Punctuation Made Painless: How to use a comma (Part 2)

2. Using a comma with transitions

A transition is a word or a phrase that connects a sentence to the other sentence in the text.

You have to use a comma after a transition. Check out the examples below.

Examples

Clowns taste funny. Therefore, a cannibal does not eat them.

Dogs have masters. However, cats have servants.

3. Using a comma in lists

You should use a comma to separate items in lists. Make sure to separate the last list item with and.

Example

My parents clearly hated me because my bath toys were a hairdryer, a toaster, and a radio.

The comma before and is optional in this case.

However, if your list contains only two items, lose a comma.

Examples

My parents clearly hated me because my bath toys were a hairdryer and a toaster.

4. Using a comma for quotations

You should use a comma to set off a direct quotation.

a. If your sentence starts with the reporting words, the pattern will be as follows.

He said, "If you can't see the bright side of life, polish the dull side."

b. If your sentence starts with the quotation, follow a different pattern.

"If you can't see the bright side of life, polish the dull side," he said.

c. If the quotation is divided in two, the pattern will be as follows.

"If you can't see the bright side of life," he said, "polish the dull side."

Please, put both a comma and a full stop INSIDE the quotation marks when the comma or the full stop come right AFTER the direct quotation.

Check out Part 1 of this guide here.

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