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It’s easy to understand why some people rely on the old adage “use a comma when you need to pause” because the comma has so many uses, but that so-called “rule” tends to be hit and miss.

For example, take a look at the following sentence.

Standard
The deplorable working conditions in all three of our branch offices must be changed immediately.

Since the sentence has such a long subject phrase (“The deplorable working conditions in all three of our branch offices”), the tendency is to pause before moving on to the verb phrase (“must be changed”), but there is no grammatical reason for putting a comma there.

By contrast, read this sentence:

Standard
Without bacon, even the best BLT isn’t the same.

Some readers will read that sentence with a pause after “bacon,” but others will not. Since different readers will feel the need to pause or to avoid pausing at different points in the same sentence, there can be no consistency to such a plan.

Although it would be nice to have only one rule to follow, the comma has too many functions and is too complex to be governed by one overarching rule. This guide, following the order and numbering system of Guide to Rapid Revision (Pearlman and Pearlman 40-46), contains six basic comma rules.

Conjunction is just a fancy way to say “linking word” or “connecting word.” Coordinating is a fancy way of saying that this type of connecting word connects equivalent things—in this case independent clauses, not dependent clauses. The coordinating conjunctions in English are for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so. One way to remember these is the acronym FANBOYS. Let’s take a look at this rule in general; after doing so, we’ll cover an example of each coordinating conjunction, one at a time, addressing the possible confusions that relate to each.

Look at the following three examples:

Standard

A. She went to the baseball game. It was cancelled because of rain.

B. She went to the baseball game; it was cancelled because of rain.

C. She went to the baseball game, but it was cancelled because of rain.

Each example shows a standard way to express the information. Each one consists of two independent clauses, but each one deals with the two in a different way. Example A presents the two independent clauses as two separate sentences. Example B connects the two independent clauses with a semi-colon; as we’ve seen, that is an appropriate use of the semi-colon. Example C connects the two independent clauses with both a comma and a coordinating conjunction.

Now look at the following nonstandard examples:

Nonstandard

A. She went to the baseball game it was cancelled because of rain.

B. She went to the baseball game; but it was cancelled because of rain.

C. She went to the baseball game, it was cancelled because of rain.

D. She went to the baseball game but it was cancelled because of rain.

All of these are nonstandard because they fail to follow our first comma rule. Example A provides nothing but a space between the two independent clauses. This is an error called a fused sentence, which is also known as a run-on sentence, and we’ll address it again in the section titled “Sentence Correctness.”

Example B connects the two independent clauses with a semi-colon and a coordinating conjunction, making it technically incorrect. Using a semi-colon, an adverbial (rather than coordinating) conjunction, and a comma (for example, “She went to the baseball game; however, it was cancelled because of rain”) would be standard, but using a semi-colon and a coordinating conjunction is not.

Example C connects the two independent clauses with a comma alone. This is an error known as a comma splice, and it will be addressed later in this section.

Example D connects the two independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction alone.

In order to connect two independent clauses correctly, both a comma and a coordinating conjunction must be used.

Now let’s take a look at how this rule plays out in each of the coordinating conjunctions in English (the FANBOYS).

For

Standard

I would like to go to the party tonight, for I think Trevor is a nice guy.

Avoid confusing the use of for as a preposition, a word that can connect nouns to the rest of a sentence and for as a coordinating conjunction. In the following sentence, for is a preposition, and no comma is needed before it.

Standard

I would like to go to the party tonight for the good appetizers.

And

Standard

She was intelligent, and he was charming.

In the sentence above you see the more commonly used coordinating conjunction and between two independent clauses. However, what about the following nonstandard sentence?

Nonstandard

She was intelligent, and was impressed by his charm.

There should not be a comma before and in the nonstandard sentence because it is not linking two independent clauses with both a subject and a verb. There is no subject inserted after and. Instead, the conjunction and is being used to connect the two verb constructions “was intelligent” and “was impressed by his charm,” thus not requiring a comma.

Nor

Standard

I will not attend the performance on Thursday, nor will I attend the Saturday matinee.

Once again, we have a word that when used with independent clauses may have a formal-sounding sentence structure. The second independent clause has a structure where part of the verb (“will”) appears before the subject.

Where you’re more likely to use nor is in the following sentences when nouns instead of whole clauses are connected.

Standard

Neither Mackenzie nor Maria will attend the play.

But

Here’s a coordinating conjunction you use a lot.

Standard

I read Shakespeare’s Hamlet, but I enjoyed Macbeth more.

Be careful to avoid using a comma when it’s not separating two independent clauses as in the following nonstandard example.

Nonstandard

I read Shakespeare’s Hamlet, but enjoyed Macbeth more.

Standard

I read Shakespeare’s Hamlet but enjoyed Macbeth more.

You don’t need a comma since the subject “I” is not inserted again into the second potential clause before “enjoyed.”

Or

Another common coordinating conjunction is or.

Standard

Leave the building at once, or I will have to call security.

The comma is standard for the two independent clauses. You know that the first one is an independent clause because it is written like a command assuming the word you as the subject.

The comma is nonstandard in the following sentence since no second subject is inserted before the second verb.

Nonstandard

I need to decide whether I should fish, or cut bait.

Yet

Standard

He was intrigued by the mysterious offer, yet he was wary.

As with the previous examples, avoid inserting a comma before yet when it’s not followed by another subject and verb (another independent clause, in other words).

Standard

He was intrigued yet wary about the mysterious offer.

So

Last but not least, we have so, which presents a new challenge. Examine the two sentences below.

Standard Sentences

Delaney eats protein every morning, so he buys eggs and low-carb granola bars.

Delaney woke up early every day to practice so he would make finals.

There are definitely two clauses in each sentence, the second clause in each beginning with “so” followed by the subject “he.” However, the second sentence is standard without a comma, unlike the first sentence. How can that be?

In the first sentence, “so” is a coordinating conjunction separating two independent clauses, but in the second sentence something has been omitted from the sentence. “So” stands for the subordinating conjunction so that.

If a coordinating conjunction connects equal parts of a sentence, a subordinating conjunction connects an independent clause with a dependent one, a subordinate one. In fact, what subordinates the clause is the subordinating conjunction. In the sentence below, so that makes “he would make finals” dependent on the clause before, not an equal clause.

Standard

Delaney woke up early every day to practice so that he would make finals.

When it comes to commas and two apparent independent clauses separated by a so, test to see if you can insert the word that after so. If you can, you do not need a comma.

For the Careful Writer:

Avoid doubling coordinating conjunctions: “and so” is more clearly expressed as either “and” or “so”; “but yet” is more clearly expressed as either “but” or “yet.”

Students are sometimes taught that they should never begin a sentence with a conjunction. But that idea does not have any grammatical rationale. If you do begin a sentence with a conjunction, note that it should not be followed by a comma (unless some other grammatical reason compels the use of a comma there).

Nonstandard Sentences

But, she never realized that the bicycle had been painted blue.

And, I didn’t have the extra five dollars for the ticket.

Standard Sentences

But she never realized that the bicycle had been painted blue.

And I didn’t have the extra five dollars for the ticket.

In the standard sentences below, you see one long phrase with a dependent clause
inserted clause inserted after “knowing” and you see another dependent clause, both beginning
sentences beginning sentences and followed by commas.

Standard Sentences

Knowing that I needed to finish before dawn, I stayed up late writing this.

After I managed to finish, I headed for bed.

This rule also applies to transitional words and phrases such as those in the
following the following list.

Following this rule, the comma also sets off opening interjections, a short, usually
emotionusually emotion-laden word that frequently stands by itself.

Standard Sentences

Wow, that coffee is hot.

No, I didn’t bring enough coffee for the whole class.

If you have multiple opening interjections, set each one off with a comma.

Standard Sentences

Hi, Joe, I’m glad to see you.

Hello, sir, let me take your coat.

Oh, yes, Molly, I think it is.

Note: The The Chicago Manual of Style says that “a single word or a very short
introductory short introductory phrase does not require a comma except to avoid misreading” (246).
 If there is any doubt about whether your readers will understand you, use a comma
comma after an introductory word or phrase.

Notice in the sentence below that you could easily cross out “the queen of
Tennessee cities” and still understand the sentence well.
Standard
Chattanooga, the queen of Tennessee cities, has over 300,000 residents.
A nonrestrictive phrase (also known as a parenthetical phrase) can be removed
from a sentence without changing the essential meaning of the sentence. In the rest
of the sentences below, the phrase that is set off by commas could be removed
from the sentence without altering its essential meaning.
Standard Sentences with Nonrestrictive Phrases
Stealing a policeman’s helmet, a crime of which Wooster stands accused, is
too common a misdemeanor.
The lake, which freezes over every January, is warm enough for swimming.
Guide to Editing Essentials 25
Note that commas do not set off restrictive phrases. A restrictive phrase cannot be
removed from a sentence without changing its essential meaning. In the sentences
below, the phrases “that is on the left,” “except Marlowe,” and “who is lecturing
on Shakespeare” are not set off by commas because removing them would change
the essential meaning of the sentence.
Standard Sentences with Restrictive Phrases
The lake that is on the left is warm enough for swimming.
Everyone except Marlowe was rewarded.
Of the two professors, the one who is lecturing on Shakespeare is seated.
Scientists who believe that the moon is made of cheese often get hungry
during astronomy class.
Commas also precede -ing participial phrases that follow the main clause.
Standard Sentences with Nonrestrictive -ing Phrases (participial phrases)
Cassius begins the conversation, marveling at the fame that is now theirs for
all time.
She has seen seventeen operas this year, not counting the ones she directed.
We rode in a one-horse open sleigh, dashing all the way.

For most formal writing, it is always wiser to use the last comma in the series (the
comma called the Oxford comma or the serial comma) unless you’re writing
something journalistic. Insert a comma before the conjunction and after the
second-to-last item in the list.
Standard Sentences
There are many examples above, below, and to the right of this sentence.
Please buy me some salt, some sugar, two lemons, and six limes.
Do you have any extra books, paper, or pencils?
Put away your cell phone, pager, and bagel.
Guide to Editing Essentials 26

Take a look at the sentence below.
Standard
It is a cold, gray day.
Remember that one way to identify most nouns is if they are preceded (or could
be) by a, an, or the. In this case, the “a” precedes the noun “day” and two
adjectives describing day: “cold” and “gray.” Remember that the word coordinate
means equal in importance. When two adjectives like these before a noun are equal
in importance, you insert a comma between them. There are a couple ways to test
if they’re equal in importance.
A. The comma could be replaced with the word and without changing the
meaning.
Standard
It is a cold and gray day.
B. The two words could be reversed without changing the meaning.
Standard
It is a gray, cold day.
You know that the two adjectives are not coordinate when neither of the tests
works. Examine the sentence below.
Standard
She was an overworked administrative assistant.
Here “overworked” is describing not just “assistant” but “administrative assistant.”
Thus, no commas are needed. The tests listed as A and B above confirm this:
Nonstandard
She was an overworked and administrative assistant.
Nonstandard
She was an administrative, overworked assistant.
Guide to Editing Essentials 27
In both these tests, the resulting sentence is unclear and awkward, showing that
“overworked” and “administrative” are not equal in importance.
Here are other examples of coordinate adjectives italicized below.
Standard Sentences
My teacher was an eccentric, colorful lady.
He had a wild, haunted look.

The five rules above cover the primary uses of the comma. This rule
addresses common misuses of the comma: avoid adding needless commas.

Nonstandard
The crazy relationship that they had, puzzled all onlookers.
Standard
The crazy relationship that they had puzzled all onlookers.
There’s an uninformed tendency to insert a comma if the subject is long.
A comma does not set off restrictive phrases.
Nonstandard
A man, who was having chest pains, was first priority at the Emergency
Room.
Standard
A man who was having chest pains was first priority at the Emergency
Room.
The phrase “who was having chest pains” is restrictive (thus, no comma) because it
explains why he was first priority at the Emergency Room.
A comma does not appear after the last item in a list unless some other
grammatical reason compels it to do so.
Guide to Editing Essentials 28
Nonstandard
The fight, the spat, and the scuffle, caused tension in their relationship.
Standard
The fight, the spat, and the scuffle caused tension in their relationship.
Nonstandard
She went to see the play, the opera, and the film, when she learned that there
were three other versions of her favorite novel.
Standard
She went to see the play, the opera, and the film when she learned that there
were three other versions of her favorite novel.
However, if the end phrase of the last nonstandard sentence started with –ing (if it
were an -ing participial phrase following the main clause, in other words), a
comma before it would be standard:
Standard
She went to see the play, the opera, and the film, having learned that there
were three other versions of her favorite novel.
A comma does not separate a dependent clause from an independent clause.
Nonstandard
They went to the market, and found that they couldn’t buy anything.
Standard
They went to the market and found that they couldn’t buy anything.
For the second part of the sentence, you need to insert a subject before the verb
“found” for the sentence to require a comma to separate two independent clauses.
Standard
They went to the market, and they found that they couldn’t buy anything.
A comma does not precede a subordinate phrase that comes after the
sentence’s main phrase.
Guide to Editing Essentials 29
Nonstandard
She wanted to go to the baseball game, because he wanted to see a
Shakespeare play.
Standard
She wanted to go to the baseball game because he wanted to see a
Shakespeare play.
A comma does not join two independent clauses without a coordinating
conjunction. Such an error is called the comma splice.
Nonstandard: Comma Splice
She wanted to go to the baseball game, he wanted to see a Shakespeare play.
Standard Sentences: Avoiding the Comma Splice
She wanted to go to the baseball game, but he wanted to see a Shakespeare
play.
She wanted to go to the baseball game; he wanted to see a Shakespeare play.
She wanted to go to the baseball game. He wanted to see a Shakespeare
play.
She wanted to go to the baseball game even though he wanted to see a
Shakespeare play.
She wanted to go to the baseball game; however, he wanted to see a
Shakespeare play.