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You are here: Home / Punctuation / Uses of the comma

Uses of the comma

April 4, 2016 - pdf

The comma is used to indicate a pause between parts of a sentence.

Uses of the comma

Before and after words used in apposition to a noun

  • Winston Churchill, the statesman, was also an eminent writer.
    Janaki, my sister, is an eminent cardiologist.

To separate two or more nouns, adjectives, or adverbs that come together

  • England, Russia and France formed an alliance.

To separate a participial phrase

  • Feeling tired, I went to bed.
  • Being fat, she couldn’t run fast.

To mark off a noun

  • James, can we bank on him?
  • Mary, have your meals.
  • John, come here.

After an introductory phrase or clause

  • To be honest, I have little interest in politics.
  • For God’s sake, leave me alone.
  • In the name of justice, be fair to that poor man.

To indicate the omission of a verb in cases where repetition should be avoided

  • My brother bought a watch and my sister, a camera. (= My brother bought a watch and my sister bought a camera.)

Before and after words or phrases let into the body of a sentence

  • She had, surprisingly, paid for everything.
  • The boy had, in spite of all the hardships he faced, managed to succeed.

To separate a subordinate clause from the main clause

  • After he had finished his job, he went out.
  • When I opened the door, the cat jumped in.

The comma can be omitted when the subordinate clause goes after the main clause.

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