English Grammar Demystified - A Self Teaching Guide

CHAPTER 4 Punctuation: End Marks and Commas^97

Comma

The comma is the most misused punctuation mark. Since there are so many comma
rules, it is understandable why people become confused about their use. Commas
are supposed to help clarify sentences and note the logical pauses. Speaking of
clarifying, how would you interpret the following sentence?

She stole money from me and Ralph who lived in the other room complained.

Whom did she steal money from? If the writer meant that he had money stolen from
him or her, then the sentence would be clearer if a comma were inserted after me.
Then we understand that Ralph had no money stolen from him. He just
complained.
The following are some rules you need to know to use the comma correctly.

RULES FOR USING THE COMMA

1. To ensure clarity, use commas to separate items in a series.
   Clear the bushes, pull the weeds, and plant the spring fl owers.


2. Use commas to separate words or groups of words that interrupt the fl ow
   of the sentence.
   Hubert Humphrey, presidential hopeful, lost the election to
   Richard Nixon.
   Humphrey lost the election, if you recall, by only 1 percent of the
   popular vote.


3. Use a comma to separate more than one adjective describing the
   same word.
   The fl ourishing, bright, and imaginative summer garden lasts only a
   short while.

NOTE: If the word and can be used between the adjectives, you need to use commas.

He wore a heavyweight business suit.

In this example, you cannot use the word and between the adjectives heavy-

weight and business. Consequently, you should not insert a comma between the

two words.