3 Functions of the Comma

3 Functions of the Comma 3 Functions of the Comma 3 Functions of the Comma By Mark Nichol The general purpose of a comma is to separate closely related but distinct elements in a sentence. Discussion of three specific functions of the comma follows: 1. Place Names and Dates A pair of commas sets a more widely encompassing place name off from the more specific designation of a place within the other location, as in â€Å"She was born in Pensacola, Florida, in 1980.† Likewise, a reference to a year is set off from the rest of the sentence when it follows a reference to a month and day (but not to the month alone), as in â€Å"She was born on January 1, 1980, in Pensacola† (but â€Å"She was born in January 1980 in Pensacola†). When the items in a list of locations require internal commas, the items should be set off by semicolons: â€Å"I’ve participated in events with him in Kansas City, Missouri; Rapid City, South Dakota; and Oak Park, Illinois.† However, if only one of the items requires an internal comma, place it last in the series and rely on commas to distinguish the items: â€Å"I’ve participated in events with him in New York City, San Francisco, and Bloomington, Indiana.† But if such a list requires a scheme of priority, such as chronological or geographical order, retain semicolons: â€Å"I’ve participated in events with him in Bloomington, Indiana; San Francisco; and New York City.† Alternatively, for the sake of simplicity, set the more complex item apart from the simpler ones: â€Å"I’ve participated in events with him in San Francisco and New York City, as well as in Bloomington, Indiana.†) 2. Examples and Definitions Words or phrases that identify a preceding or following example or definition, or that constitute a definition or explanation, should be framed in commas, as in these examples: â€Å"The series features mysteries, thrillers, etc., presented throughout the summer.† â€Å"I would, for example, clean the gasket before attaching it.† â€Å"They then established a cache, or a hiding place, for their supplies.† For clarity, however, it’s sometimes best to set off a preceding abbreviation, word, or phrase between em dashes (or parentheses), as shown in this example: â€Å"I like books in the action genres i.e., stories with chase scenes, gunfights, and so on though characterization and plot are also important to me.† 3. Direct Address When a writer or speaker directs a descriptive word or phrase for one or more readers or audience members to that target, the description is set off from the rest of the statement. â€Å"Hi, John.† â€Å"Attention, all passengers we will begin boarding procedures soon.† â€Å"I am confident, dear reader, that when you have finished this story, you will agree with me.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Punctuation category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:7 Examples of Passive Voice (And How To Fix Them)Loan, Lend, Loaned, Lent50+ Words That Describe Animals (Including Humans)