Note. — Two  words  in  the  same  construction,  or  two  short  phrases  connected
by  and,  or,  or  nor,  should  not  be  separated  by  the  comma ;  as,  He  was  brave
and  patriotic.
3.  A  transposed  phrase  or  clause  is  usually  separated
from  the  rest  of  the  sentence  by  a  comma ;  as,  —

In  a  very  short  time,  they  had  passed  the  spot.     If  we  fail,  you

will  be  disappointed.
Note. —  If  the  phrase  is  closely  united  with  the  sentence,  the  comma  is  not
used;   as,  Beneath  the  window  is  a  wooden  bench.
268  ENGLISH    GRAMMAR

4.  An  appositive  word  or  phrase  is  usually  separated
from   the   rest   of   the  sentence  by  a  comma    or    commas ;

as,  —

Milton,  the  great  English  poet,  was  blind.
But  when  the  explanatory  term  combines  closely  with  the
word  explained,  the  comma  is  omitted ;  as,  —

The  outlet  of  this  lake  is  the  river  Nile.  The  emperor  Augustus
was  a  patron  of  the  fine  arts.
5.  Words,  phrases,  or  clauses  placed  between  closely
related  parts  of  a  sentence  should  be  separated  from  the
rest  of  the  sentence  by  commas ;  as,  —

It  is  mind,  after  all,  which  does  the  work  of  the  world.
6.  A  relative  clause  not  restrictive  should  be  separated
from  the  remainder  of  the  sentence  by  the  comma ;    as,  —

Cherish  true  patriotism,  which  has  its  root  in  benevolence.
7.  The  comma  is  often  used  to  indicate  an  omission  of  a
word  or  words  ;  as,  —

Labor  brings  pleasure  ;  idleness,  pain.
