Technical & Mechanical Uses of comma | with New Stuff in the blog

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If we talk about the usage of comma in the addresses and Dates, Months, years... it seems as if comma is being used TECHNICALLY. So In the following we are going to discuss:

                                 Technical & Mechanical Uses of comma: 

(Use of comma for citation will be provided in the next blog)

   Important to Note:
Almost all the time we are not using comma in just sentences.
There are many other fields where comma is used but there comma plays a very specific role of clarifying (less confused and more comprehensible) the content from rest of the sentence.
  • Comma sets the month and year off when you are writing a date.
  • Comma is used to separate geographic elements.
  • Comma is used to show off degree or certification.
  • ‘Not necessarily mechanical but the use of comma in lists is well established.’(punctuationguide.com)
  • Comma is used in directly addressing someone.
  • Comma is used in Afterthoughts.
  • Comma is used with multiple adjectives to modify or describe the same noun.
    Dates, Months, and Years:
  1.     When a date consists of the day of the month followed by the year, the day of the month should be followed by a comma.
  2.     When the day of the week is provided before the month, the day of the week should be followed by a comma.
  3.     When the date appears in the middle of a sentence, comma should appear both before and after the year.
  • The school would be closed on Wednesday, May 15, 2000.
  •  Her arrival on April 10, 1988, was considered a turning point for the company.
  •  He began writing in May 1971 and finished in April 1972.
  • July 4, 1776, was an important day in American history.
  • He was born on Saturday, December 05, 1968.
Comma Separates Geographic Elements:
Commas should be used to separate geographic elements, as in the examples below. The final geographic element should also be followed by a comma when it appears in the middle of a sentence.

  • The mayor of ‘A’ was the first guest to arrive; the mayor of  city ‘B', Asdf, was the last to arrive.
  • She moved with her family from Boston, America, to NY, when her father was seriously ill.
  • ‘The company is headquartered in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.’ (courtesy)
Mechanical Use of Comma in Lists:
The comma separates a series of words, phrases, or independent clauses.
Do not place a comma after the last item in the list. 
  • For the party, Sam will bring the drinks, Roe will bring the junk, John will bring the music.
  • I am taking Art, History, English Literature, microeconomics, and macroeconomics next semester.
Note: The final comma is known as an Oxford comma or serial comma.

Comma is used to show off Degree or Certification:When a degree or certification is shown after a person’s name, it should be set off with comma. e.g.

  • The research paper was prepared by the Senior Representative, Qwerty Asdf, PhD.
  • ‘Jane Jones, Esq., has joined the board of directors’.
  • ‘Tom Roberts Jr., MD, FACS, will be the keynote speaker at next year’s conference’.(Google searches)
  • Asdf B. Hjkl, MD, will be the first speaker.
Comma is Used in Directly Addressing Someone:
When directly addressing someone, the person’s name or title should be set off with commas.

  • We will not start the concert without you, Lisa.
  • Thank you, Sir, for your kind support.
  • Sam, are you coming with us?
  • I know your parents, Jose.
  • Off course, Mark, she is coming to see you.

Afterthoughts: (something that is thought of or added later). 
An idea which comes too late in the mind and the situation is changed. So it is placed using a comma.

  • I found the painting rather dull, to be honest.
  • He is joining us for dinner, isn’t he?
  • Cook some food for me, please.
  • We will not be attending the delegation, however.

Use of Comma after Introductory Words:
a) Clauses,
b) Phrases, or
c) Words that come before the main clause.
The most common starter / introductory words that should be followed by a comma include after, although, as, because, if, since, when, while.

  • While I was eating, someone knocked at the door.
  • Because her cell phone was broken, she missed the call.
  • If you are ill, you have to go to the doctor asap.
  • When the snow stops falling, we’ll start our journey.
Comma with Happy Birthday + Name:  (Someone's question at Quora)
Happy Birthday is a compliment so needs a comma. A comma should be placed between the person's name and the message because one is addressing that

person directly. (Thanks to Google)
The proper format is:

  •  Happy Birthday, Sarah! (caps are required)

Few Important Things to Remember: 
Use comma to show extreme contrast.

  • She was still quite upset, although she had won the Oscar. 
Comma prevents possible confusion or misreading.

  • To George, Harrison had been a sort of idol.
Separate contrasted coordinate elements.

  • He was ignorant, not stupid.

(Based on My Experience + Thanks to Google and Great sites)
                                                                                                                                        (E&Oe)

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