1. I am an editor, who is a person with the task of improving clarity in writing.
2. I am an editor who loves commas.
3. As an editor who loves commas, I put in all the required commas to reduce potential reader confusion.

Comma with WHO

Sentence 1, with a comma before who, has one message: I am an editor. And what is an editor? Editor is defined as a person with the task of improving clarity in writing. In this sentence, the clause beginning with who provides descriptive information about editors.

As a non-restrictive clause, this expression doesn’t tell which editor is being described, i.e., it doesn’t restrict the reader’s attention from a group of things to a single thing. Rather, it is providing a definition.

The comma here follows Zen Comma rule U: Use commas to separate non-restrictive clauses beginning with who.

No comma with WHO

You don’t need a comma with who if the word is starting a “restrictive clause.” A restrictive clause helps to indicate one thing from among similar things, i.e., which thing you are writing about.

Sentence 2, with no comma before who, describes a group of people called editors. Which one am I? How am I different from other editors? What type of editor am I? I am an editor who loves commas.

Who loves commas is required information to identify me from the rest of the editors. As a restrictive clause, who loves commas restricts the reader’s attention from all editors to one particular editor: me, in this case.

This is the same situation as in sentence 3. Again, who loves commas is required information to tell the reader which editor is being discussed.

With no commas before who, sentences 2 and 3 follow Zen Comma rule V: Don’t use commas to separate restrictive clauses beginning with who.

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On his first day at the Zen Comma School, Bumbo was happily putting commas in his first assignment. He wrote, “This school, is great, and, I will learn, a lot.”

The teacher looked over Bumbo’s shoulder and read the assignment. Then he hit Bumbo with a stick.

“Why did you hit me?” Bumbo cried.

His teacher replied, “Because you are a fool!”

The Lesson

Bumbo was a fool because he was using commas without understanding. He was using the “salt shaker” approach to comma…just sprinkle them in the sentences and hope that some of them will land in the right places. He knew that commas are important, so he used a lot of them. But he had no idea where to use them or why he was using them.

The Discussion

Bumbo was right that commas are very important. They help the reader understand the message of the sentence. Commas do this by separating (not joining!) individual components of the sentence, which helps the reader identify meaningful parts that together convey the meaning of the entire sentence. 

We put commas in to separate discrete components of the sentence, each of which has its own meaning. However, some parts must be joined because they are incomplete without another part. We don’t put a comma between them so that they will remain connected. 

Comma use follows very specific rules, each based on the principle that commas are tools for separating components of sentences. For example, Zen Comma Rule AJ states, “Don’t use a comma to separate the predicate from the subject.” When Bumbo put a comma a comma before “is,” he separated the predicate from the subject, “This school.” 

Fill your sentences with commas, if you must, but don’t do it like Bumbo. Don’t put in commas willy-nilly. Put them where they belong.

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The Comma Rule

The reporter had a problem with Zen Comma rule D: Put a comma before a coordinating conjunction that joins two sentences. As Zen Comma explains, when you join two complete sentences with the conjunctions and, but, yet, for, so, nor, or or, you need a comma before the conjunction.

Correct Comma Use

As you see in this example, the reporter knows how to follow this rule:

A judge has charged Abelovsky with attempted smuggling, and he faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

First independent clause (complete sentence): a judge has charged Abelovsky with attempted smuggling
Second independent clause (complete sentence): he faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted
Coordinating conjunction: and

As you can see, the reporter correctly used a comma before and.

Comma Error

However, the reporter missed it on this one:

Two of the animals were found dead and most of the others could have suffered the same fate due to a lack of oxygen if the suitcase had been placed in the plane’s cargo area.

First independent clause: two of the animals were found dead
Second independent clause: most of the others could have suffered the same fate due to a lack of oxygen if the suitcase had been placed in the plane’s cargo area
Coordinating conjunction: and

Here, the reporter forgot the comma before and.

Preventing Comma Errors

I know very well from experience that proofreading your own writing is challenging. You are likely to miss even very simple errors, as the reporter did here. This is the reason I recommend having someone else do your proofreading. (Yes, I do my own proofreading of these posts, and you are welcome to point out any errors.)

Of course, you have to know the comma rules first before you proofread.

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Definition of Parenthetical Expression. These are expressions that do not add essential content for understanding the sentence, such as an off-topic comment or a phrase inserted in a sentence that breaks the flow of the idea. These expressions may be placed in parentheses; hence the name.

Rule AA is something of a catch-all, a grammatical version of “other duties as assigned.” Many phrases and clauses are considered parenthetical expressions, including appositives, direct addresses, interpolated asides, and interjections.

Basically, any expression, description, comment, etc. that interrupts the flow of ideas, that can be moved around in the sentence, and that can be placed in parentheses without confusing the reader needs to be separated from the rest of the sentence with commas.

Sample 12.1.   The new mall, I have heard, will be huge.

In sample 12.1, the parenthetical expression is I have heard. This is not part of the idea being expressed in the sentence. It can be moved to the front or end of the sentence. And it could be placed in parentheses. As such, it is separated from the rest of the sentence with commas, one before and one after. Also, if I had written it at the end of the sentence, I would still need to separate it from the rest of the sentence.

Sample 12.2.   This economic forecast model, compared to other models, shows flat growth.

In sample 12.2, the parenthetical expression is compared to other models. Wherever I put it in the sentence, it will need to be separated by commas.

Sample 12.4.   Compared to other models, this economic forecast model shows flat growth.
Sample 12.5.   This economic forecast model shows flat growth, compared to other models.

Sample 12.4 uses the parenthetical expression as an introductory adverbial phrase (Rule G), and sample 12.5 uses it as a non-grammatical final description (Rule X). Because it is a parenthetical expression, no matter where it is in the sentence, it needs to be separated from the rest of the sentence with commas.

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To understand how this occurs, we must first understand the difference between restrictive and non-restrictive clauses.

Restrictive Clauses vs. Non-restrictive Clauses

Restrictive clause: Information that identifies which person or thing you mean and that indicates one person or thing from similar people or things. A restrictive clause restricts a reader’s attention from a category or group to a single person or thing in the category or group. Information in a restrictive clause is essential to understand the writer’s meaning. Restrictive clauses begin with that or who.

Non-restrictive clause: Information that provides an additional description of a person or thing. The reader already knows which person or thing is being described, so this information is not essential to understand the writer’s meaning. Non-restrictive clauses begin with which and who.

Commas with Who

Notice that both restrictive and non-restrictive clauses can begin with who. This means the reader will need additional clues to understand whether the writer is using a restrictive or non-restrictive clause. The reader needs additional clues to determine whether the writer is providing information to indicate which person or is providing additional information about a person. Commas provide this clue. Let’s see how.

Examples

1. I respect soldiers who always do their duty.
2. I respect soldiers, who always do their duty.

Both examples have the clause who always do their duty. In example 1, the clause is not preceded by a comma. In example 2, it is. And this makes all the difference in meaning.

Example 1 has no comma before who. This indicates that the clause is restrictive. It is essential information to understand the meaning of the sentence. The clause cannot be separated from the main message because it is part of the main message.

One category of people is soldiers. This category may have all kinds of people in it, all known as soldiers. As a restrictive clause, who always do their duty communicates which soldiers I respect. It restricts the reader’s attention from all soldiers to particular solders. I may respect other people in the category of soldiers, but here I am discussing only soldiers who do their duty.

Example 2 has a comma before who always do their duty. With a comma, this clause is non-restrictive. It is not essential information to understand the meaning of the sentence. Instead, it provides additional information about soldiers. The comma separates the clause from the main message of the sentence, which is that I respect all soldiers.

This sentence doesn’t indicate that I respect only certain soldiers. Instead, it communicates that I respect all soldiers. The non-restrictive clause provides additional information about soldiers, stating that soldiers do their duty.

Summary of the examples:

Example 1 (restrictive, no comma): I respect certain soldiers. (Zen Comma rule V)
Example 2 (non-restrictive, comma): I respect all soldiers. (Zen Comma rule U)

Value of Commas

As we see from these two examples, the comma, or lack thereof, makes a fundamental change in the meaning. Without a clear understanding of how to use commas, a writer risks communicating the wrong idea to the reader.

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• 2 Most Common Comma Errors
• A Serial Comma Creates Confusion
• Comma with But Also
• Commas and Quotation Marks
• Complicated Sentences Clarified by Commas
• Funny Sign with Comma Error
• Implied Subject Determines Comma

The free e-book also contains the post What Do Commas Do?, an introduction about the overall purpose of commas and the concepts behind using commas correctly.

Download or open here: Top Posts from the Zen Comma Blog, Edition1

If you’re serious about learning to use commas correctly, get Zen Comma. In the meantime, this free e-book will get you started.

To vary sentence structure, you may put a descriptive phrase at the end of a sentence. However, readers will usually link descriptions to the closest preceding text. This is not always accurate, so we use a comma to prevent the reader from doing this.

The comma separates the description from the preceding text to show that they are not connected.

The club is disbanding, based on this letter.

In this sample, the letter states that the club is disbanding. If we leave out the comma, the sentence will state that the club is disbanding because of the letter, as seen below.

The club is disbanding based on this letter.

This indicates that the letter, or its contents, is causing the club to disband because disbanding is described by based on this letter. However, with the comma we know that disbanding is not described by based on this letter, leading to the desired interpretation.

This next sample works in a similar way.

He saw the corpse, swimming in the lake.

If we leave out the comma, the reader will think swimming in the lake is a description of the corpse, as if the corpse were swimming in the lake. Rather, swimming in the lake is a description of He. To prevent the incorrect, and odd, interpretation, we must separate the final description with a comma.

This bring us to the next type of comma uses with final descriptions.

Zen Comma Rule X: Use commas to separate non-grammatical final descriptions.

In other cases, the final description is not grammatically connected to the preceding sentence. Similar to Rule W, this can happen when the final description refers to the subject or main verb but not to the words that immediately precede the description. Consider this example:

He drove all day, unable to wait longer.

In this sample, unable to wait longer describes the subject He, not drove all day. Unlike previous examples, we cannot remove the comma and still have a grammatically correct sentence, as follows.

He drove all day unable to wait longer. (grammatically incorrect sentence)

These are a form of free modifiers, a descriptive phrase that can be moved around in the sentence. If they can’t be moved around without making the sentence confusing, they are not free modifiers and don’t need a comma. If they can be moved around, they are free modifiers, and they need commas.

Zen Comma Rule Y: Use commas to separate final coordinate expressions.

We know to put a comma between coordinate adjectives. This can also affect how we use commas with final descriptions. If the final two descriptive phrases or expressions equally describe the same thing, they are coordinate, and we separate them with a comma, as seen here:

The legislation is dead, not delayed.

To show that dead and not delayed are coordinate, we can break up the sentence as follows:

The legislation is dead. The legislation is not delayed.

Here, we see that dead and not delayed both describe legislation. We could write this in two sentences, as I have here, or we can combine them and end the sentence with both descriptions. When I combine the sentences, these two descriptions are coordinate and require a comma.

Zen Comma Rule Z: Use a comma to indicate a shift in focus at the end of the sentence.

This is fairly simple. Take a look at this sample:

The audience seemed tired, an understandable response to the boring 3-hour lecture.

The main sentence is about the audience. However, the final description is not so much about the audience as it is about the boring lecture. This is a shift in the focus of the sentence. As such, it is separated by a comma.

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1. Based on regulations we need to log our project hours provide regular updates and publish our findings.

2. I received your e-mail but it had no attachment.

3. After 8 inches of snow fell the office closed but opened again by mid-afternoon.

4. The new fuels which provide lower grade fuel at a higher price are incompatible with many engines.

5. If you write well you will communicate clearly and demonstrate your credibility to the readers.

6. All visitors must have a badge or they will not be permitted entry.

7. The visitors’ badges obtainable in the badge office will allow entry.

8. On Thursday we attended a technical writing course.

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Commas with Names

Let’s look at three of the sentences you wrote.

Wrong: “Mr. Wilson I am sure you will recognize the benefits of this plan.”
Wrong: “When you receive the package Mr. Wilson, please let me know.”
Wrong: “Thank you for your time Mr. Wilson.”

Each of these sentences has  the same type of error: missing commas.

Zen Comma Rule M tells us “When directly addressing someone, place commas around his or her name.” The sample sentences above didn’t do this, and they are, as a result, incorrect.

The letter is to Mr. Wilson. You are directly addressing him by name. You need to separate the name from the rest of the sentence because the name is interrupting the flow of the sentence. In this way, the name is a type of parenthetical expression, and, like all parenthetical expressions, it needs to be set apart with commas.

The first one is easy to fix. You just need to add a comma after the name, as follows.

Right: “Mr. Wilson, I am sure you will recognize the benefits of this plan.”

The second sentence is a bit more complicated. It already has a comma after the name. Maybe you put in that comma to follow Zen Comma Rule G: Put a comma after introductory clauses and phrases. Maybe you followed the risky and often mistaken strategy of putting a comma where you pause. You paused after the name and put in a comma, but you might not pause before the name. The comma you added is correct, but to make the sentence correct, you also need one before the name, as follows.

Right: “When you receive the package, Mr. Wilson, please let me know.”

The final sentence is also pretty easy. You just need to add a comma before the name to separate it from the rest of the sentence:

Right: “Thank you for your time, Mr. Wilson.”

Commas with Titles

Mr. Wilson is a doctor and the chairman of you community organization. Because you are using his titles (i.e., doctor, chairman), you might need commas here, too.

Using commas with titles is the same as using commas with names. You need to decide whether you are using the title as a name. If you are addressing someone by his or her title, or if the title is part of the name, then you use commas as above. Otherwise, you don’t need the commas (and probably not capital letters). Here are two more sentences you wrote.

Wrong: “Doctor I saw you leaving your neighbor’s house after midnight.”
Wrong: “If I were you Mr. Chairman I would contact my lawyers.”

In both sentences, you are addressing Mr. Wilson directly. Rather than using his name, you are using his title. These sentences also need commas, as seen here.

Right: “Doctor, I saw you leaving your neighbor’s house after midnight.”
Right: “If I were you, Mr. Chairman, I would contact my lawyers.”

Summary

That’s all you need to know about this type of comma use. If you are directly addressing the reader by name or title, put the name or title in commas.

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Bumbo knocked on the door to the Temple of Meaning and said, “May I come in?”
“Did you bring a comma?” his teacher replied.
“Yes,” Bumbo answered.
“Ah,” said the teacher, “bring it inside.”

The Lesson

Bumbo wants to speak to his teacher, to have a conversation with him. If we write the conversation, the words they speak will be in quotation marks. His teacher, as we have seen, is a stickler for correct comma use, so he reminds Bumbo that they will need commas to separate the quotations from the main sentences.

The teacher reminds Bumbo that the commas go inside the quotation marks. He tells Bumbo to bring the comma inside so that their conversation may be written correctly.

The Discussion

This koan discusses a common question: Do the commas go inside the quotation marks or outside. In American English conventions, the comma goes inside the quotation marks, as we see in this example:

“Use commas correctly,” the Zen Comma master told Bumbo.

This is a simple example, one that most writers get correct. With the comma inside the quotation mark, this example follows Zen Comma Rule AH: Put the comma inside the final quotation mark. However, comma use is a bit more tricky when we quote someone’s words as part of the main sentence, as follows.

When the Zen Comma master told Bumbo to “use commas correctly or be punished,” Bumbo immediately began studying.

In this example, the introductory description needs to be followed by a comma (Rule G). However, the introductory description ends with a quoted phrase. The comma goes inside the quotation marks here, also following Rule AH.

Finally, here’s the comma use that catches most people. If you are using quotation marks to indicate that you are writing about words, as opposed to using the words, and if you put those words in a series, where do you put the commas?

In British English, you will put the commas after the quotation marks, but in American English, you put the commas inside the quotation marks, as follows.

I have trouble spelling “ennui,” “myriad,” “onomatopoeia,” and “weird.”

Some American writers will put the commas outside the quotation marks, following the British conventions. Perhaps they do this because the American convention makes the sentence look ugly due to the spaces between the words and the quotation marks that follows them. This is not a good way to make punctuation decisions.

The correct way to make decisions about commas is to know the rules and follow them consistently. If you are using American English, the commas always go inside the quotation marks.

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