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the use of the comma (Do not use commas to set off essential elements of…
the use of the comma
Do not use commas to set off essential elements of the sentence, such as clauses beginning with that (relative clauses). That clauses after nouns are always essential. That clauses following a verb expressing mental action are always essential.
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Use commas to set off all geographical names, items in dates (except the month and day), addresses (except the street number and name), and titles in names.
July 22, 1959, was a momentous day in his life. Who lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC?
Birmingham, Alabama, gets its name from Birmingham, England.
Use commas to separate independent clauses when they are joined by any of these seven coordinating conjunctions
- While I was eating, the cat scratched at the door.
- Because her alarm clock was broken, she was late for class.
Use a pair of commas in the middle of a sentence to set off clauses, phrases, and words that are not essential to the meaning of the sentence. Use one comma before to indicate the beginning of the pause and one at the end to indicate the end of the pause.
Clause: That Tuesday, which happens to be my birthday, is the only day when I am available to meet.
Phrase: This restaurant has an exciting atmosphere. The food, on the other hand, is rather bland.
Word: I appreciate your hard work. In this case, however, you seem to have over-exerted yourself.
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Use commas after introductory a) clauses, b) phrases, or c) words that come before the main clause.
- The game was over, but the crowd refused to leave.
- The student explained her question, yet the instructor still didn't seem to understand.
Use commas to separate two or more coordinate adjectives that describe the same noun. Be sure never to add an extra comma between the final adjective and the noun itself or to use commas with non-coordinate adjectives.
Your cousin has an easy, happy smile. (coordinate)
He was a difficult, stubborn child. (coordinate)