if you think about it.

- I saw Jerry Seinfeld at the Kennedy Center, a beautiful performance venue.

== Coordinate Adjectives ==

Depending on your priorities, you may want to give equal importance to multiple adjectives that describe the same noun (allowing their order to be switched). These are called coordinate adjectives, and they always have a comma after each, except the last one. For instance:

- The new, shiny desk was made of oak.

- The shiny, new desk was made of oak.

- Some people insist that ferrets make funny, cute pets.

- Some people insist that ferrets make cute, funny pets.

- Dressing a fussy child is like wrestling with an obstinate, angry octopus.

- Dressing a fussy child is like wrestling with an angry, obstinate octopus.

TIP: Use only one adjective at a time, two only if necessary. Any more than that and your message will become less believable to your readers.

== Quotes ==

Setting off quotations is one of the most well-known, yet trickiest uses of the comma. Don't forget that in the United States, commas and periods finishing the quote are placed inside the quotation marks (as opposed to the more logical British writing, where the commas and periods are outside.) The following examples are American:

- "My friend will have the Chicken Cacciatore," I told the waiter.

- Gina came inside and said, "They've started the puppet show."

Commas are also used when the quote is split:

- "I went to the lobby," said Paul, "but my mother was in the casino."

TIP: Write with your audience in mind. Knowing the differences between American English and British English will help you use punctuation consistently and avoid confusing your audience. By the same token, when reading, comma placement can be a clue about the nationality of the author. If you surmise that s/he is not from your home country, you'll have a better chance of also realizing that his/her word meanings may be different than what you are used to. Keep an open mind.

== Summary ==

In the most basic terms, commas should help create understandable writing. Remember to use commas to separate list items and avoid comma splices. Set off an unnecessary phrase at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence. If it still makes sense without the non-essential phrase, you've used your comma well. Lastly, always proofread.

For more detailed, easy-to-read help with commas, visit:

- Grammar Girl

- The Owl At Purdue

- University of North Carolina

- Towson University

Learn more about this author, Len Morse.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

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