Write to the Point

BGuidelines to Punctuation

Comma

Use a comma in the following instances:

1. To separate items in a series.

Martha enjoys hiking, swimming, bird-watching, and gardening.

2. After long introductory phrases and clauses often beginning with when, while, if, since, due to, because, although, through, or before.

When David traveled to Paris, he visited many museums and historic places.

NOTE: It is often unnecessary to place a comma before or following the words listed here when they occur within a sentence.

David visited many museums and historic places when he traveled to Paris.

3. To set off parenthetical or interruptive words and phrases.

Janet, who is a lawyer, has moved to Arizona.

4. To indicate a pause.

Last summer I read many books about gardening, ...