Writing Center Handout

• Put a comma before and, but, for, or, nor, yet, so when they connect two independent clauses.

Sue wanted to chat more, but she felt compelled to get back to work.

Jenelle registered for the class, yet she failed to show up for it.

          --However, notice sentences with one subject:

Sue wanted to chat more but felt compelled to get back to work.

Jenelle failed to show up for the class she had registered for.

• Put a comma between items in a series.

Lynne is a strong, articulate, creative contender.

He wore a red sweater, blue pants, pink tie, and green shoes.

        --However: cumulative adjectives describing a noun do not take commas.

He wore a baggy old red sweater.

The bright blue morning sky gave her a lift.

• Put a comma after an introductory expression or afterthought that doesn't flow smoothly into the sentence.

Well, that was the end of that.

Yes, I'll go.

It's cold this morning, isn't it?

Running down the hill, she slipped and fell.

When everyone had left, the lights were shut off.

• Put a comma after an introductory clause, one that begins with words indicating when, where, why, or how the main action occurred.

Because Martha kept on talking, I didn’t have time to eat.

Near the gas station at the fork in the road, I took a left.

• Put commas around the name of a person spoken to.

I think, Jane, I love your mother.

Joe, how about a pizza after class?

Are you ready, Lisa?

• Put commas around an interrupter, like however, moreover, finally, therefore, of course, by the way, on the other hand, I think.

I hope, of course, that they'll come.

It should, I think, take only an hour.

The taxi, however, was late, causing us to miss the plane.

She arrived, moreover, ready to work.

• Put commas around nonessential material.

My sister, whose own children are in day care, spoke of the need to enhance the program.

Jane, who heads the department, will speak tonight.

New York, which is the capital of the world, is where I was born.
 
 

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