Tip from the Writing Center: Importance of commas

Brian said, “You must know how to use commas to be successful at NEOMED.” He went on to explain, “The comma is the most used punctuation mark in the English language, eclipsing the period by a few hundred, daily.” He will spare no expense to teach medical, pharmacy and graduate students the importance of the comma. In his speech, Brian wrote, “Why don’t students have a better grasp on the use of commas? Is it because NEOMED students, their pursuits of hard sciences, chemistry and medicine, forget to stop and understand the comma and its uses?” 

Commas are used daily by writers who use quotation marks liberally. Directly quoting from sources, while maybe not acceptable in some science research, is encouraged when researching in the humanities. In fact, why say it yourself when someone has already said it to you, most likely better.  

Direct quotes require the comma. In academic writing, writers work hard to attribute the quotes first. Therefore, when it comes to the direct quote, attribute, comma, quote and period. Then describe the direct quotes function to the reader.  

Attribute your source, followed by a comma:

Brian said, 

Then use a quotation mark and the quote:

“You must know how to use commas to be successful at NEOMED.” 

Then explain why this quote is important.  

- submitted by Brian Harrell, Writing Center specialist