Page 157 - Perfect English Grammar: The Indispensable Guide to Excellent Writing and Speaking
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16.2.4 COMMAS AND VOCATIVE USES
We also use commas in vocative uses, which is when we call someone by name
or directly refer to them.
■ Hey, Joe, what’s happening?
■ Listen, Li, there’s no telling what the market will do.
■ You know, kid, you’re a lot tougher than I was at your age.
16.2.5 COMMAS AND NONESSENTIAL IDEAS
We can also use commas to insert nonessential ideas or facts in the form of
words, phrases, or clauses into a sentence.
Usually, these parenthetical insertions can be removed and leave the
sentence grammatical.
■ There’s a place in Brooklyn, just across the river, where they serve
the best pizza.
■ I’m going to suggest, if that’s okay, that you let me help you.
16.2.6 COMMAS AND ESSENTIAL IDEAS
A common mistake is for writers to use commas to offset or enclose essential
ideas, ones that you can’t remove without ruining the sentence.
For instance, if you have a clause following a noun and beginning with that,
then do not offset the that clause with commas.
■ Wrong: I found a book, that I wanted, at the thrift store.
■ Right: I found a book that I wanted at the thrift store.
The same goes for expressions of emotions, feelings, and thoughts.
■ Wrong: You were wishing, that you could see Istanbul.
■ Right: You were wishing that you could see Istanbul.
