JS Tip 513: Other Uses for Commas

We’re still talking about commas. 

Some small but critical points. 

Use commas to separate nice-to-know information. 

We’ll hire the managers, which we desperately need, after we’ve reviewed the applications.

She’ll meet with Margarite Schmidt, the CFO, in Rome.

Notice how you can drop the information within the commas with no major change in meaning: 

We’ll hire the managers after we’ve reviewed the applications. 

She’ll meet with Margarite Schmidt in Rome.

That’s a pretty good indication the information is nice-to-know and should be enclosed in commas.   

Place commas inside closing quotation marks.

Always. No exceptions. 

“The matter’s in review,” she said.

not

“The matter’s in review”, she said.

Use commas to separate items in locations and dates.

Our first stop will be in Pumpkin Center, California.*

Please return the juror list to me by Friday, February 8th, 2019.

Don’t use a comma if you’re referring only to the month and the year.

We’ll be done by May 2019. 

Next week, we’ll end our discussion about commas.

If you have questions, let us know. We love this stuff. We really do.   

*Pumpkin Center is a real place with a wonderful name. It’s ten miles south of Bakersfield.