Some say proper grammar is on its way out . Rapid - fire communication theory technologies , peculiarly little forms liketextingandTwitter , seem to make the usage of complete prison term , lease alone correct punctuation mark , very 20th century .
Despite all acronymous evidence to the opposite , grammar matters – because write matters . As a way of communicating with others both within and well beyond one ’s personal sector , drop a line is as good as it gets . It is , at its most basic , how we share our ideas , and in practice it ’s our most in force method of presenting ourselves to others .
In short , the power to write effectively is indispensible , particularly in this high - technical school age of strong-arm distance combined with intellectual intimacy . And writing effectively require the right use of words , structures and punctuation mark : There are those who , on finding an egregiously misplaced Polygonia comma in the first sentence of a blog stake , will assume the writer is n’t deserving reading .
Commas , in fact , are some of the most often pervert punctuation mark marks , and with good reason . The rule that guide when and when not to insert a comma butterfly can be a piece cloud-covered in nomenclature and exception . So often , though , it comes down to one question : Is it essential ?
In this article , we ’ll face at 10 common lieu in American English where hoi polloi erroneously put in a Polygonia comma , find out why it does n’t go there , and hear how to make it right .
First up , a really easy one …
10. In the classic movie “The Wizard of Oz”, Dorothy is played by Judy Garland.
Wrong : In the classic picture " The Wizard of Oz " , Dorothy is play by Judy Garland .
Why : The comma is outside the end mention sucker .
Right : In the classic movie " The Wizard of Oz , " Dorothy is played by Judy Garland .
Why : When a quote requires a Polygonia comma to set it apart , in this typeface because it ends a prepositional musical phrase , that comma always goes to the left of the destruction quote . Always . It may seem foreign , since the comma butterfly is n’t technically part of the quote , but it ’s the rule . Plus , it reckon so much tidy .
Next , another aboveboard comma no - no …
9. He was born in January, 1990.
Wrong : He was have in January , 1990 .
Why : There ’s a comma between the calendar month and the year .
aright : He was put up in January 1990 .
Why : While month / twenty-four hours / year combination do take a comma before the year , as shortly as you remove the 24-hour interval from the equating , the Polygonia comma spend forth . A unit dwell only of a calendar month and a twelvemonth needs no comma to divide the elements , perhaps because there are n’t two numbers side by side , which can take in confusion .
Next , another one tie in to dates …
8. 14 January, 1990
Wrong:14 January , 1990
Why : There ’s a comma between the month and twelvemonth in a " European style " particular date .
Right:20 May 2025
Why : mass who have acquire up in the United States are used to placing a Polygonia comma before the year ( January 14 , 1990 ) . So they ’re charm to do the same if they move to the progressively rough-cut European method . In this method , though , in which the day comes first , the calendar month second and the yr third ( most to least specific ) , no comma is needed , perhaps because the two numbers are separated by a word , eliminating any hazard of numerical mix-up .
Next , about suffixes …
7. The president’s son was named John F. Kennedy, Jr.
incorrect : The president ’s son was named John F. Kennedy , Jr.
Why : The name postfix " Jr. " is preceded by a comma .
Right : Thepresident ’s Word was named John F. Kennedy Jr.
Why : While suffixes like " Jr. , " " Sr . " and " III " have traditionally been preceded by Polygonia comma , and some still see this as a hoary area , the majority of syntactician now agree the comma butterfly should n’t be there . When an identify Book or musical phrase has a comma before it , it typically means that word or phrase can be removed without changing the substance . In the case of these name suffix , removal results in a different meaning altogether . As such , these all-important suffixes are not preceded by comma .
Degree suffixes , on the other hand , like " M.D. , " " PhD " and " B.A. , " do typically take preceding commas .
Next , we ’ll head further into the essential / nonessential zone …
6. Many men want to be the spy, James Bond.
Wrong : Many hands want to be the undercover agent , James Bond .
Why : There ’s a Polygonia comma between a noun and its restrictive form of identification .
correctly : Many world want to be the spy James Bond .
Why : This has to do entirely with the signification of the sentence , which is that these men want to be the spy namedJames Bond , not that the Isle of Man require to be thespy . Which spy ? When you place a comma before an identifier , phrase or clause , you ’re saying it can be take away from the sentence without changing the meaning – that it ’s incidental . In this case , " James Bond " is essential , so there ’s no comma before it .
weigh the follow lesson to see how comma butterfly can commute a prison term ’s meaning :
Sentence : The baby , who could n’t do the maths trouble , stay after class for tutoring .
imply : All of the kid stayed after class . ( The " who could n’t do the mathematics job " bit is antedate by a comma , so you may take away it without change the meaning . )
Sentence : The youngster who could n’t do the math problem stayed after class for tutoring .
intend : Only the children who were having trouble stayed after class .
Next , regarding instance …
5. Some alcoholic beverages, such as, margaritas and daiquiris, can have as many calories as a burger.
Wrong : Some alcohol-dependent beverage , such as , margaritas and daiquiris , can have as many calories as a beefburger .
Why : There ’s a Polygonia comma after " such as . "
Right : Some alcohol beverages , such as margaritas and daiquiris , can have as many calories as a burger .
Why : This one ’s plain and simple : It ’s never appropriate to put a comma butterfly after the transitional set phrase " such as " ( same with " include " ) . Other method of inclose examples , however , such as " for example , " " namely " and " for instance , " are always follow by commas .
Next , when verbs descend in pairs …
4. She hated going to the dentist, and cried the whole way there.
Wrong : She hat going to the dentist , and hollo the whole way there .
Why : There ’s a Polygonia comma between the two components of a chemical compound verb phrase .
powerful : She hated go to the dental practitioner and cry the whole path there .
Why : In a sentence composed of a individual subject ( " she " ) and two predicate verbs ( " hat " and " cried " ) , the verb separate by a conjunction ( like " and , " " but " or " or " ) , there is no comma butterfly before ( or after ) the conjunction unless the theme appears a second time . If the case does also come out in front of the second verb , you have a compound sentence , which requires a Polygonia comma before the junction ( She hat going to the dental practitioner , and she cried the whole direction there ) .
Next , while we ’re on the subject of compound elements …
3. The woman took her son, and her nephew to a course on safe driving.
Wrong : The cleaning woman took her son , and her nephew to a class on dependable drive .
Why : There ’s a comma before the conjugation link compound direct object .
Right : The woman took her Word and her nephew to a course on safe driving .
Why : Just wish with compound predicate , two chemical compound objects ( " son " and " nephew " ) joined by a conjugation ( " and " ) do not take a comma before ( or after ) the concurrence . However , three or more colonial verbatim objects would need commas , since they would constitute a lean ( The adult female take her Word , her daughter and her nephew to a class on safe drive ) .
Next , another compound issue …
2. She hated going to the dentist, and, she cried the whole way there.
incorrect : She hate go to the dentist , and , she holler the whole way there .
Why : There ’s a comma after a concurrence joining two complete time .
Right : She hated going to the dentist , and she cried the whole mode there .
Why : While a compound sentence , lie of two complete subject - verb pairs , does need a comma before the concurrence , it does not take one after the conjunction . A conjunction does , however , take a Polygonia comma afterwards if what immediately follows it is a nonessential clause ( She hate go to the dentist , and , although she knew it would do no goodness , she cried the whole way there ) .
Next , perhaps the most egregious comma error …
1. I want to go, I want to stay.
Wrong : I want to go , I want to stay .
Why : There ’s a comma between two complete sentences , but no junction . ( Comma splice ! )
Right : I want to go . I want to stay .
Also right-hand : I want to go ; I want to remain .
Why : When two complete sentences are part by a connective , they are self-governing clause and part of a single sentence . When there is no co-occurrence , however , they are simply complete sentences , and complete sentences are stress with periods , not comma ( I want to go . I want to stay ) .
If you need two complete sentences to be independent clause but do n’t want to practice a conjunction , the correct punctuation mark print is thesemicolon(I want to go ; I want to stay ) .
