Page 494 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

unusual word order
If words or expressions are put in unusual places or interrupt the normal progression of a sentence, we usually separate them off by commas.
Myfather, however, did not agree.
Jane had, sllrprisingly, paid for everything.
We were, believe it or not, in love with each other. Andrew Carpenter, the deputy sales manager, was sick.
Two commas are necessary in these cases.
(NOT A,ttlrew Carpenter ehe deputy stlles nfttnttger, I:tJtlS sieie ...)
5 adjectives
After be and other 'link verbs' (see 328), commas are always used between adjectives.
The cowboy was tall, dark and handsome.
Before a noun, we generally use commas between adjectives which give similar kinds of information.
This is an expensive, ill-planned, wasteful project. Commas are sometimes dropped between short adjectives.
a tall{,} dark{,} handsome cowboy
Commas cannot be dropped when adjectives or other modifiers refer to different parts of something.
a green, red and gold carpet (NOT a green red ...)
concrete, glass and plastic buildings
Commas are not normally used before a noun when adjectives give different kinds of information.
Have you met our handsome new financial director? (NOT • ••-mtI' fttt,tmtmte, new, Jintttteitli tiiFeet8Fn
6 identifying expressions: commas not used
When nouns are followed by identifying expressions which show exactly who or what is being talked about, commas are not used. Compare:
- The driver in the Ferrari was cornering superbly. (The phrase in the Ferrari
identifies the driver.)
(NaT Thetlt'ivet', itttheFet'f'tlri, I:tJtlSt!6,."eFi,tgsuperbly0RThetlt'ivet'inthe Feffari, WttS etmtering sftperbly.J
Stephens, in the Ferrari, was cornering superbly. (The phrase in the Ferrari does not identify the driver; he is already identified by his name, Stephens.)
- The woman who was talking on the phone gave Parker a big smile. Mrs Grange, who was talking on the phone, gave Parker a big smile.
For more about identifying and non-identifying relative clauses, see 495.
1 long subjects: commas not used
We do not usually put a comma after a subject. even if it is very long.
The man from the Japanese Ministry ofEducation arrived early.
(NOT The mall from the Jttpttnese ,"Ji,"""qfEtltlettMtt. arrived eaFly.)
Whatweneedmostofallismoretime. (NOT WhatttJe need:mtutqfall, is...J
4
punctuation (4): comma 476
page 462