Comma Laws for Transparent Writing (with Examples)

One of the vital recurrently used punctuation marks, an errant comma can also be the adaptation between an entire sentence and an entire mess. On this submit, we’ll discover seven comma regulations that can stay your writing concise and coherent.

Ahead of we dive in, what’s a comma anyway? You’ll be able to bring to mind a comma as a lighter model of a duration. Whilst a duration ends a sentence full-stop, a comma is a smaller, softer pause. It may separate phrases, clauses, or concepts inside of one sentence.

1. Two entire sentences can best be hooked up with a comma when the usage of a coordinating conjunction.

A coordinating conjunction is a conjunction positioned between phrases, words, clauses, or sentences of equivalent rank. English has seven major coordinating conjunctions — for, and, nor, however, or, but, so — that can be utilized to weave in combination two entire sentences with a comma. You’ll be able to use the mnemonic FANBOYS to keep in mind them.

Either one of the above ideas are entire sentences. On the other hand, the loss of certainly one of our FANBOYS after the comma leads to a comma splice. The sentence is clunky with out the presence of a coordinating conjunction to hyperlink the 2 entire ideas in a single sentence.

That is extra adore it! “So” is the coordinating conjunction that hyperlinks those two entire sentences in combination. Each ideas may stand on my own separated through a duration, however our FANBOYS let us hyperlink them along side the assistance of a comma. The Thankful Lifeless is your favourite band? It is sensible that you simply traveled thus far to look them.

2. Use a comma to hyperlink an incomplete sentence with an entire sentence.

An incomplete sentence doesn’t categorical an absolutely shaped idea and will’t stand by itself. On the other hand, you’ll use a comma to hyperlink an incomplete sentence with an absolutely shaped sentence that expounds upon and completes the concept. As an example:

“Despite the fact that I had paintings within the morning” is an incomplete sentence. Finishing it with a duration makes it right into a cliffhanger of an unfinished idea, however a comma can save the day.

Using a comma and the next entire sentence “I traveled 3,500 miles to look the Thankful Lifeless in Copenhagen.” make this right into a grammatically right kind sentence. One thing tells me you didn’t make it to paintings day after today, although!

3. Use the Oxford comma.

The Oxford comma is a arguable matter on the earth of punctuation. There’s nice ancient debate on whether or not the Oxford comma is essential, however we right here at HubSpot suggest the usage of it for accuracy and readability to your writing.

What’s the Oxford comma?
The Oxford comma is the general comma in an inventory of items. As an example: I desire a stapler, some rye bread, and a gallon of glue.

I don’t know what you should be making, however that’s the correct use of an Oxford comma in an inventory of things. Right here’s any other instance:

This sentence states that you simply watched a documentary about 3 distinct and influential New Yorkers. The Oxford comma makes it transparent that those are 3 other other people. If we overlook the Oxford comma, issues can get a little bit complicated:

Except Babe Ruth lived a secret lifetime of crime and thin-crust pizza, you’ll see how the absence of the Oxford comma on this sentence may confuse readers. Whilst each variations of the sentence are technically right kind, we suggest the Oxford comma to verify your sentences are freed from ambiguity.

4. Use a comma between two coordinate adjectives that describe the similar noun.

Coordinate adjectives are two or extra adjectives that describe the similar noun. If you happen to flip-flop your adjectives or pop an “and” in between them and the sentence nonetheless is sensible, you then’ve were given coordinate adjectives. If you happen to’re the usage of coordinate adjectives, consider to split them with a comma.

Psychedelic and spontaneous are coordinate adjectives as a result of they in combination describe the noun, which is the tune of the Thankful Lifeless. You’ll be able to opposite the order or replace the comma for an “and” and the sentence approach the similar factor. We propose the usage of a comma.

It is delicate, however the sentence doesn’t go with the flow as it should be with out a comma between psychedelic and spontaneous.

5. Use a comma (or pair of commas) to split non-essential knowledge in a sentence.

Even though we admire the ideas, “in a quest for the easiest rack of ribs” is non-essential to the primary level of the sentence, which is that my sweetheart’s father spent manner an excessive amount of on his grill. You’ll be able to use a unmarried comma with the non-essential knowledge in the beginning of the sentence, or a couple of commas to rope it off within the center, however don’t put out of your mind your commas when including extraneous element.

With out commas to split the non-essential knowledge, the sentence is long-winded and grammatically unsuitable. I’ll take a couple of commas with the ones ribs, please!

6. Be sure to position commas as it should be when the usage of quotes.

Normally, you should utilize a comma to introduce quotes or discussion in a sentence.

The explanation we want a comma on this instance is that the quoted subject material is syntactically unbiased, that means it stands with the exception of the encompassing sentence. Don’t be impolite! Introduce that mid-sentence quote with a comma.

On the other hand, as there incessantly are within the English language, there are exceptions to this rule. If the quote blends into the encompassing sentence, incessantly with the usage of a conjunction, you’ll overlook the comma.

No comma is essential on this instance for the reason that quote blends into the sentence with the usage of the conjunction “that.”

7. Put a comma ahead of “whilst” to distinction two concepts.

In case you are the usage of “whilst” in a sentence to really imply “even if” or “while,” consider to position a comma ahead of it to stay the that means of your sentence transparent.

Using “whilst” on this sentence lets in us to distinction two BBQ ideologies.

With out the comma, the that means of whilst technically adjustments to “concurrently,” which doesn’t make sense on this context.

Moreover, in case you are the usage of “whilst” in the beginning of the sentence, you must position a comma on the finish of the clause that it introduces.