And if the name is in the middle of a sentence, commas go in front and back. My dress, which was handmade, was perfect for the dance. Because Squiggly woke up late, he had to postpone the fishing trip. No commas around a name or title indicate that it is essential to the meaning of a sentence – the sentence will not make sense in context without it. That clauses after nouns are always essential. Here are excerpts from a few style manuals: Using a Comma after an Introductory Adverbial Clause or Phrase. The main clause can come first or last; if it comes last, you need a comma. Should I use a comma between a city and a country/a city and a state? If it’s at the end, you put the comma in front.
Using a Comma after an Interjection Expressions such as yes , no and indeed (which usually feature at the start of a sentence) are known as interjections . (sentence fragment) But you might want first to refresh your memory about starting a sentence with but. Find it. (subordinate clause second, no comma needed) Because he woke up late. When an adverbial phrase begins a sentence, it’s often followed by a comma but it doesn’t have to be, especially if it’s short. A comma is almost always required before "please" at the end of the sentence. Examples Yes, we expect to attend the Christmas party. Appositive means "another name for." Use a comma when the first word of the sentence is a freestanding "yes" or "no." Here are some clues to help you decide whether the sentence element is essential: Other times, the comma is optional, and there are also times when a comma should not be used. It depends on the context. The comma after the name also tells us that the information after the name is essential to identify the person. Here are the two most important ones: Don’t use “although” and “but” in the same sentence. Here are excerpts from a few style manuals:
In geographical names with two or more elements, you should use a comma after each different element. This is a traditional rule of punctuation. He desired the welfare of his people. When they come at the end of a sentence, they should be preceded by a comma. One comma goes after the first part, and one goes after the second, like this: The dance, held in the school gym, ended at midnight. 3. If the name is at the beginning of a sentence, you put a comma after it. When a word or phrase occurs at the beginning of a sentence, a comma should usually separate it from the main clause. It is common for a sentence to start with an introduction. Use one comma before to indicate the beginning of the pause and one at the end to indicate the end of the pause. Do not use commas to set off essential elements of the sentence, such as clauses beginning with that (relative clauses). ¶ It is the indispensable reference for writers, editors, proofreaders, indexers, copywriters, designers, and publishers, informing the editorial canon with sound, definitive advice. Rebecca Aydin/Business Insider Another example: "Yes, I saw a duck when I went running." This is a traditional rule of punctuation. If the person or thing you are addressing is named at the end of the sentence, put a comma before it. An introduction can be anything from just one word to a long clause.