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HOME - Desire2Learn - Ning - Mythology & Folklore - World Literature - Indian Epics |
Sometimes people use commas when they need to actually begin a new sentence. This is called a comma splice or run-on sentence. In other cases, people forget to include a comma, which can actually cause a lot of confusion. Commas are used to help the reader "hear" what you are trying to say in your writing. If you leave out the commas, your writing can become very hard to understand. Below you will find some situations in which it is essential that you use a comma in order to convey your ideas clearly.
COMMAS AFTER AN INTRODUCTORY WORD, PHRASE, or CLAUSE
| INCORRECT | CORRECT |
| Well I know you have something to tell me. | Well, I know you have something to tell me. |
| See you do understand! | See, you do understand! |
| Moreover you only have five dollars left! | Moreover, you only have five dollars left! |
| On discovering the dead body they shrieked! | On discovering the dead body, they shrieked! |
| Although it was raining he didn't take an umbrella. | Although it was raining, he didn't take an umbrella. |
| In my opinion it's time for a change! | In my opinion, it's time for a change! |
| To get there in time you'll have to take a taxi. | To get there in time, you'll have to take a taxi. |
COMMAS AROUND AN INSERTED WORD, PHRASE, or CLAUSE
| INCORRECT | CORRECT |
| The children however understood everything. | The children, however, understood everything. |
| Please Doc you've got to help me! | Please, Doc, you've got to help me! |
| Apollo the god of archery became very angry. | Apollo, the god of archery, became very angry. |
The wizard shaking his head refused to help us. |
The wizard, shaking his head, refused to help us. |
| The woman lost in thought said nothing. | The woman, lost in thought, said nothing. |
COMMAS BEFORE A FINAL WORD, PHRASE or CLAUSE
| INCORRECT | CORRECT |
Don't be shy honey! |
Don't be shy, honey! |
| How are you Mister Smithers? | How are you, Mister Smithers? |
| The man sat there dozing in his chair. | The man sat there, dozing in his chair. |
We could not open the door no matter how hard we tried. |
We could not open the door, no matter how hard we tried. |
CONNECTING SENTENCES WITH AND, BUT, OR, NOR, FOR, SO, YET.
| INCORRECT | CORRECT |
| It was really hot so we went inside. | It was really hot, so we went inside. |
| I wanted to come but I didn't have time. | I wanted to come, but I didn't have time. |
COMMAS IN A LIST
| INCORRECT | CORRECT |
| The big bad mean monster was pounding on the door. | The big, bad, mean monster was pounding on the door. |
| I grabbed my purse turned off the light and slammed the door. | I grabbed my purse, turned off the light, and slammed the door. |