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🥑 comma confusion?

🥑 comma confusion?

commas, etc., part 1

Addison Horner
May 26, 2025

First, some good news about commas:

“In less formal registers and in creative works, authors will have more leeway to use commas to control the pace of their prose and to establish a certain tone . . . whatever choices are made should ultimately aim to serve the reader.”

from The Chicago Manual of Style, 18th Edition

In other words, my fiction-author friends, you can relax—creative control is yours.

But if your brain has been bamboozled by comma questions, this week’s topic is for you. Here are some guidelines for using commas correctly.

✅ Between items in a series of three or more

Larry, Curly, and Moe. Heart, soul, mind, and strength. Wash, rinse, and repeat.

The Oxford comma (the one before “and”; also called a serial comma) is optional, but let’s be real—it provides clarity, and most style guides, including Chicago, prefer it.

✅ Between independent clauses

Independent clauses form a full sentence on their own, and they are joined by a comma and a coordinating conjunction. See the bold part? That’s the rule.

✅ Between a dependent clause and an independent clause

Unlike independent causes, dependent clauses aren’t full sentences on their own. See the comma after the first clause? Put it there if the dependent clause (the sentence fragment) goes first.

✅ Around appositives

An appositive is an explanatory equivalent to a noun. It equals the noun. Use commas around appositives like so:

“My dog, Spot, is happy.” Spot is my only dog. Use a comma.

“My dog Spot is happy.” Spot isn’t my only dog. Don’t use a comma.

✅ Around modifiers

If you put a modifier in the middle of a sentence, like this one, put commas around it. The phrase “like this one” modifies the word “sentence.”

There are so many little quirks to consider, and the best way to learn them is to practice.

But the most important question is this: will my choice provide clarity or distraction for the reader?

If you’re stuck, ask an editor!

This week: when NOT to use commas and a Bookshop.org giveaway!

Once we reach 100 subscribers, I’ll pick one random subscriber to win 20% off any editing service in the next year. Forward this to your author friends, and thanks for reading Avocado Bites!

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