Comma (,)

Use Comma to Punctuate a List

When encountering a list, be in nouns, verbs, prepositional phrases, clauses and adjectives, you use comma to separate them according to their respective system.

• I need to get squid pickles and chocolate at the grocery store.
  • I need to get squid, pickles, and chocolate at the grocery store.
• I am going to go for a run read a chapter of my book and go see the new Colonel Justice movie.
  • I am going to go for a run, read a chapter of my book, and go see the new Colonel Justice movie.

Use Comma to Punctuate Correspondences

Separate salutation (dear XXX) and valediction (with love, YYY) from the body of the content.

Dear Prudence,

I received your fruit.

With love,

Jaina

Dear Prudence (salutation); With Love (valediction)

Use Comma to Punctuate Space

Using Comma to separate the address by context.

Nero Wolfe, (recipient name)

454 W 35th Street, (house & street)

New York, (city)

NY 10001, (state and postcode)

United States of America (country)

Short use: Puchong, Selangor, Malaysia

Use Comma to Punctuate Time

Using Comma to separate time components like date, specific time etc.

On Tuesday (day), October 5th (date), 2010 (year), I ate a cricket.

On 5th of October (date), 2016 (year), Tuesday (day), I ate a cricket.

Use Comma to Punctuate Introductory Elements

Using comma to separate clauses either at the beginning or the end. Normally, the beginning clause can be an adverb or prepositional phrases.

Exception

If the beginning clause is independent, you don't need to place a comma.

When you come in (dependent clause), please take off your shoes (independent).

Please take off your shoes (independent) when you come in (dependent).

Examples

• I rode an elephant, and then I ate mango.
• Initially, I was afraid.
• Basically, I'm more confident.

Use Comma to Tag in Question, Direct Addressing and Clear Emphasis

Use comma to tag another object/subject in a sentence; directly addressing a subject or provide a clear emphasis.

Tagging in Question

• You like cheese, don't you?
• This won't hurt, will it?

Direct Addressing

• Paige, how are you?
• Connor, do you want to have lunch together?

Clear Emphasis

• No, I hate cheese.
• Yes, I would love some cheese!

Comma in Dialogues

In dialogue, comma is used to provide a runway for the sentences. We use comma to separate the speaker sentences from the dialogue.

Examples

• Guillermo said, "I have no idea where did I put that Moonstone."
• "I have no idea where did I put that Moonstone," Guillermo said.
• "They are probably pirate," Roxanne said.
• "They are probably pirate!" Roxanne said.
• "They are probably pirate?" Roxanne said.

Comma for Appositive

Use comma to separate phrases or nouns that redefine or clarify its antecedent

Examples

• My older sister, Griselda (clarify sister's name), is going to college in the fall.
• They stopped selling my favorite snack, the cookie cat (defining the subject's favorite snack).

Oxford vs. AP Style

Oxford serial comma style requires writer to add comma before "and" when separating a list. AP style does not. It's not a right or wrong but a matter of clarity and style.

Guidelines

• Check with your recipient acceptance. (Rule #1 for communication)
• Stay consistent throughout the content. If you're using Oxford style, stay with it.

Why use Oxford style?

1. Extremely clear with listing
   • Oxford style - His favorite artists are Elvis, a tiny Norwegian harpist, and Frida Kahlo.
     • 3 artists - Elvis, a harpist, Frida Kahlo.
   • AP style - His favorite artists are Elvis, a tiny Norwegian harpist and Frida Kahlo
     • 3 artists - Elvis, a tiny Norwegian harpist, Frida Kahlo
     • 2 artists - Elvis (is a tiny Norwegian harpist), Frida Kahlo

Checklist for Grammar Reviews

1. What are the contexts that require separation?
2. Is the recipient complies to Oxford serial comma style?
   1. YES - use Oxford serial comma
   2. NO - AP style
3. Are the context carrying Appositive / Introductory effect (redefining / clarify)?
   1. YES - Separate accordingly by the redefinition context.
4. Is the comma used in dialog?
   1. YES - Is the dialog placed at the beginning?
      1. YES - Is the ending comma inside the quote (") ?
      2. NO - Is the speaker sentence separated by a comma before the dialog?
5. Is the comma used for separating time?
   1. YES - Does it comply to Day, Date, Year context separations?
6. Is the comma used for separating space?
   1. YES - Does it comply to context separations (Recipient name, street, ...)
7. Is the comma used for salutation and valediction?
   1. YES - at the end of the comma, is it a new line?
8. Separate list complying to recipient.