How to Use Commas

First of all, what is a comma? Commas are punctuation marks used to separate words, phrases, and clauses in a sentence.

Here are some basic guidelines for using commas:

1. Use a comma to separate items in a list.

Example: "I need to buy apples, bananas, and oranges."

2. Use a comma to separate two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so) in a compound sentence.

Example: "I enjoy learning new things, but I also like to have fun."

3. Use a comma to set off introductory words or phrases at the beginning of a sentence.

Example: "After finishing my work, I decided to take a break."

4. Use a comma to set off nonessential phrases and clauses in a sentence.

Example: "The book, which was written by my favourite author, is a bestseller."

What is the nonessential clause or phrase in a sentence? It is a statement that gives additional information but it is not an essential part of the sentence; the sentence is complete with or without it. Here is the nonessential part of the sentence:

"The book, which was written by my favourite author, is a bestseller."

The highlighted part of the sentence is nonessential because this sentence could simply be written as:

"The book is a bestseller."

Remember that comma usage can be more complex than these examples, and there may be variations depending on sentence structure and context. However, these guidelines should help with the general use of commas in everyday writing. Goodluck!