Ask Questions about Comma Here
Pretty much everything you need to know about commas is contained in Zen Comma. However, if you have a question about a specific comma use, you can ask it on this page.
You can add your question in a comment below, and either I or another visitor will answer it. Commas have a major impact on both reader understanding and writer credibility, so I want to help you get them right.
Please be as specific as possible, such as by providing an entire sentence or an example.
#1 by Susan Hendricks Barry on September 9, 2011 - 9:59 pm
I have a question about using commas with double interjections. Would this punctuation be correct:
Well, now, I guess you’re right.
OR…should it be:
Well now, I guess you’re right.
???
#2 by preciseedit on September 10, 2011 - 8:23 am
The first one.
“Well” and “now” are serving as two separate interjections. Because each interjection needs to be separated from the rest of the sentence with commas, you will need a comma for each interjection. With the two commas in place, you may think that this sounds a bit choppy, although some people do talk this way. If this sounds too choppy to you, you could revise the sentence to remove one of the interjections (I recommend removing “now”).
That’s my take, based on the principles of comma use. I’d be interested in reading others’ responses, too.
#3 by Martin Turnbull on November 19, 2011 - 3:48 pm
What about this one?
“If you pull the fire extinguisher the wrong way you will cover all those lovely fedoras with foam.”
My instinct is to put a comma after the word WAY, but I’m not as sure as I’d like to be. Is it because the first half of the sentence is dependent on the second?
#4 by preciseedit on November 19, 2011 - 7:20 pm
Martin: Yes, this needs a comma after “way,” but not because it’s dependent.
The expression “if you pull the fire extinguisher the wrong way” is an introductory adverbial clause. These get followed by commas.
Introductory: before the subject
adverbial: describes the main verb, in this case the condition for the action to occur.
The reason for the comma is simple. It lets the reader know when the description is over and the main sentence is about to begin. In most cases (with good writing), the subject will be immediately after that comma. This increases clarity.
Here’s another example, not using “if.”
“After the movie ended, we were scared to walk in the dark.”
Here, the introductory adverbial phrase is “after the movie ended.” It describes when the action (being scared) occured. And it’s followed by a comma.
#5 by Martin Turnbull on November 20, 2011 - 11:25 am
Ah! That makes perfect sense! Thanks for such a clear explanation.
#6 by Martin Turnbull on November 20, 2011 - 11:32 am
May ask for another clarification? I’m even less sure of this one than I was of the last one.
“His hopes of being hailed as Greta’s savior hadn’t amounted to anything, either.”
This sentence comes directly after one about the hero’s hopes over something else being dashed. Does that comma belong after “anything”? I inserted it because it feels right but I have no notion why!
#7 by preciseedit on November 20, 2011 - 1:53 pm
Again, you are correct.
In this example, “either” is being used as a conjunctive adverb (like “therefore” and “however”). It connects the meaning of this sentence to the previous sentence, showing how they are related. Conjunctive adverbs are separated from the rest of the sentence with a comma.
For example:
I was sure I was right. However, she wasn’t so sure.
Here, the conjunctive adverb is “however.” It, too, is separated from the rest of the sentence with a comma.
#8 by Martin Turnbull on November 20, 2011 - 2:34 pm
Ah-HA! So, it doesn’t matter if the conjunctive adverb comes at the start or the end of a sentence. Starting a sentence with a “However”, I wouldn’t have hesitated added in a comma after it, but appearing at the end, as that “either” did, threw me. Thanks so much!
#9 by preciseedit on November 20, 2011 - 6:39 pm
Nope-doesn’t matter at all. Even if embedded, you will need the commas, as in “It, too, is separated….” (Here, “too” is acting as a conjunctive adverb.)
#10 by Martin Turnbull on November 21, 2011 - 3:43 pm
What about this one:
It was an old iron skeleton key.
I was taught that you put a comma in between adjectives when there are more than one. Should there be a comma between OLD and IRON? And/or between IRON and SKELETON? Or are commas only necessary between certain sorts of adjectives?
#11 by preciseedit on November 21, 2011 - 3:58 pm
This question is a bit more complicated. I’ll address the easy part first.
The easy part:
A skeleton key is a thing by itself, not an adjective plus a noun (technically, it is an adjective plus noun, but it describes a single type of thing). For this reason, you don’t need a comma between “iron” and “skeleton.” If we assume “skeleton key” is a thing, then “iron skeleton key” works like an adjective plus a noun, not an adjective plus an adjective plus a noun.
The complicated part:
You also don’t need a comma between “old” and “iron.” These are not coordinate adjectives.
The simple test for coordinate adjectives: You might be able to put “and” between them without changing the meaning (the first test for coordinate adjectives), but you can’t reverse their order without changing what this sentence implies (the second test).
The reason is “old” and “iron” are different types of adjectives, based on the Royal Order of Adjectives. “Old” is an age adjective; “iron” is a material adjective. If the adjectives are not the same type, they won’t be coordinate–which means you don’t need a comma.
Using the Royal Order of Adjectives, we find this:
old: age adjective
iron: material adjective
skeleton: type adjective
Each of these is a different type, so they aren’t coordinate and don’t need commas.
Let me add a caveat: Some style/grammar style guides will say that you do need commas between adjectives when you have more than two, regardless of the type of adjective. This would give you “old, iron, skeleton key,” but this simply doesn’t make sense here. You might get away with “old, iron skeleton key” because a skeleton key is a thing. Even so, based on how coordinate adjectives work, that comma isn’t necessary and will imply something that isn’t true.
For more about coordinate adjectives and the Royal Order of Adjectives, take a look at http://zencomma.wordpress.com/2011/07/27/those-adjectives-need-a-comma/
#12 by Martin Turnbull on November 21, 2011 - 5:55 pm
Who knew that such a sentence needed such a detailed explanation? But thanks for taking the time. I’ve often wondered about the order of adjectives in English but never knew that order had a proper name, with capital letters and everything. Thanks again.
#13 by preciseedit on November 21, 2011 - 7:43 pm
I’m glad that you have found these answers useful.
Writing is a key medium of clear and beneficial communication, and good writing depends on a strong grasp of the mechanics. I want to help people communicate well and accomplish their goals.
#14 by Tara on March 1, 2012 - 9:46 pm
Hi. I just bought your kindle book, but the table of contents is not interactive (meaning I can’t open the table of contents or anything through it). This makes the book’s organization a bit daunting. I can still return the kindle book in the next seven days, if you aren’t able to update it. Otherwise, if you can, kindle users will get the updated version upon update.
Thank you.
#15 by preciseedit on March 1, 2012 - 10:27 pm
Tara: Thank you for purchasing Zen Comma. I want you to be happy with it and find it useful. I wasn’t aware that the Table of Contents wasn’t interactive. We’ll look into it. Thanks for letting me know.