Punctuation Series: How to Edit Commas with Clauses

In light of the holiday season, here’s a final fun topic in our Punctuation Series: editing commas within independent and dependent clauses. Do you think Santa Claus will be pleased we included him?

I’ll be referring to The Chicago Manual of Style 17^th edition, chapter six.

Let’s hitch up our sleigh and explore briefly these elements. Knowing when to insert commas in relation to independent and dependent clauses can seem confusing, like someone mixing up your name with someone else’s at the holiday gift exchange. So, let’s be clear and get started.

Use Commas with Independent Clauses When…

• two ideas are separated by a conjunction.
  
  Heather trekked two miles through the snow back to her house, but when she arrived, the gift was not there.
  
• the clause is part of a series.
  
  Jack is writing about thoroughbreds, Crystal is writing about detectives, and Cathryn is writing about the militia.
  
• However, if the sentence is relatively simple, then consider eliminating the comma.
  
  Elyah played the harp and Havilah sang.
  
• Or, if the sentence has the same subject but different verbs, leave off the comma.
  
  Ian dusted and waxed the piano for tonight’s singalong.

Use Commas with Dependent Clauses When…

• your sentence has an introductory element, like a subordinating conjunction (if, when, or because).
  
  When we are ready, please lift the angel to the top of the tree.
  Because without six carolers, our group won’t be in harmony.
  If no one comes, it means more cookies for me.
  
• your sentence has a parenthetical thought.
  
  We’ll watch the play, if you’re inclined to join us.
  
• your sentence has two dependent clauses separated by a coordinating conjunction.
  
  Grandpa decorated the tree with an array of bubble lights, and if little Claire had not played with the end of the string, the lights might have gone up sooner.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this final blog post for this year’s series! It’s meant to be a reminder for those sometimes tricky and pesky Grammarly things.

Thanks as ever for joining this Punctuation Series journey this year. It’s been a pleasure sharing with you. Out of this series, what have you most enjoyed?

Tisha Martin writes historical fiction and nonfiction but also edits and proofreads for beginning and best-selling writers, professional editing agencies, and publishing houses. She has a BA in Professional Writing, an MS in English Education, and an editing certificate from the PEN Institute, affordable continuing education for editors. Active in American Christian Fiction Writers and The PEN, she appreciates the writing and editing communities. As Assistant Director of PENCON, a conference for editors, she enjoys travel marketing and updating PENCON’s Facebook Page. Connect with Tisha on her website www.tishamartin.com and engage in the conversation.