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Use of the Comma in English Punctuation (,) - Part 3

Part 1 | Part 2

Don't go into a coma after learning about the uses of the comma...

Congratulations ! These are the web pages that will teach you everything on the "king of punctuation marks" – the comma. Learn about the usage of the comma in English writing. This article will look at the rules for using the comma correctly as a punctuation mark. Be prepared for quite a lot of comma rules, as the comma is the most widely used and often misused punctuation mark in English. For accurate proofreading of comma use and other punctuation or grammar rules, the artificial intelligence of the WhiteSmoke online English writing and grammar software will give you perfect results every time. Even the best writers in English need an editor to improve their work.

Enjoy your reading and start using those commas correctly.

What is the Comma ?

The comma (,) is a very important punctuation mark in English that has numerous uses, which can be grouped into five main usage categories. The basic function of the comma is to divide between "light" elements within a sentence that have some relation in meaning to each other, as a period separates between "heavier" full sentences, which each convey a separate piece of meaning. Such a large variety in comma rules may lead to many errors English writers often make. You should also note that there may be many exceptions to the rules, as commas are to be used to make things as clear as possible for the reader, even when this comes contrary to the rules. Alternatively, you may consider avoiding using the comma by simply dividing a long sentence into two shorter ones using a period. Skilled writers develop a "feel" for effective comma usage as they progress with their English writing.


The five uses of the comma are:

1. Separating the main elements of a sentence from each other
2. Setting off a parenthetical element from the rest of the sentence
3. Separating elements in a series
4. Setting off dialogs or quotations
5. Other uses of the comma

Continued from Part 2:

4. Setting off Dialogs or Quotations

The Punctuation Rules for Setting Off Dialogs or Quotations:

1. A quote is a text that brings the exact words of a speaker in direct discourse. A text that consists only of dialogue (plays, novels etc.) is punctuated according to regular punctuation rules. However, in a text that combines both dialogue and non-dialogue text, the quotations are separated from introductory words (e.g., said, stated, explained, claimed) with quotation marks, commas and other punctuation marks.

2. The punctuation mark that comes before the quote is left outside the opening quotation mark. The punctuation mark that comes after the quote is put inside the closing quotation marks. The quote itself starts with a capital letter. See the following examples for different positions of the introductory words.
The singer Madonna said, "We are living in a material world."
[introductory words before the quote]

"We are living in a material world," said the singer Madonna.
[introductory words after the quote]

"We are living," said the singer Madonna, "in a material world."
[introductory words within the quote]

The singer Madonna said, "We are living in a material world," and left the stage.
[introductory and non quote words before and after the quote]

*Watch out !
3. If the quoted words are part of the sentence structure (with no introductory words), do not set them off with commas. These are cases of indirect discourse, usually occurring with the words that and as. The quote here does not begin with a capital letter, as it is an integral part of the sentence.
The singer Madonna believes that "we live in a material world."
The singer Madonna perceives our world as "a material world."

4. If the quote ends with a question mark or exclamation point, or is broken off by a dash, do not separate the quote with a comma.
"Express yourself !" cried Madonna to her excited audience.
"How will they know ?" asks Madonna in her song "Live to Tell."
"The main reason for this is – " Madonna started to say.

5. Other Uses of the Comma

A. Indicating Omitted and Repeated Words

1. A general stylistic convention in writing is that the more you can say in less words, the more elegant and polished the writing is. Elliptical constructions which omit words are one way of achieving such brevity in writing.

2. In the following examples, no comma is needed to indicate omitted words
Madonna was sure that she would get an Oscar.
Madonna was sure ___ she would get an Oscar.

[Omission of that in object relative clauses]

Madonna looked angrily at Michael Jackson, and he at her.

[ellipsis]

Madonna is as short as I am.
Madonna is as short as I.

[ellipsis]

3. In the following examples, a comma is needed to indicate omitted words. The sentence may be ungrammatical without it.
Madonna's first album sold only 2,000 copies but her second, 2,000,000.

[Omission of album sold, comma instead]

In spring Madonna's fans sent her 1,000 letters; in summer, 3,000; and in the fall, none.

[ellipsis of they sent her, notice the semi-colons dividing between the three independent clauses that contain commas]

4. Use commas to separated words repeated within a sentence to avoid confusion.
Whatever that is here that smells, smells just awful !
What she does, she does well.
She came in, in tears.

B. Commas with Dates

1. Use a comma to separate the date from the year, when written in American style.
December 30, 1975 [12.30.75 - US style]

2. Do not use a comma to separate any element of the date, when written in British style (also common around the world and in the U.S. army.)
30th of December 1975 [30.12.75 - UK style]

Note: As confusion may arise from having two styles of dates, you had better not write dates using numbers alone. Instead, write the month's name as a word and the date and year as numbers.

3. Use a comma to separate the day from the date.
Tuesday, December 30 [12.30.75 - US date]

4. In a full sentence, use a comma on both sides of the year in a full date.
Many people were waiting on December 30, 1975, to celebrate the birth of the writer of this punctuation guide.

5. Do not use a comma when writing only two date elements, namely, the month and the year, the month and the day, or the season and the year.
Madonna's concert in August 1983 is well remembered by all her fans.
Madonna's concert on August 30 is well remembered by all her fans.
In summer 1983 Madonna gave a memorable concert.

C. Commas with Numbers

1. Use a comma as a thousands separator after every three digits in a number, counting from right to left.
87,950 people arrived to demonstrate in London against the government's decision. 1,850,400 signatures were collected nationwide in support of the protest.

( Note: In some countries a space is used instead of a comma, e.g. 87 9500)

2. A comma is optional with most four-digit numbers. Whatever option you choose, remember to be consistent in your writing.
This car costs 8,500 $. or This car costs 8500 $.
He drove for 2,250 miles. or He drove for 2250 miles.

3. Never use a comma in a four-digit year. Use a comma if the year has more than 4 digits.
In 1992 German zoologists discovered rare animal fossils from 35,000 BC.

4. Never use a comma in an address of four digits or more.
Beverly Hills 90210 was a very popular T.V. series.

5. Use a comma to separate related measurements written as words.
My son is five feet, four inches tall.

6. Use a comma to separate a scene from an act in a play.
act II, scene vi; or act 2, scene 4

7. Never use a comma in a page number of four digits or more.
For more information, see page 1378.

8. Use a comma to separate references to a page and line.
For more information, see page 1378, line 30.

9. Use a comma to separate two numbers that lie next to each other in a text.
In 1994, 3 of Madonna's songs reached the top ten in the music charts.

D. Commas with Names, Places, Addresses and Correspondences

1. Use a comma to separate people's names and their academic degrees. Use a comma after the degree if other words follow it.
Dan Smith, MD, will speak after Rosanne Smith, PhD.

2. Do not use a comma when an indicator of birth order or succession flows a name.
Marthin Luther King Jr. Henry VIII.

3. Use a comma if you write a person's last name before the first name.
Smith, Dan ,MD, will speak second.

4. Use a comma to separate between two place names in sequence, e.g. city and county/state/country. Add another comma after the place name if more words follow.
Dan Smith, MD, is coming from Houston, Texas, to speak at the conference.

5. When a complete address in part of a sentence, use a comma to separate all the items, except the county/state/country and the zip code.
Dan wrote to Clara Clausowitz, 1001 Rule Road, Commaville, England ETS432, for more information about comma usage in English.

6. Use a comma for the opening of an informal letter. Some instructors suggest a colon in formal business letters.
Dear Dave, [friendly, informal] Dear Mrs. Clausowitz: [business, formal]

7. Use a comma for the closing words of any letter, and a point for the closing sentence that precedes it.
Hope to hear from you soon. [closing sentence]
Yours, or Love, [informal closing words]
sincerely, or Best regards, [formal closing word

The Comma: Summing it up

As our article shows, the ubiquitous comma, as it appears just everywhere has numerous uses. The understanding of when and how to use the comma is vital to writing quality English in a range of contexts. While we cannot all be expected to know the rules of English grammar, tools like WhiteSmoke English Writing Software can ensure that our use of the comma and other punctuation marks is always correct. With WhiteSmoke technology checking your grammar, punctuation and spelling, your writing will always be perfect.

This was the third and final part of out review of the comma.