Punctuation Made Painless: How to use a comma (Part 1)

Why do you need a comma?

You shoud use a comma to tell your readers where to pause, and what word groups should be read separately. So, a comma generally tells your readers how to interpret your writing.

What if I am not sure if I have to use a comma?

Over-punctuating is generally better than under-punctuating. However, never use a comma to separate a subject from a verb.

Using a comma with clauses

1. Use a comma to separate two independent clauses joined by for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so (FANBOY).

You will easily recongnize an independent clause - it can stand alone as a sentence.

On the other hand, lose a comma if the two clauses are dependent and joined by if, since, as, when, although, while, after, before, until, because.

A clause is dependent if it does not make sence on its own.

However, you have to use a comma if the dependent clause comes before the independent clause.

Stay tuned for 9 other cases where you should use a coma.

See Part 2 of "How to use a comma" here.

See Part 3 of "How to use a comma" here.