COMMA (Part 1)

Study the following sentences:

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• The new dining room looks bigger, brighter, and prettier than the old one.
• Good choices are the roast chicken with mashed potatoes, the lobster, and the homemade spaghetti. 

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Some important uses of commas are as follows:

1.To separate items in series.

- He sells watches, necklaces, and earrings.

2.To separate adjectives that modify the same noun unless they are joined by and.

- It was a short, easy exam.

- The exam was short and easy.

But: Do not use a comma to separate adjectives that do not modify the same noun.

- I built a red brick wall.

In this example, it is wrong to use a comma because red modifies not just wall but the phrase brick wall.

3.To separate any word, phrase, or clause that interrupts the flow of the sentence.

- My excuse , wild as it was, didn’t sound convincing.

- This, as the professor argued, is not a good textbook for this course.

4.To separate any word, phrase, or clause that is an unnecessary part of the sentence.

- My brother, a student at Ohio State University, is visiting me tonight.

5.To separate nouns used as direct address.

- Sam, please tell the truth.

- Please tell the truth, Sam.

6.To separate the numbers in a date.

- June 7, 2005, is a day I will never forget.

But: Do not use commas if the day of the month is not specified, or if the day is given before the month.

- June 2005 was my favorite time.

- One day I will never forget is 7 June 2005.