Guidelines for Pausing and Separating within Your Sentences

Woman without her man is a savage. This could mean: Woman, without her man, is a savage. Woman: without her, man is a savage.

I’m hungry let’s eat grandma. This could mean: I’m hungry; let’s eat grandma. (Grandma is eaten.) I’m hungry; let’s eat, grandma. (You eat together.) When you address a person by name, set off the name with a comma.

The comma has two main functions: signaling a pause and separating elements of a sentence.  Use a comma to pause at end of long, non-essential introductory element of a sentence  Use a comma to divide the two parts of a compound sentence before the coordinating conjunction  Use a comma to set off a non-essential element of a sentence such as an appositive.  Use a comma before each of the elements in a series or list to separate them

EX: While I love cold October mornings, many people prefer the warmth of summer.  You will find that many times a complex sentence (a dependent clause plus an independent clause) needs a comma after the dependent clause if the dependent clause comes first.

 While running to school, I stubbed my toe.  I stubbed my toe while running to school.

 I went to class, and I found we were studying commas.  I like lasagna, but pizza is my favorite food.

 Notice the confusion if you forget the comma  EX: English class can teach you to analyze arguments and J. K. Rowling can teach you how to write successful young adult novels.

 The comma can visually show your readers that part of a sentence is extra, non-essential information.  EX: I went to visit Bob Jones, an old high school friend, in Dallas.  The element set off is said to be in “apposition” if it renames or clarifies the subject, as in the example above.

 Transitional words (however, consequently, therefore, etc.) are set off with a comma at the beginning of a sentence; however, in the middle of a sentence they need a comma on either side.  EX: Therefore, remember to use a comma.  EX: In mid sentence, however, do it like this.

 Separate each item in a list, including the last one, with commas.  EX: Blinn College has campuses in Brenham, Schulenburg, Sealy, and Bryan.

 A “CS” occurs when you try to combine two independent clauses with a comma, which is too weak to handle the job by itself.  EX: This sentence has two independent clauses, instead of a comma it should use a semicolon, dash, or a comma and a coordinating conjunction like “and.”