A-manual-for-writers-of-research-papers-theses-and-dissertations

Do not use commas when all the elements in a series are joined by conjunctions.The palette consisted of blue and green and orange.If a series of three or more words, phrases, or clauses ends with an expression indicatingcontinuation (and so forth, and so on, and the like, or etc.), punctuate that final expression asthough it were the final item in the series. You may, however, add a comma after thecontinuation expression to prevent confusion after a long series.They discussed movies, books, plays, and the like until late in the night.Management can improve not just productivity, but hours, working conditions, training, benefits, and so on,without reducing wages.Use semicolons to separate the items in a series if one or more includes commas, or if theitems are long and complex (see 21.3). If such a series comes before the main verb of asentence, however, rephrase the sentence.but notThe three cities that we compare are Hartford, Connecticut; Kalamazoo, Michigan; and Pasadena, California.Hartford, Connecticut; Kalamazoo, Michigan; and Pasadena, California, are three cities worth comparing.21.2.3 Nonrestrictive Clauses and PhrasesUse paired commas to set off a nonrestrictive clause. A clause is nonrestrictive if it is notnecessary to uniquely identify the noun it modifies.These five books, which are on reserve in the library, are required reading.Here, the noun phrase These five books uniquely identifies the books that the writer has inmind; the nonrestrictive clause is not necessary to identify the books further. On the otherhand, in the following sentence, the dependent clause (that are required reading) isrestrictive, because it identifies the specific books that are required reading. Commas aretherefore not used around the clause.The books that are required reading are on reserve in the library.Although which is often used with restrictive clauses, careful writers preserve thedistinction between restrictive that (no comma) and nonrestrictive which (comma).The same principles apply to restrictive and nonrestrictive phrases.The president, wearing a red dress, attended the conference.The woman wearing a red dress is the president.21.2.4 Other UsesCommas are used in a variety of other situations. (For use of commas in dates, see 23.3.1.)Introductory words and phrases. When you begin a sentence with an introductorywww.itpub.net