I don’t know about you, but I find the comma a mystery in itself. Everyone is good at something. Those that are great at grammar, may still have issues with the dreaded comma. Where does it go? How do I know I placed it in the right spot. Here is a simple guide.
- Use commas to separate independent clauses when they are joined by a conjunction such as and, but, for, so, and yet.
- Use commas after introductory clauses, phrases, and words that come before the main clause.
- Use a pair of commas in the middle of a sentence to set off clauses, phrases, and words that aren’t essential to the meaning of a sentence. Use one comma at the beginning of a pause and one at the end to indicate the end of the pause.
- Use commas to separate three or more words, phrases, and clauses written in a series.
- Use commas to separate two or more coordinate adjectives that describe the same noun.
The comma is a valuable punctuation device, because it separates the structural elements of sentences into manageable segments, and it gives the reader time to take a breath when reading a long sentence.