Most contemporary writers believe that commas simply signify pauses in sentences. On the contrary, the correct use of this critical punctuation mark is governed by precise grammar rules, and they should be adhered to at all times. Incorrect use of commas in your texts may confuse the readers, indicate carelessness, and even signal blatant disregard of writing rules. Proper usage of commas, on the other hand, helps lay the groundwork for coherent communication, give your work a logical flow, and also help readers figure out the most parts of your sentences.
Unfortunately, not everyone is aware of the importance of using commas correctly in your work. In this comma review article, we are going to demystify comma usage rules, explain when you need to use the mighty comma, and show you how to identify incorrect comma usage using a comma and period editor. While at it, we are also going to give you effective comma proofreading tips and reasons to use comma punctuation checker.
Quick Guide to Comma Rules and How a Comma Editor Can Help
As indicated above, proper comma usage follows some strict guidelines. And they include:
When separating independent clauses
A comma can be used to separate two independent clauses in a sentence by inserting it before a coordinating conjunction. Some of the most commonly used coordinating conjunctions include yet, and, so, but, or, nor, and for.
After introductory clauses or phrases
A comma can also be used after an introductory phrase or clause. It indicates the closing of the introductory phrase or clause, and the commencement of the sentence’s main part.
Between all the items in a series
A comma can also be used to separate different items in a series that have a similar function in a sentence.
When setting off nonrestrictive clauses
Another instance where a comma can be used is to enclose clauses that don’t add value or meaning to a sentence. Basically, there are two major types of clauses namely non-restrictive and restrictive clauses.
When setting off appositives
Appositives are nouns and noun phrases that give nearby nouns new names, and they offer non-essential information to a sentence. When it comes to nonrestrictive appositives, they’re set off using commas, while restrictive appositives aren’t.
When indicating a direct address
A comma can also be used when a speaker mentions the names of the addressee in a sentence when addressing them.
Comma Proofreading: Best Practices
To identify comma punctuation errors in your work, there are few common practices to follow. They include:
Proofreading backward. One of the easiest ways to proofread for comma errors is to go through your work from the end and work back paragraph by paragraph and line by line. This method allows you to skim through the surface elements of your work, rather than focus on the in-depth meaning of the work.
Independently proofread for different types of errors. Rather than focusing on all the mistakes in your work, profile and tackle them at a time. For example, if commas are the most common errors in your text, handle them first before moving to the rest.
Proofread when relaxed. Delegate a time of the day when you’re relaxed and free from any distraction to proofread your work. While at it, proofread aloud to see whether your sentences make sense, and also take breaks in between proofreading to avoid getting overwhelmed.
Common Grammar and Comma Revision Methods
You have done all the research and compiled your ideas into a coherent paper. But you’re probably wondering… how do I revise my comma punctuation errors?
Well, there are different methods of editing/correcting a paragraph with fragments, run-ons,and comma splices.
Self-editing
Self-editing is one of the most common missing comma editing methods. It basically entails personally crawling through your texts several times identifying and making comma revision or any other punctuation errors. The only downside of self-editing is the fact that it is time-consuming, meaning you need to dedicate a lot of time.
Help from a colleague, family member, or a professional editor
After working on an essay or any other related task for a long time, it’s easy to overlook minor mistakes like missing commas. As such, you can request a colleague, family member, or even a professional comma proofreader to check and edit your work. Although recruiting an external editor to add commas may help troubleshoot minor errors such as missing commas, they need to be familiar with your topic or field of study. Still, the services of a professional editor don’t come cheap, making them out of reach for students.
Using a comma splices online editor
Manual comma splices proofreading can be mentally and financially exhausting. Worse still, the human eye may miss some minute errors, which is a grave mistake in the world of academia. With the help of a proofreading tool for commas, you can easily identify even the minutest mistakes in your work. But that’s not the best part. Editing paragraphs with hyphens and commas using an online program is almost instantaneous, meaning you don’t have to wait for weeks to get results.
And since this article is mainly pegged on online comma editors, let’s look at their benefits.
How Can a Comma Proofreading Software Online Free Boost Your Paper’s Quality?
Whether you’re a student or a professional copywriter, grammar plays a critical role in your work. Not only does murky language impact the overall quality of your work but also affects the logical flow of your ideas, ultimately diluting their impact. Still, the need to learn and apply multiple grammar rules doesn’t make the writer’s work easier.
With the help of a free comma editing site or tool, you get to enjoy much more than the basic spell check and punctuation functions but also receive instant, targeted feedback. Using this feedback, it becomes easy to eliminate run-on sentences, clarify your points, and strengthen your arguments.
Benefits and Advantages of Using Our Comma Checker Online Tool
Using our online tool has several benefits including:
Helps improve the quality of your work
Not sure whether your work is correctly punctuated, littered with incorrectly spelled nouns, or even prepositions closing your sentences are grammatically coherent? Our automatic comma checker tool is your one-stop-shop tool. On top of identifying grammatical mistakes, punctuation errors, and incorrect spellings in our work, the tool also gives the appropriate suggestion, letting you create polished papers. Better yet, it is free and the results are instant.
Free plagiarism checker
Along with the grammar and spell checker, the tool comes with a plagiarism checker. It scans your texts against millions of databases and published work, letting you delete accidental plagiarism in advance.
Proofreading your work to identify, correct, and refine punctuation errors is a critical element of the revision process. Even the most experienced wordsmiths make mistakes, some as minute as missing a comma or even as grave as swapping conjunctive adverbs with coordinating conjunctions. Fortunately, with the help of our free online comma checker, you can easily identify all the potential mistakes in your work and correct them in advance. The tool is designed to suit writers from all walks of life, from students still learning the fundamentals of writing to published copywriters that get paid by the word.
Establish and maintain the trust of your professors, readers, and customers by using our comma editor today for free!
