complex sentences! I will not dwell on what these sentences are, I promise, but here are a few tips.
- Use a comma before coordinating conjunctions such as but, yet, and so.
- Use a comma after a phrase that begins with if, because, while, as, although, since, and unless.
- Use a bit of common sense when applying these two rules, please.
7 Did I forget the times when commas are used for tag questions and after thoughts?
“You will stop now, won't you? We have had enough of this grammar lesson, already!”
Yes, I will.
There you go—the most frequent scenarios when a comma is used. And while we are at it, why don’t you find the appearance of the trickster in this write-up?