Grammar: Using Commas for Clarity

ANTITHETICAL PHRASE (contrast by using words such as not or unlike.) All it takes is a little experience, not an expensive course.

Insert commas where necessary in the following sentence: All it takes is a little experience not an expensive course.

SEPARATE TWO INDEPENDENT CLAUSES At home, I use the Internet to look for information about my favorite bands, but at school I use it to research my project.

Insert commas where necessary in the following sentence: At home, I use the Internet to look for information about my favorite bands but at school I use it to research my project.

SEPARATE WORDS THAT MIGHT BE MISREAD Before I found this search engine, finding information about gardening was very difficult.

Insert commas where necessary in the following sentence: Before I found this search engine finding information about gardening was very difficult.

SEPARATE WORDS THAT MIGHT BE MISREAD Before on-line banking, bills were always being misplaced at home.

Insert commas where necessary in the following sentence: Before on-line banking bills were always being misplaced at home.

SEPARATE WORDS THAT MIGHT BE MISREAD Before the Internet, information was not as readily available.

Insert commas where necessary in the following sentence: Before the Internet information was not as readily available.

REPLACE AN OMITTED WORD OR WORDS Erik uses the phone book to find phone numbers; Joshua, the Internet directories.

Insert commas where necessary in the following sentence: Erik uses the phone book to find phone numbers; Joshua the Internet directories.

SEPARATE WORDS THAT MIGHT BE MISREAD I am grateful, for the Internet is easy to use with a minimum of training.

Insert commas where necessary in the following sentence: I am grateful for the Internet is easy to use with a minimum of training.

REPLACE AN OMITTED WORD OR WORDS I use my laptop to access the Internet; my friend, his full-sized PC.

Insert commas where necessary in the following sentence: I use my laptop to access the Internet; my friend his full-sized PC.

SEPARATE TWO INDEPENDENT CLAUSES Jonas used to go to the record store every week to buy new CD's, but now he shops on-line, and he can even listen to the CD's before he buys them.

Insert commas where necessary in the following sentence: Jonas used to go to the record store every week to buy new CD's but now he shops on-line and he can even listen to the CD's before he buys them.

REPLACE AN OMITTED WORD OR WORDS Jonathan buys his airline tickets via the Internet; his brother, by phone.

Insert commas where necessary in the following sentence: Jonathan buys his airline tickets via the Internet; his brother by phone.

SEPARATE TWO INDEPENDENT CLAUSES Marla bought a book over the Internet, and it was delivered to her the next day.

Insert commas where necessary in the following sentence: Marla bought a book over the Internet and it was delivered to her the next day.

SEPARATE TWO INDEPENDENT CLAUSES Now customers can access their accounts easily, and they can pay bills electronically.

Insert commas where necessary in the following sentence: Now customers can access their accounts easily and they can pay bills electronically.

SEPARATE TWO INDEPENDENT CLAUSES People who enjoy the Internet can almost become addicted to it, and they sometimes spend most of their day going from one Web site to the next.

Insert commas where necessary in the following sentence: People who enjoy the Internet can almost become addicted to it and they sometimes spend most of their day going from one Web site to the next.

REPLACE AN OMITTED WORD OR WORDS Some people use the phone to communicate; others, the Internet.

Insert commas where necessary in the following sentence: Some people use the phone to communicate; others the Internet.

SEPARATE WORDS THAT MIGHT BE MISREAD The Internet is useful, for researchers can find what they need there.

Insert commas where necessary in the following sentence: The Internet is useful for researchers can find what they need there.

ANTITHETICAL PHRASE (contrast by using words such as not or unlike.) The Internet, unlike magazines, contains up-to-date information.

Insert commas where necessary in the following sentence: The Internet unlike magazines contains up-to-date information.

ANTITHETICAL PHRASE (contrast by using words such as not or unlike.) The author's Web site, not the publisher's page, announces her book signing dates.

Insert commas where necessary in the following sentence: The author's Web site not the publisher's page announces her book signing dates.

ANTITHETICAL PHRASE (contrast by using words such as not or unlike.) The first hyperlink, not the second, takes you to the singer's Web page.

Insert commas where necessary in the following sentence: The first hyperlink not the second takes you to the singer's Web page.

ANTITHETICAL PHRASE (contrast by using words such as not or unlike.) The on-line course I am taking, unlike regular classes, lets me read the lecture at any time.

Insert commas where necessary in the following sentence: The on-line course I am taking unlike regular classes lets me read the lecture at any time.

ANTITHETICAL PHRASE (contrast by using words such as not or unlike.) This radio station, unlike its competitors, broadcasts its shows over the Internet.

Insert commas where necessary in the following sentence: This radio station unlike its competitors broadcasts its shows over the Internet.

SEPARATE WORDS THAT MIGHT BE MISREAD When we logged on, the Internet service provider told me I had new mail.

Insert commas where necessary in the following sentence: When we logged on the Internet service provider told me I had new mail.

SEPARATE WORDS THAT MIGHT BE MISREAD Without the Internet, finding articles for my research papers would be more time-consuming.

Insert commas where necessary in the following sentence: Without the Internet finding articles for my research papers would be more time-consuming.