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Comma Usage [Guide: Mon]

Topic: Comma Usage (do's and don't)

Guide: sprite_and_hamburger

COMMA:-

A punctuation mark (,) indicating a pause between parts of a sentence or separating items in a list is called a comma. This punctuation mark is most easy to use yet complicated. The comma is one of the most used punctuation. Below are the basic rules and a guide to know about a comma.

Comma with Subjects and Verbs:-

With few exceptions, a comma should not separate a subject from its verb.

Incorrect- My friend Min, is a wonderful singer.
Correct- My friend Min is a wonderful singer.

Incorrect- The things that cause me joy, may also cause me pain.
Correct- The things that cause me joy may also cause me pain.

Don't separate two nouns that appear together as a compound subject or compound object.

Incorrect- Dela will wear a sparkly red blazer, and high heels.
Correct- Dela will wear a sparkly red blazer and high heels.

Rule:- Don't use a comma in compound predicates unless there is a chance of misreading:

Incorrect- I meant to buy tickets for Sarah's show, but ran out of time.
Correct- I meant to buy tickets for Sarah's show but ran out of time.

Suzy waved enthusiastically at the docking ship, laughing joyously. (correct)
Incorrect: Seoyoon waved at Suzy, laughing joyously. (Who is laughing, Seoyoon or Suzy?)

Laughing joyously, Seoyoon waved at Suzy. (correct)
Seoyoon waved at Suzy, who was laughing joyously. (correct)

Comma Splices:-

When you want to join two independent clauses, you need a conjunction or a semicolon. A comma alone isn't strong enough to join them. This kind of mistake is called a comma splice.

Incorrect- We were out of milk, I went to the store.

You can fix a comma splice by adding a conjunction or changing the comma to a semicolon.

Ex with a conjunction: We were out of milk, so I went to the store.

Ex with a semicolon: We were out of milk; I went to the store.