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The Comma and Its Usage

The comma is one of the most common and important punctuation marks in the English language. It is also one of the most commonly misused. It is not uncommon when asking someone why he or she has used a comma incorrectly to receive answers like ‘because it just looked like it needed one’, or ‘I haven’t used one in a while and it is a really long sentence!’ When people respond in this manner, they reveal a fundamental lack of understanding of the comma and the way that it is used. Many different situations call for the use of the comma; however, the four situations that follow are possibly the most common and their mastery will give any piece of writing a degree of polish that is often the mark of a good writer.

To separate a subordinate clause from an independent clause

When a sentence consists of two clauses, it is important to consider the use of a comma carefully. If the first clause  has been subordinated (shown in italics) to the second by the use of a subordinating word or phrase like ‘although’ or ‘after’ or even ‘when’, a comma must be employed before the beginning of the independent clause. For example:

Although there are some who don’t, most people like chocolate.

After the flood, they began the clean-up.

If the independent clause comes first, the comma may still be needed, but sometimes it is not essential and may indeed be better left out:

Most people like chocolate, although there are some who don’t.

They began the clean-up after the flood.

The same rule applies if the opening to the sentence falls short of a clause and is instead an introductory phrase; however, if that phrase is very short, the comma may sometimes be dropped. Consider the following:

Although sad, we went on our way.

After that she was not hungry anymore.

To delineate between two independent clauses separated by a conjunction

The use, or non-use, of this comma is a common error. When two independent clauses are separated by a conjunction like ‘and’ or ‘but’, it is important to indicate this using a comma. This comma may be dropped if the two clauses are very short, but in longer sentences, it becomes important. However, a comma should never be used to separate independent clauses without the use of a conjunction. This is called a comma splice and will earn the ire of any marker. Try adding a conjunction or using a full stop or semicolon instead of the comma. For example:

This is correct:

Nguyen (2011) stated that fluid restrictions are not always suitable in the case of elderly patients, and Guppy et al. (2014) concurred, citing ‘theoretical reasons for fluid intake to cause harm’.

This is incorrect:

Nguyen (2011) stated that fluid restrictions are not always suitable in the case of elderly patients, Guppy et al. (2014) concurred, citing ‘theoretical reasons for fluid intake to cause harm’.

To enclose parenthetic expressions

Parenthetic expressions are used to qualify, clarify or elaborate on the information given in a sentence. The most important thing to do when applying this principle is to consider which parts of your sentence are integral to its structure and which are not. The comma is used to enclose parenthetic expressions that the writer wants to be read there and then without undue interruption to the flow of the sentence. For example:

Several writers, over the course of their careers, have encountered this obstacle.

To set off non-restrictive clauses

Though it sounds technical, this usage is fundamentally the same as the previous one. A non-restrictive clause often begins with ‘which’, but may also begin with words like ‘whose’, ‘who’ or ‘where’. These clauses come at the end of a sentence and are basically parenthetic, adding additional information and, as such, require a comma before them. In the case of the use of ‘which’, if you feel the information is in fact critical to the sentence structure, drop the comma and use the restrictive clause ‘that’ instead. Consider these two examples, and how the use of ‘which’ with a comma, or ‘that on its own, affects the meaning:

She gave me the book, which we have to read for class.

[In this sentence, there is only one book, which happens to be the one we have to read for class.]

She gave me the book that we have to read for class.

[In this sentence, there may be several books, but the one she gave me is the one we have to read for class.]

Of course, there are many other instances where a comma is required. There is the serial comma for lists, the appositive comma for additional personal information and the always-confusing delayed joining word comma. Like all things grammatical, these, and all comma usages, become easier with practice and become increasingly intuitive the more they are used. The important thing is to understand what the comma does and to save its use for that specific situation, and, in so doing, give the reader a clearer understanding of what you are trying to say.

Updated 19 May 2023
Emily Finlay, PhD, AE (IPeD)