Using a Comma with Names and Titles

Using a Comma with Names and Titles

Note: because of the extreme popularity of this post, I’ve made it available as a PDF download

 

Way back in the olden days when American schools regularly taught grammar, many students learned that a comma should automatically be placed before a person’s name or the title of a book, magazine, etc.

In reality, however, that’s not quite true. The inclusion of a comma actually depends on the circumstances, and having a comma vs. no comma can dramatically change the meaning of a sentence. (more…)