The Comma shows the slightest separation which calls for punctuation at all. It should be omitted whenever possible. It is used to mark the least divisions of a sentence.
(1) A series of words or phrases has its parts separated by commas:-- "Lying, trickery, chicanery, perjury, were natural to him." "The brave, daring, faithful soldier died facing the foe." If the series is in pairs, commas separate the pairs: "Rich and poor, learned and unlearned, black and white, Christian and Jew, Muslim and Buddhist must pass through the same gate."
(2) A comma is used before a short quotation: "It was Patrick Henry who said, 'Give me liberty or give me death.'"
(3) When the subject of the sentence is a clause or a long phrase, a comma is used after such subject: "That he has no reverence for the God I love, proves his insincerity." "Simulated piety, with a black coat and a sanctimonious look, does not proclaim a Christian."
(4) An expression used parenthetically should be inclosed by commas: "The old man, as a general rule, takes a morning walk."
(5) Words in apposition are set off by commas: "McKinley, the President, was assassinated."
(6) Relative clauses, if not restrictive, require commas: "The book, which is the simplest, is often the most profound."
(7) In continued sentences each should be followed by a comma: "Electricity lights our dwellings and streets, pulls cars, trains, drives the engines of our mills and factories."
(8) When a verb is omitted a comma takes its place: "Lincoln was a great statesman; Grant, a great soldier."
(9) The subject of address is followed by a comma: "John, you are a good man."
(10) In numeration, commas are used to express periods of three figures: "Mountains 25,000 feet high; 1,000,000 dollars."
(1) A series of words or phrases has its parts separated by commas:-- "Lying, trickery, chicanery, perjury, were natural to him." "The brave, daring, faithful soldier died facing the foe." If the series is in pairs, commas separate the pairs: "Rich and poor, learned and unlearned, black and white, Christian and Jew, Muslim and Buddhist must pass through the same gate."
(2) A comma is used before a short quotation: "It was Patrick Henry who said, 'Give me liberty or give me death.'"
(3) When the subject of the sentence is a clause or a long phrase, a comma is used after such subject: "That he has no reverence for the God I love, proves his insincerity." "Simulated piety, with a black coat and a sanctimonious look, does not proclaim a Christian."
(4) An expression used parenthetically should be inclosed by commas: "The old man, as a general rule, takes a morning walk."
(5) Words in apposition are set off by commas: "McKinley, the President, was assassinated."
(6) Relative clauses, if not restrictive, require commas: "The book, which is the simplest, is often the most profound."
(7) In continued sentences each should be followed by a comma: "Electricity lights our dwellings and streets, pulls cars, trains, drives the engines of our mills and factories."
(8) When a verb is omitted a comma takes its place: "Lincoln was a great statesman; Grant, a great soldier."
(9) The subject of address is followed by a comma: "John, you are a good man."
(10) In numeration, commas are used to express periods of three figures: "Mountains 25,000 feet high; 1,000,000 dollars."
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