PUNCTUATION

Using Commas
A complete summary of the seven core comma rules

A comma is a punctuation mark that separates words or groups of words within

sentences. In this way, commas keep ideas distinct from one another. This lesson
summarizes the seven essential rules for using commas in academic writing, along with
examples, an appositives reference, and a list of common comma errors to avoid.

Quick Reference — The Seven Rules at a Glance

# Rule Example

1 Commas in a series Leyla, Zack, and Kathleen worked on the campaign.

Commas after introductory

2 In the event of a fire, proceed to the nearest exit.
phrases

Commas with transitional words /

3 In general, many people agree.
phrases

Wendy Kopp, a college student, developed the

4 Commas with appositives
program.

Commas with nonrestrictive

5 The job, which had benefits, did not pay well.
clauses

6 Commas in dates and addresses Tuesday, May 5, 1998, was the first Cinco de Mayo.

7 Avoiding unnecessary commas A comma should not separate subject from verb.

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 Rule 1 ▸ Commas in a Series

Use commas to separate three or more items in a series. The items can be words,
phrases, or clauses. In academic writing, always place a comma before the coordinating
conjunction (and, or) that links the last two items — this is called the Oxford comma.

Separate three or more items in a series with commas.

1
▸ Leyla, Zack, and Kathleen worked on the campaign. (words)
▸ Costa Rica produces bananas, cocoa, and sugarcane. (words)
▸ Leyla is president, Zack is vice president, and Kathleen is treasurer. (clauses)

FYI — Using Commas in a Series

Exception: Do not use any commas if all the items in a series are joined by coordinating
conjunctions.

▸ Leyla or Zack or Kathleen will be elected president.

Note: Newspapers often omit the comma before and, but in college / academic writing you
should always include it.

Rule 2 ▸ Commas after Introductory Phrases

Use a comma to set off an introductory phrase from the rest of the sentence. The
comma signals where the introduction ends and the main clause begins. Introductory
phrases include prepositional phrases, participial (-ing / -ed) phrases, and infinitive (to +
verb) phrases.

Place a comma after any introductory phrase before the main clause.
2
▸ In the event of a fire, proceed to the nearest exit. (prepositional)
▸ Walking home, Nelida decided to change her major. (participial)
▸ To keep fit, people should try to exercise regularly. (infinitive)
▸ After taking placebos, some depressed patients experience relief.

Rule 3 ▸ Commas with Transitional Words & Phrases

Use commas to set off transitional words and phrases, whether they appear at the
beginning, middle, or end of a sentence. These words connect ideas and show the logical
relationship between them.

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 Set off transitional words and phrases with commas.
3
▸ In general, many people agree that mandatory minimum sentence laws should be
reformed.
▸ However, lawmakers in both parties have been working on reform.
▸ Nonviolent drug offenders, for example, are often incarcerated.
▸ In fact, an increasing percentage of inmates are nonviolent offenders.
▸ As a result, taxpayers are increasingly burdened by rising prison costs.

Common Transitional Words & Phrases

Function Examples

Addition in addition, furthermore, moreover, also, besides

Contrast however, on the other hand, in contrast, nevertheless, still

Cause / Effect therefore, as a result, consequently, for this reason, thus

Example for example, for instance, in particular, namely, specifically

Emphasis in fact, indeed, of course, certainly, undoubtedly

Sequence first, next, finally, meanwhile, then, afterward

Conclusion in conclusion, in summary, overall, to sum up, in short

FYI — Using Commas in Direct Address

Always use commas to set off the name of someone you are addressing directly, whether
the name appears at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence.

▸ Molly, come here and look at this.

▸ Come here, Molly, and look at this.
▸ Come here and look at this, Molly.

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 Rule 4 ▸ Commas with Appositives

An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that identifies or renames another noun

beside it. Most appositives are set off by commas — whether they appear at the
beginning, middle, or end of a sentence.

Set off appositives with commas — they rename or identify a nearby

4
noun.
▸ Wendy Kopp, a college student, developed the Teach For America program.
(middle)
▸ A really gifted artist, he is also a wonderful father. (beginning)
▸ He always wanted to build a house, a big white one. (end)
▸ William Filene, founder of Filene's Department Store, invented the "bargain
basement."
▸ HTML, hypertext markup language, is the set of codes used to create web
documents.

Rule 5 ▸ Nonrestrictive vs. Restrictive Clauses

Use commas to set off nonrestrictive clauses — extra information that is not essential
to a sentence's meaning. Do not use commas with restrictive clauses, which supply
essential information.

NONRESTRICTIVE — use commas RESTRICTIVE — no commas

Extra, nonessential information. Sentence Essential information. Sentence loses

still works without it. meaning without it.

Young adults, who text while driving, put Young adults who text while driving put
themselves and others in danger. themselves and others in danger.
(= all young adults text and pose danger) (= only those who text pose danger)

Telephone scams, which cost consumers Many rock stars who recorded hits in the
millions a year, are becoming common. 1950s made little money from their songs.

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 FYI — Which, That, and Who
▸ Which always introduces a nonrestrictive clause (use commas).

The job, which had excellent benefits, did not pay well.
▸ That always introduces a restrictive clause (no commas).

He accepted the job that had the best benefits.

▸ Who can introduce either type — meaning decides.

Restrictive: Many parents who work feel stress.

Nonrestrictive: Both of my parents, who have always wanted the best for
their children, have worked two jobs.

Rule 6 ▸ Commas in Dates and Addresses

Use commas to separate the parts of dates and addresses. When a date or address that
already contains commas appears in the middle of a sentence, place an additional
comma after the year or the state/country.

Dates: separate day of week from month, and day from year.
6a
▸ The first Cinco de Mayo we celebrated was Tuesday, May 5, 1998.
▸ Tuesday, May 5, 1998, was the first Cinco de Mayo we celebrated. (comma after
the year when mid-sentence)

Addresses: separate street from city, and city from state / country.
6b
▸ Sherlock Holmes's office was located at 221b Baker Street, London, England.
▸ The office at 221b Baker Street, London, England, belonged to Sherlock
Holmes. (comma after the country when mid-sentence)

Rule 7 ▸ Avoid Unnecessary Commas

Knowing where not to use commas is just as important as knowing where to use them.
Here are the six most common comma errors to avoid.

✗ Do not put a comma before the first item in a series.

✗ INCORRECT ✓ CORRECT

The 1933 film Duck Soup starred, The 1933 film Duck Soup starred
Groucho, Chico, and Harpo Marx. Groucho, Chico, and Harpo Marx.

✗ Do not put a comma after the last item in a series.

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 ✗ INCORRECT ✓ CORRECT

Groucho, Chico, and Harpo Marx, Groucho, Chico, and Harpo Marx
starred in Duck Soup. starred in Duck Soup.

✗ Do not put a comma between a subject and its verb.

✗ INCORRECT ✓ CORRECT

Students and their teachers, should Students and their teachers should try
try to respect one another. to respect one another.

✗ Do not put a comma before the conjunction in a compound predicate.

✗ INCORRECT ✓ CORRECT

The transit workers voted to strike, The transit workers voted to strike
and walked off the job. and walked off the job.

✗ Do not put a comma before the conjunction in a compound subject.

✗ INCORRECT ✓ CORRECT

The transit workers, and the The transit workers and the sanitation
sanitation workers voted to strike. workers voted to strike.

✗ Do not use commas to set off a restrictive clause.

✗ INCORRECT ✓ CORRECT

People, who live in glass houses, People who live in glass houses should
should not throw stones. not throw stones.

✗ Do not use a comma before a dependent clause that follows an independent

clause.

✗ INCORRECT ✓ CORRECT

Mining is important to the economy, Mining is important to the economy

because the land is rich in ores. because the land is rich in ores.

Summary ▸ Use Commas to…

✓ USE a comma to… Example

1. separate three or more items in a series We bought apples, oranges, and grapes.

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 2. set off an introductory phrase After class, I went home.

3. set off transitional words / phrases However, the plan failed.

4. set off an appositive Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is huge.

5. set off a nonrestrictive clause My car, which is red, is fast.

6. separate parts of dates and addresses She was born on May 5, 1998, in Hanoi, Vietnam.

7. set off the name of someone addressed

Lan, please open the door.
directly

✗ DO NOT use a comma… Example of error

1. before the first item in a series She bought, apples, pears, and plums.

2. after the last item in a series Apples, pears, and plums, are healthy.

3. between a subject and a verb The students, are tired.

4. before the conjunction in a compound

He studied, and passed the test.
predicate

5. before the conjunction in a compound

Lan, and Minh are friends.
subject

6. to set off a restrictive clause Books, that I love, fill my shelves.

7. before a dependent clause after an

I stayed home, because I was tired.
independent clause

Remember: A comma tells the reader where to pause briefly. If a pause is not needed
and no specific rule applies, leave the comma out. When in doubt, read the sentence
aloud — but always check it against the seven rules above.

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