Using Commas Correctly

Commas have several uses. One use of commas is to separate items in a series when there are more than two items. The final comma—the one that precedes the word and—is optional (but be consistent throughout your essays).

Use commas to separate two or more adjectives before a noun, but do not use a comma after the last adjective in the series.

Another use of commas is to set off clauses and phrases that are not necessary to the main idea of the sentence. In other words, if you could remove a phrase or clause from a sentence and the sentence would still make sense, then enclose those words in commas.

CORRECT: Leonardo da Vinci, who is known primarily as an artist, was also an accomplished scientist.

The main idea is that da Vinci was an accomplished scientist. The intervening clause serves to provide additional information about da Vinci and, while interesting, could be removed from the sentence. Thus, it should be set off with commas.

Also use commas after introductory words and phrases.

One more use of commas is to separate independent clauses (clauses that could stand alone as complete sentences) connected by the FANBOYS coordinating conjunctions (For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So).

Using Commas Correctly Practice Set

Correct the punctuation errors in the following sentences.

  1. Judges, teachers, and parents, should not be trying to win a popularity contest.

  2. Hesitating interminably before taking action Hamlet is an indecisive and thus tragically flawed character.