The Marketer’s Guide to Using Commas
Comma coma: When a marketer is so confused about whether or not to use a comma, they go into a comatose-like state.
If you’re wondering when to use a comma and when not to, this blog post is for you. Some of the grammar terms might feel confusing at first, but once you understand them, you’ll be more confident than ever in your writing. Plus, you’ll avoid comma comas for good.
What the heck is a conjunction?
No, I won’t sing the song. But I will explain how conjunctions work. Remember FANBOYS from school?
For
And
Nor
But
Or
Yet
So
These are conjunctions, a word that links two clauses. A clause is just a fancy name for a part of a sentence. There are two types:
Independent clause: A clause that forms a complete sentence with a subject and a verb (e.g., He ran).
Dependent clause : A clause that does not form a complete sentence and is dependent on an independent clause to form a complete sentence (e.g., bringing his backpack).
Conjunctions can link clauses of either type. When a conjunction links two complete sentences, it’s called a coordinating conjunction, and when a conjunction links a complete sentence with a dependent clause, it’s called a subordinating conjunction.
You only use a comma when there is an independent clause (complete sentence) on each side of the conjunction.
Correct: I went to the store, and I realized I could save money by sticking to my shopping list.
Incorrect: I went to the store, and forgot my shopping list.
“And forgot my shopping list” is not a complete sentence, so you don’t need a comma. Since conjunctions are the most common (and most confusing) need for commas, I’ll throw some more examples at you to help it stick.
Correct: I can do this the hard way, or I can hire Inknami to write this e-book for me.
Correct: Should I start running or lifting weights to lose weight?
Incorrect: I like to watch Netflix but I’m not sure I can afford seven streaming subscriptions.
Incorrect: I like to watch Netflix, but usually just watch Hulu.
Phew. Grammar overload? I hope not. This was the hardest one. It’s downhill from here.
Serial commas
A serial comma is when you have a list of three or more items. For example, “I love grammar, commas, and everything to do with them.”
The comma before the conjunction is called an Oxford Comma. Whether you use the Oxford Comma depends on the style you’re using. AP style doesn’t use the Oxford Comma. Chicago and MLA do.
Giving additional information (appositive, restrictive, and nonrestrictive phrases)
We see this type of sentence in marketing a lot: “Lance Smith, CEO of Grammar Glamour, knows how to use commas.” This type of additional information after a noun (name) is called an appositive phrase. You use commas to offset this information if it doesn’t change the sentence’s meaning. Let’s look at an example.
Example: My cousin Jenny prefers to stream HBO Max.
If I have more than one cousin, specifying that it’s Jenny is essential information, so I can’t offset it with commas or the sentence’s meaning would change. However, if I only have one cousin, providing her name is extra information since we already know it’s Jenny.
Note: If the first example is flipped, you don’t need a comma since “CEO” is working as part of a noun phrase: “CEO of Grammar Glamour Lance Smith knows how to use commas.”
Introductory and prepositional phrases
If you start a sentence with a dependent clause or prepositional phrase, you need a comma after it. You do not need a comma if the prepositional phrase comes later in the sentence.
Example: In order to do her best work, she needs to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Example: She needs to maintain a healthy work-life balance in order to do her best work.
If the prepositional phrase comes in the middle of a sentence and is nonessential information, offset it with commas.
Example: My cat, with her picky appetite, will only eat a few kinds of food.
Two adjectives in a row (coordinating adjectives)
When you have two adjectives that describe the same word, you may need a comma. The test is to ask yourself if you can place the word “and” between them or reverse their order without changing the meaning of the sentence. If you can, you need a comma.
Example: The funny, action-packed movie was only available on Disney+.
Example: The simple mathematics test only had three questions.
In the first example, you can add “and” or change the order of the adjectives without changing the meaning of the sentence. In the second example, you couldn’t say, “The simple and mathematics test,” or “The mathematics simple test.” Because they’re not interchangeable, you don’t need a comma between these two adjectives.
Some final notes on conjunctions
Remember when I mentioned the subordinating conjunction (a word that links an independent and dependent clause)? There are a few of these that can be tricky. The most common are which, that, so, and while.
Which
You use a comma before “which” whenever it starts a clause that has nonessential information.
Example: I went to the store, which was conveniently located next to my house.
The sentence still makes sense if you take out the clause that starts with “which.” Therefore, it’s additional information.
That
“That” is a tricky one. As a general rule of thumb, you never use a comma with phrases that start with “that.” The reason being that information provided with “that” is, semantically, always considered essential.
Example: The store that I went to was conveniently located next to my house.
So
You use a comma before “so” when it works as a coordinating conjunction (links two complete sentences). The simple test is to ask yourself if you’re using “so” to mean “so that” or to mean “therefore.”
If it’s therefore, you use a comma. Otherwise, don’t.
Example: I went to the store so (that) I would have something for dinner.
Example: I’ve read all of Inknami’s blog posts, so (therefore) I know a thing or two about commas.
While
Use a comma with “while” when it means “whereas.” Otherwise, don’t use a comma.
Example: I went to the store, while my brother went to the college game.
Example: I went to the store while talking on the phone to my brother.
Welcome to comma confidence
These are the most common situations when you’ll need a comma. Nail these, and you’ll be brimming with comma confidence instead of crawling out of your latest comma coma. Nice work!