ice cream.
- When using a conjunction (words like “and,” “but,” “or”) if both sides of the comma can be read as complete sentences.
I want to go to sleep, but I still have work to do.
- When using an introductory phrase.
Even though the music was quiet, it still gave me a headache.
- When listing dates and locations.
I’ve lived in Brooklyn, New York, since June 20, 1997.
- When stating additional, non-essential (not absolutely necessary) information.
Michael Bay, a film director, loves explosions.
A quick note on listing items: The first example sentence above can also sometimes be written as:
I need to buy broccoli, kale and ice cream.
That last comma is called an “Oxford comma.” Sometimes it’s used, sometimes it’s not. It depends on your style! If you’re writing for someone or someplace (like a school or a publication), just ask what they prefer.
Leaving out any of these can turn a sentence into one long, breathless statement. That’s why stating that a toilet is only for “disabled elderly pregnant children” is so silly! How many children do you know who are pregnant, elderly and disabled?
For even more comma rules, revisit the Punctuation Guide page (you already have that bookmarked, right?).
5. Forgetting hyphens.
We’re back to these guys again! You might not think hyphens are such a big deal, but just wait until you’re faced with a “dog-eating cat!” Hyphens connect ideas. They’re the glue that holds descriptions together. They’re a pretty big deal!
Take, for example, our dog-eating cat. By placing that little line between the words “dog” and “eating,” you’re marking them as a single description. This means that, with the hyphen, you have a cat who eats dogs.
Without the hyphen, the words “dog” and “eating” are not connected, changing the way the phrase is read. You now have a “dog eating cat,” or a dog that’s actually eating cat as we speak (yuck, someone get that thing out of here!).
Okay, so you may not ever need to warn someone about a dog-eating cat or a dog that’s eating a cat (we hope). Hyphens show up in real-world examples, too, though.
Are you scheduled to work “twenty four-hour shifts,” or “twenty-four-hour shifts?” Are you a “small business owner,” or a “small-business owner?”
Leaving out the hyphens can lead to confusion, or at the very least, a silly image (like a short businessman who works four-hour shifts).
With these simple punctuation fixes, you should now be writing clearer, less confusing sentences!
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