Rules for comma usage

26.04.2016

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There are many difficult topics in the English language: tenses, phrasal verbs, passive voice and many more. These topics get a lot of teachers’ and students’ attention; they are frequently revised. However, there is a way less popular topic. Comma usage.
Everyone remembers dictations from school. Homogeneous parts, complex sentences, and participles — the terms still get my head spinning. Some people try to remember rules when writing; others just trust their instincts.
Writing in a foreign language requires us to listen to out instincts even more often. The problem is, the English comma usage rules are not the same as the rules in other languages.
Let’s take a look at the most important rules:

Setting of the name, title of a person directly addressed. The good old «Let’s eat Grandma» joke is a perfect illustration of the rule. If you are not starving, put a comma before Grandma.

Use commas to separate words and word groups in a simple series of three or more items. Note this: a comma before and is necessary. I like football, basketball, golf, and hockey.

Use commas to set off expressions that interrupt the sentence flow. They are: unfortunately, of course, on the other hand. Most of the time they go in the beginning of a sentence. Unfortunately, I forgot my umbrella.

Set off two independent clauses. Just like the Russian clauses, English should be separated. I had to work, and Mary went school. However, if both sentences are short, the comma can be omitted.

Don’t use a comma before that. Unlike Russian, a sentence «I thought that she was tired» is correct.

Set of a dependent clause. Note this: if the dependent clause goes first, a comma is used. If you see him, call me. However, if the main clause goes first, «Call me if you see him», a comma is omitted.

Set of nonessential words, clauses. «Harry Potter, which I finished reading last week, was very interesting» — everything that is in between commas can be deleted from the sentence, and it will still make sense. The painting that I got from my grandmother was valuable. (I have many paintings but only the one that I got from my grandmother was valuable). If you say nothing about the grandmother, it won’t be clear which painting you are talking about.

We’ve listed the essential comma usage rules. Now you know that trusting your instincts isn’t always the right call. Surprise native speakers with your perfect writing!

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