Commas Commas can be very important to meaning. Look at the difference between these two sentences: The politicians said the conservationists were greedy.
The politicians, said the conservationists, were greedy. Use commas: - After a word that introduces a quotation.
- He said, “We really should be hurrying!”
- After an introductory phrase or clause.
- Creeping silently, he was able to reach them unannounced.
- To separate items in a list, or multiple adjectives.
- It was a bleak, terrible period
- He ate fish, steak, chicken, and pie.
- In dates and addresses.
- I was born in Melbourne, Australia on October 15, 1969.
- To separate a non-defining relative clause (an extra information clause, not vital to what is being described).
- My sister, who teaches English, might be able to help us.
- To separate independent clauses joined by a co-ordinating conjunction – and, but, or, nor, yet, so, for.
- She typed the email, but then she realized she hadn’t signed it.
- After some conjunctions – however, nevertheless, in addition, for example, in conclusion, on the other hand, therefore, still, furthermore.
- She was very punctual and always arrived at work before everyone else. However, she sometimes left early because of her daughter.
- Around a parenthetical expression (this is added information which interrupts the main sentence) Examples – if necessary, of course, yet, in fact, it appears, by the way, for example, I feel.
- You can reply to all my emails, and, if necessary, add any new contacts to my address book.
- After the first part of a conditional sentence or an introductory clause (the part which contains if, until, because, when, before, after, although, whether, etc).
- Whenever power is held by a small group of people, there is usually corruption.
- In situations where the sentence could have different meanings, or a comma makes it easier to understand.
- I gave Dave, Harry’s pen to write with.
- Numbers with more than 3 digits.
|
|
|
