Rule 2 from 11 Rules of Writing
Use commas to enclose nonrestrictive clauses or phrases, which are not essential to the sentence's meaning.
Examples
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Incorrect: The bus driver with her ears tuned to the roar decided to take the grumbling bus on a detour across the football field.
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Correct: The bus driver, her ears tuned to the roar, decided to take the grumbling bus on a detour across the football field.
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Incorrect: My window as dirty as it is reveals the beauty of nature on a snowy morning.
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Correct: My window, as dirty as it is, reveals the beauty of nature on a snowy morning.
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Incorrect: King and Lucille, his customized black Gibson have electrified audiences all over the world.
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Correct: King and Lucille, his customized black Gibson, have electrified audiences all over the world.
References
More information about this rule is available from the following sources.
Online Resources: - The Elements of Style: rule 3
Printed Resources: (see Books on Writing section)
- Strunk and White: 1-3
- Hacker: P1-e
