By Arundathie Abeysinghe

Lecturer in English

International Aviation Academy

SriLankan Airlines

1Arundathie Abeysinghe

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

2Arundathie Abeysinghe

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?

3Arundathie Abeysinghe

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.

4Arundathie Abeysinghe

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

5Arundathie Abeysinghe

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.

6Arundathie Abeysinghe

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.

7Arundathie Abeysinghe

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.

8Arundathie Abeysinghe

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.

9Arundathie Abeysinghe

Use commas to set off expressions that interrupt sentence flow

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

10Arundathie Abeysinghe

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.

11Arundathie Abeysinghe

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.

12Arundathie Abeysinghe

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.

13Arundathie Abeysinghe

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.

14Arundathie Abeysinghe

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

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

15Arundathie Abeysinghe

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.

16Arundathie Abeysinghe

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?

17Arundathie Abeysinghe

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.

18Arundathie Abeysinghe

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.

19Arundathie Abeysinghe

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.

20Arundathie Abeysinghe

Thank you!

21Arundathie Abeysinghe