Don’t Be Confounded by the Comma – COMPEL Pro Writers Training

It’s just a little comma, but it can be confusing! The placement of a comma can completely change the meaning of a sentence.

In today’s tip, we’ll focus on ways you properly use a comma using the Chicago Manual of Style.

Commas used after city and state

Which is correct?
A: I attended a university in Tahlequah, Oklahoma for three years.
B: I attended a university in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, for three years.

Correct answer is B.

Chicago Manual of Style: When writing the name of a city followed by its state, most writers know to include the comma between the two, but often overlook the comma that’s required after the state name.

Commas used after a month-day-year date

Which is correct?
A: She left the house on May 1, 2014, to have lunch with a friend.
B: She left the house on May 1, 2014 to have lunch with a friend.

Correct answer is A.

Chicago Manual of Style: A complete date (consisting of a month, day, and year) requires a comma after the day and after the year.

Including a comma between a month and year

Which is correct?
A: She returned from her trip in August 2014 for the wedding.
B: She returned from her trip in August, 2014 for the wedding.

Correct answer is A. (This one surprised me!)

Chicago Manual of Style: If you’re writing just a month and year (without a day), don’t separate them with a comma. And don’t include a comma after the year.

Placing a comma outside quotation marks

Which is correct?
A: My favorite movies are “Forest Gump”, “The Village”, and “Wizard of Oz.”
B: My favorite movies are “Forest Gump,” “The Village,” and “Wizard of Oz.”

The correct answer is B.

Chicago Manual of Style: Put a comma that follows a closing quotation mark inside the quote (in other words, before the ending quotation mark).

In today’s tip, I used the Chicago Manual of Style, but if a publication requires the Associated Press Style Handbook there may be some differences.
These are essential tools for your writing library. You can purchase a Chicago Manual of Style Quick Tip version or an Associated Press Style Handbook online easily.