Master Comma Rules In 5 Minutes or Less
Don’t let rare and complicated scenarios or exceptions confuse you. If you only learn these 7 very simple rules, you’ll be right 97% of the time. That’s good enough for me to see your writing as smart and clean.
“I spent all morning putting in a comma and all afternoon taking it out. ”
Okay, that’s funny because it shows how hard it can be to write new pages. It’s also a testament to commas being a pain in the neck. There are times that they’re optional and times that you won’t be able to decide, but if you’re concerned about having a clean manuscript and feeling confident about your grammar, I suggest you forget the complications and focus on the 6 main times you need a comma.
Get those right and you’ll look like you know what you’re doing. Your copyeditor can deal with the rest!
Seriously though, if you’re pitching agents and have almost every comma in place, you’re good to go. Your eventual publisher will have both a copyeditor and a proofreader to catch the stray errors that you and your agent and your acquiring editor all missed.
If you’re self-publishing, no matter how strong your grammar, I highly recommend you hire a copyeditor before you put your book on the market. It’s really hard for us to see our own mistakes, but readers will have no problem!
At the same time, it’s helpful to learn the rules and self-edit first. Since most copyeditors charge by the hour, the cleaner your manuscript is going in, the less you’ll pay.
Basic comma rules you need to know:
Use a comma…
1. Between three or more items in a series.
For example:
Dick wants to take Janet out for dinner, drinks, and a movie.
The final comma, also known as the Serial Comma or Oxford Comma, is up for heated debate. You can use it or lose it, but just be consistent.
Personally, I like to use it so there’s no chance of mistaking two items for one, such as the old ham and cheese example.
I’d like pancakes, bacon, ham and cheese.
Will they bring me a slice of ham and a slice of cheese? Or a ham and cheese sandwich?
2. To combine two complete sentences with a conjunction
Do you remember your English teacher talking about FANBOYS? (For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So)
These are conjunctions and can be used to combine two complete sentences.
For example:
Jane liked Dick, but she didn’t like his bad breath.
If you put two complete sentences together without a conjunction and a comma, you have a run-on sentence. Contrary to popular belief, a run-on sentence has nothing to do with length. You could have a page-long sentence that wasn’t technically a run-on as long as the conjunctions and commas were properly placed. (Though I wouldn’t recommend it!)
Important note: You don’t need a comma every time you use for, and, nor, but etc. The trick is that they must be complete sentences. If the words on each side of the conjunction can’t stand alone, they’re not complete sentences.
To test out your sentence, try covering up one side at a time and see if they work on their own. If not, no comma needed.
For example:
Jane likes Dick but not his breath. (Since “not his breath” isn’t a complete stand-alone sentence, no comma is needed.)
On the other hand:
Jane likes Dick, but she doesn’t like his bad breath. (“She doesn’t like his bad breath” is a complete sentence that can stand on its own, so it does need a comma.)
3. After a phrase at the introduction of a sentence
If you start a sentence with an introductory phrase, you need a comma. (Just like in that sentence.)
It could be short:
Well, that was an uncomfortable dinner.
Or it could be longer:
Before he leaves for their second date, Dick uses Listerine.
What we mean by an introductory phrase is something that isn’t necessary for the sentence to be complete. It may add context or information, but the sentence is still complete (with a subject and verb) without it.
For example, the first six words of that previous sentence weren’t necessary. If you were to remove them, “Dick uses Listerine” would still bel a complete sentence with a subject and verb.
Anytime you’re not sure, just cover up the phrase and see if the sentence makes sense.
4. Surrounding a non-essential phrase in the middle of a sentence
Rather than starting the sentence, this is a phrase within a sentence that may add context but isn’t strictly necessary. You want to use a comma before the phrase starts and after it ends.
For example:
Jane, who wasn’t sure about a second date, is relieved that Dick’s halitosis is under control.
If you’re not sure, ask yourself this – If I remove that piece, does the sentence still work?
If yes, you need a comma. In this case, “Jane is relieved” is a complete sentence, the phrase isn’t necessary, and commas are needed to set it off.
5. Before a non-essential phrase at the end of a sentence
When you add on non-essential information at the end of a sentence, you need a comma.
For example:
Jane wanted to give Dick a chance, but there were other red flags, such as road rage and impatience with the hostess.
He also snapped his fingers to get their server’s attention, which Jane found supremely obnoxious.
Those last phrases add helpful context, but both were already complete sentences without them.
6. To separate two or more distinct adjectives that describe the same noun
For example:
Dick was a tall, smelly dude.
Don’t use a comma for compound adjectives that work together such as the bright red car.
A way to test this is to see if you can insert the word “and” between the adjectives.
Dick was a tall and smelly dude.
Vs
Dick drove a bright and red car.
Can you see why an “and” or a comma between bright and red isn’t necessary and actually detracts from the meaning?
7. To lead into and out of quoted dialogue
Jane said, “I think Dicks’ bright red car is compensating for something.”
Or
“Don’t call me again,” Jane said.
Pretty basic, right?
You already know number 1. You’ll probably notice that 3, 4, and 5 are the same principle. Six isn’t that common. Seven is easy to remember. Just focus on getting #2 right, and you’ll be good to go!
Let me know if any of this is still confusing, and I’ll try to clarify or update my examples.
