Do you agonise over where to place the commas in your writing?
Recently, an author client asked me for clarification on using commas in her writing. I could immediately tell where she was coming from. We all need help with these curly little marks. The basic guidelines I wrote down for my client form the basis of this brief article.
Commas are the most common and arguably most complicated punctuation marks in written English. To illustrate this point, the index of my 559-page copyediting handbook has the longest list for commas out of all its many subject areas.
But does it matter? Comma placement does matter because it affects:
· the meaning(s) you wish to convey;
· the rhythm and flow of your writing;
· the ease of its readability.
As writers, we don’t need to be across every tiny detail on comma usage. The best approach is to keep things as simple as possible but to know where to go for the answer when something unusual crops up.
The last few decades have witnessed a gradual relaxation of what were once the hard-and-fast rules of punctuation. Deciding where to place commas in fiction and non-fiction has moved away from the directive, “You MUST have a comma here.’ However, the rules do still apply and it’s advisable to have access to a practical style guide when you are in writing or revising modes. (In the references, I have suggested a free online Australian style guide.)
A simple process I use to decide where to place a comma is:
· Use and develop your aural (hearing) sense; and if still not sure,
· Consult an Australian style guide.
Tip: Keep this article handy for quick look-ups.
Using our Aural Sense
A comma is a pause lasting a fraction of a second.
We must use our aural sense to listen consciously for where the commas go.
Many writers ‘hear’ the punctuation in their heads. They decide to use a comma, or semicolon to speed up or slow down the pace and rhythm of their prose.
A comma is a one-beat pause, a semicolon as a two-beat pause, a colon as a two-beat pause and a full stop as a three-beat pause.
If it doesn’t come naturally to hear the pause in your head as you write or revise, you can train yourself to listen for it by reading your work aloud to yourself.
Consulting a Style Guide
There are a multitude of rules for where to place a comma and where not to place a comma. To complicate matters, there are a multitude of exceptions to the rules.
The following ten rules are not the most basic ones; they are the ones that constantly trip us up.
Beyond the rules hereunder, consult an Australian Style Manual. The following information on basic comma rules has been adapted from the Australian Government Style Manual - https://www.stylemanual.gov.au/grammar-punctuation-and-conventions/punctuation/commas
(1) Place commas between independent clauses joined with a conjunction
Use commas to connect two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (‘and’, ‘or’, ‘but’, ‘so’).
If they have different subjects, use a comma before the coordinating conjunction.
Do not use this rule to create a sentence of more than 25 words. Shorter sentences are easier to read.
Example
The Senate debated the Bill at length, but the party whips eventually called for a vote.
[‘But’ is the coordinating conjunction. ‘The Senate’ and ‘the party whips’ are each the subjects of an independent clause.]
If 2 clauses share the same subject, you don’t need to repeat the subject or insert a comma before the conjunction.
Example
The company closed its Perth office and sacked the chief financial officer.
[‘The company’ closed an office and sacked an executive officer. ‘The company’ is the subject of both clauses, joined using ‘and’.]
(2) Where to place commas with dependent clauses
When a dependent clause precedes an independent clause, place a comma after the dependent clause.
Example
If their wage rates do not increase, the purchasing power of low-wage earners will continue to decline.
When a dependent clause follows an independent clause, there is no comma after the independent clause if the dependent clause is restricting its meaning.
Example
The purchasing power of low-wage earners will decline further if the minimum wage is not increase.
(3) Mark out non‐essential information within a sentence
Commas isolate information in a sentence when it isn’t essential to:
meaning
grammatical structure.
Within a sentence, use a pair of commas to separate non-essential or supplementary information. Always check for the second comma where there should be a pair.
Generally, if you can take out part of the sentence and it is still grammatically correct, it should be between a pair of commas.
Check carefully. Using comma pairs can completely change the meaning of a sentence.
Example
The committee, said the secretary, was incompetent. [The committee was incompetent.]
The committee said the secretary was incompetent. [The secretary was incompetent.]
(4) Don’t use commas to ‘splice’ sentences
Don’t use a comma to link two stand-alone sentences unless you use a coordinating conjunction. This error is called a ‘comma splice’.
Correct
The report was finished last week, but the minister has not approved its release.
Incorrect
The report was finished last week, the minister has not approved its release.
(5) Use a comma after phrases and clauses that change the whole sentence
Use commas after adverbial phrases and adverbial clauses. Adverbs – such as ‘first’ and ‘during’ – modify verbs, adjectives and other adverbs.
Example
During the meeting, we discussed item 9. [Adverbial phrase]
Although they were shaking and sweating, the firefighters were relieved to feel the first drops of a downpour. [Adverbial clause]
Conditional clauses are adverbial clauses (for example, beginning with ‘if’, ‘unless’ or ‘until’). They should also have a comma after them if they start the sentence.
Example
Unless the consultation starts early, it will not finish on time. [A conditional adverbial clause]
(6) Separate introductory words, phrases and clauses with a comma
A comma separates introductory words, phrases and clauses from the main clause of the sentence.
Many introductory phrases can be moved to the end of sentences without changing the meaning. In these cases, you don’t need a comma before the phrase. This structure is easier to read.
Example
During the meeting, we discussed Item 9.
We discussed Item 9 during the meeting.
(7) Place a comma after adverbs and other introductory words
Use a comma after introductory words, such as greetings and adverbs, or when addressing someone. Using an introductory word gives it emphasis.
Example
Yes, they went to the estimates hearing. [Affirmative emphasis]
Goodnight, and good luck. [Greeting]
Actually, that's an interesting point. [Adverb]
Excuse me, should I come with you? [Addressing someone]
You don’t need a comma after an introductory word if the sentence is very short. This minimises punctuation in very short sentences.
Example
Today I went to work.
(8) Separate items in lists of nouns or adjectives with commas
Use commas between items in a sentence list. Avoid using a comma before the last item in the list.
This rule applies to sentence lists and sentence fragments in bullet lists. Do not punctuate the end of a list item with a comma if it is in a bullet list.
Example
The delegation visited Brisbane, Canberra and Adelaide.
The consultation involved businesses, sole traders and not-for-profits.
The applicant was willing to learn, eager to work and well prepared.
(9) Know when to use of the Oxford comma
If the last item combines 2 words or phrases with the word ‘and’, use a comma before that final item. This use of the comma is known as the ‘Oxford comma’ or ‘serial comma’.
Example
The industries most affected are retail trade, wholesale trade, and accommodation and food services.
[‘Accommodation and food services’ is listed as a single industry category. It is set off in the list with an Oxford comma.]
The Oxford comma can prevent ambiguity in complex sentence lists. For example, use the Oxford comma before the last item if you’re using a defining phrase applicable only to that final item.
A defining phrase is essential to the meaning of the sentence. The following examples show how the Oxford comma can affect meaning, using the defining phrase ‘for stockfeed’.
Example
The analysis outlined demand for barley, wheat and hay for stockfeed. [All crops are for stockfeed.]
The analysis outlined demand for barley, wheat, and hay for stockfeed. [Only the hay is for stockfeed.]
(10) Show direct speech or quoted material using commas
Introduce directly quoted speech with a comma. Use the comma in combination with quotation marks.
Example
She said, ‘It’s time to start work.’
The Prime Minister said, ‘I’m calling a half-Senate election.’
If an attribution comes after a quotation, use a comma at the end of the quotation and before the quotation mark.
Example
‘It’s time to start work,’ she said.
‘I’m calling a half-Senate election for Saturday 15 August,’ the Prime Minister said.
If the quotation is broken into 2 parts, the second part should follow a full stop rather than a comma.
Example
‘It’s time to start work,’ she said. ‘We have a lot to do.’
‘I’m calling a half-Senate election,’ the Prime Minister said. ‘It will be held on Saturday 15 August.’
If the quotation ends the sentence, end it with the original punctuation of the quotation.
Example
She said, ‘It’s time to start work.’
She asked, ‘Is it time to start work?’
References
Einsohn, Amy, The Copyeditor’s Handbook: A Guide for Book Publishing and Corporate Communications, 2nd edition, 2006.
Australian Government Style Manual – www.stylemanual.gov.au
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I realise it's the tip of the iceberg, but hopefully you will have picked up a couple of practical points in this article on comma-sense. Thank you for reading, and if you found it useful, please share it with other writers.
If you have any observations on the article, or advice for other writers as to what works best for you, I invite you to leave your comments below.
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Lynne Lloyd Moss
LLOYD MOSS PUBLISHING
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