esl punctuation rules - commas

By Arundathie Abeysinghe

Lecturer in English

International Aviation Academy

SriLankan Airlines

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Use commas to separate words and word groups with a series of three or more

e.g.Share these chocolates with your sister, your

brother, and your cousin

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Use commas before the name or title of a person directly addressed

e.g: Will you, Amanda, return that book before Friday? Can you, Peter, finish the assignment soon?

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Use a comma to separate the day of the month from the year and after the year

e.g.:Brian met his wife on September 28, 2009, in Boston.Exception If any part of the date is omitted, leave out the commae.g.: Brian met his wife in 2009.

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Use a comma to separate the city from the statee.g. I live in Manhattan , New York. She lives in Phoenix, Arizona.

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Use a comma to separate two adjectivese.g. She is a young, beautiful girl. If the word and is inserted between the two

adjectives, do not use a commae.g She is a young and beautiful girl.

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Use a comma after phrases of more than three words that begin a sentence

e.g. On January 1, people all over the world celebrate the New Year.

To get good results, you must study hard.

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Use a comma to separate a city from a state

e.g. She has been working in Annapolis, Maryland, during the last 5 years.

If a two letter capitalized form is used in a sentence, a comma is not necessary.

e.g. She is working in Annapolis, MD during the last 5 years.

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Use a comma to separate independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (and, but, so, yet, for, or, nor)

e.g. I have finished studying, but I will not attend the party.

I may accept your business proposal, or I may reject it.

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Use commas to set off expressions that interrupt sentence flow

e.g. He is, as mentioned earlier, the best person to do this job.

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Use commas to surround degrees or titles used with names

e.g. Monica Wetzel, M.D., was in College with Azar Sr. and Mike Stuart II.

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Use a comma when starting a sentence with a weak clause

e.g. If she is not attending the meeting, please inform the secretary.

Do not use a comma if the sentence starts with a strong clause followed by a weak clause

e.g. Please inform the secretary if she is not attending the meeting.

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Use a comma when an adjective (-ly) is used with other adjectives

e.g. Liza is a lovely, beautiful girl. Aditya is a lively, handsome boy.

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Use a comma to separate words and word groups (with a series of three or more)

e.g. Nelly divided 20 exercise books among her sister, brother, cousins, and her friend.

NOTE: If the comma is omitted after cousins, it would mean that cousins and the friend have to divide the exercise books among themselves.

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Use commas to introduce or interrupt direct quotations shorter than three lines

e.g. “Where,” she asked “Do you hope to build the house?’

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Use a comma surrounding words such as however and therefore when they are used as interrupters

e.g. I would be glad, however, to accept your invitation.

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Use a comma to separate a statement from a question.

e.g. I can swim in the pool, can’t I? You said you can drive, can’t you?

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Use a comma when beginning sentences with introductory words – now, well, yes etc.

e.g. Well, I decided not to attend the meeting. Yes, I agree with him.

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Use a comma to separate contrasting parts of a sentence

e.g. This is Monica’s book, not Michelle’s. That is Sasha’s car, not Dave’s.

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Use a comma to separate items in a list (nouns or adjectives)

e.g. David bought vegetables, meat, fish, cheese, milk and chocolates at the supermarket

Misha is a young, beautiful, lively girl.

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Thank you!

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