NCO Primary Leadership Subjects
The Comma, Continued
Rules
Use a comma...
Example
to set off unrestrictive words,
Nonrestrictive: A company, which was on
clauses, or phrases.
our left made a surprise
(Nonrestrictive words, clauses, and
withdrawal. (The company
phrases are not essential to the
just happened to be on our
meaning of the sentence and could
left; commas are needed.)
be removed without changing the
meaning.)
Restrictive: The company which was on
our left made a surprise
Do not use commas with restrictive
withdrawal. (More than one
words, clauses, or phrases.
company is involved; the one
(Restrictive words, clauses, or
on the left withdrew.
phrases are essential to the meaning
Commas should not be used.)
of the sentence.)
to set off nonrestrictive appositives.
Nonrestrictive: Lieutenant Black, the
(Appositives arc words, phrases, or
supply officer, is ill today.
clauses that rename and could
(LT Black would still be ill
substitute for the noun.
even if she weren't the supply
Nonrestrictive appositives are not
officer.)
essential to the meaning of the
sentence.)
Restrictive: The destroyer Ferguson
swerved. (There are many
Do not use commas with restrictive
destroyers; the discussion is
limited to the Ferguson.)
appositives.
(Restrictive appositives limit or
define the nouns they refer to.
Nonrestrictive: My grandson, Bobby, is
They are essential to the meaning
visiting me. (Bobby is the
only grandson so the
of the sentence.)
meaning wouldn't change
if he were not named.)
Restrictive: My grandson Bobby is
visiting me. (Other grandsons
exist but only Bobby is
visiting.)
to set off explanatory material that
You may, if you wish, leave your coat in
breaks the flow of the sentence.
this closet.
Continued on next page
Writing Mechanics and Composition
2-7
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