Commas and Semicolons
If your native language is Spanish, you are accustomed to putting commas after complete sentences. Writers from other languages, such as Arabic, also can struggle with comma usage. To be honest, a lot of writers are nearly killed by commas. Therefore, let's look at some easy rules to help you learn where to use them.
First, as you probably know, we use commas to set off items in a series, like sentence [1].
1. My sister is bringing sandwiches, cake, and drinks to the picnic.
You might say, "Hey, do I have to put a comma after cake?" Well, no. You don't HAVE to. Sentence [1] uses what is called the "Oxford comma". It is more formal. It is a good idea in academic writing to use a comma after the next to last item because it makes the series clearer and easier to recognize. When you read newspapers, you rarely see the Oxford comma. The reason is it costs money and takes up more room.
Second, you can use the comma to set off unrestricted adjective clauses and participial phrases. You should watch the videos on adjective clauses.
Look at sentences [2] and [3].
2. Bob Wilson, who is my dentist, works in Springfield, VA.
3. My brother, keeping his anger to himself, acted very politely.
The commas after Wilson and dentist in [2] show that the adjective clause [who is my dentist] is additional information. This means you could leave it out without harming the meaning of the sentence. In sentence [3] [keeping his anger to himself] is a participial phrase created by reducing an adjective clause {who was keeping his anger to himself}.
Do you see the other comma? Right. It comes after Springfield.
Third, use a comma to separate town or counties from states, for instance: Fairfax, Virginia; Paris, France; Seattle, Washington; Washington, D.C.
Fourth, commas help us separate dependent clauses from independent clauses when the dependent clause comes first. Look at sentence [4].
4. When I got home from work, my mother asked me to help her make dinner.
As you can see, [when I got home from work] is the dependent clause. [my mother asked me to help her make dinner] is the independent clause. You can find more information about dependent clauses here.
Fifth, commas help us when creating quoted material, as you can see in the sentence below.
5. "I don't want to do my homework," said Alan.
Notice that the comma comes at the end of the statement but before the end quote. The period comes at the end of the entire quote and attribute [said Alan].
Sixth, use a comma after a coordinating conjunction that connects two independent clauses, like sentence [6].
6. My friend is helpful, but he is not very nice to others.
First, as you probably know, we use commas to set off items in a series, like sentence [1].
1. My sister is bringing sandwiches, cake, and drinks to the picnic.
You might say, "Hey, do I have to put a comma after cake?" Well, no. You don't HAVE to. Sentence [1] uses what is called the "Oxford comma". It is more formal. It is a good idea in academic writing to use a comma after the next to last item because it makes the series clearer and easier to recognize. When you read newspapers, you rarely see the Oxford comma. The reason is it costs money and takes up more room.
Second, you can use the comma to set off unrestricted adjective clauses and participial phrases. You should watch the videos on adjective clauses.
Look at sentences [2] and [3].
2. Bob Wilson, who is my dentist, works in Springfield, VA.
3. My brother, keeping his anger to himself, acted very politely.
The commas after Wilson and dentist in [2] show that the adjective clause [who is my dentist] is additional information. This means you could leave it out without harming the meaning of the sentence. In sentence [3] [keeping his anger to himself] is a participial phrase created by reducing an adjective clause {who was keeping his anger to himself}.
Do you see the other comma? Right. It comes after Springfield.
Third, use a comma to separate town or counties from states, for instance: Fairfax, Virginia; Paris, France; Seattle, Washington; Washington, D.C.
Fourth, commas help us separate dependent clauses from independent clauses when the dependent clause comes first. Look at sentence [4].
4. When I got home from work, my mother asked me to help her make dinner.
As you can see, [when I got home from work] is the dependent clause. [my mother asked me to help her make dinner] is the independent clause. You can find more information about dependent clauses here.
Fifth, commas help us when creating quoted material, as you can see in the sentence below.
5. "I don't want to do my homework," said Alan.
Notice that the comma comes at the end of the statement but before the end quote. The period comes at the end of the entire quote and attribute [said Alan].
Sixth, use a comma after a coordinating conjunction that connects two independent clauses, like sentence [6].
6. My friend is helpful, but he is not very nice to others.
Here is a quiz on commas. Try it!
Semicolons
Many students wonder what semicolons do. They are actually very helpful.
First, if you look up at the third section above, you will see how I used semicolons to set off a series of items in which each has a comma. It is easier for a reader to recognize each item group. If I put a comma after each item it would be confusing. Look at the example below.
7. Fairfax, Virginia, Paris, France, Seattle, Washington
See how confusing that is? It just looks like a series of unrelated words; however, when we use semicolons it is clear the the first item is related to the second and the third item to the fourth and so on.
Second, we use semicolons before adverbial conjunctions like however, nevertheless, and otherwise, just to name a few. Sometimes we want to combine sentences that are not too long and are closely related in terms of information. This is a good time to use adverbial conjunctions. Look at sentence [8].
8. The weather was hot yesterday; however, my wife wanted to have a fire in the fireplace.
See how the information in the two independent clauses is related to each other? Also, the sentences are not long. We could use the conjunction but with a comma. However, it is a good idea not to use simple conjunctions all the time.
First, if you look up at the third section above, you will see how I used semicolons to set off a series of items in which each has a comma. It is easier for a reader to recognize each item group. If I put a comma after each item it would be confusing. Look at the example below.
7. Fairfax, Virginia, Paris, France, Seattle, Washington
See how confusing that is? It just looks like a series of unrelated words; however, when we use semicolons it is clear the the first item is related to the second and the third item to the fourth and so on.
Second, we use semicolons before adverbial conjunctions like however, nevertheless, and otherwise, just to name a few. Sometimes we want to combine sentences that are not too long and are closely related in terms of information. This is a good time to use adverbial conjunctions. Look at sentence [8].
8. The weather was hot yesterday; however, my wife wanted to have a fire in the fireplace.
See how the information in the two independent clauses is related to each other? Also, the sentences are not long. We could use the conjunction but with a comma. However, it is a good idea not to use simple conjunctions all the time.
Try this semicolon quiz. It might save your life!!!
