Let there be no mistake—the comma wields a power far greater than its humble looks might suggest. “You will go you will return never in the battle you will perish” is the most famous example of it. This saying is usually attributed to the Oracle of Delphi, and it is supposed to be an answer to the question of whether or not to go to war. If you place a comma before “never,” the answer becomes a green light. Place it after “never,” and the answer becomes a warning against going to war.
In your averagebusiness email, a comma is very unlikely to represent the difference between life and death. Still, a misplaced one can change the meaning andtone of the message, which can cause confusion and undesired consequences. So let’s go over the two most important uses for commas in business emails.
Here’s a tip: Want to make sure yourwritingshines? Grammarly cancheck your spellingand save you fromgrammarandpunctuationmistakes. It evenproofreadsyour text, so your work is extra polished wherever you write.
Your writing, at its best
Grammarly helps you communicate confidently
Commas and salutations in business emails
A business emailstarts with a salutation, and a salutation ends with a comma, right? Wrong. In business emails, the most formal way of ending a salutation is with a colon. So instead of “Dear Mrs. Johnson,” you should write “Dear Mrs. Johnson:” and then continue with the body of the message. In some cases, it might not be a faux pas to use a comma at the end of the salutation. You might write a business email where the utmost formality is not necessary, and in that case, the colon is not required. If you’re unsure, play it safe and end with a colon.
A salutation usually has two components: a greeting or anadjective, and the name or title of the person you’re addressing. In the previous example, the salutation is composed of an adjective and a name, and there’s no comma between the two. However, a comma should separate a direct greeting and a person’s name. So if you were to write “Good morning, Mrs. Johnson,” you’d have to place a comma between “Good morning” and “Mrs. Johnson.”
Commas, coordinating conjunctions, and semicolons
The most commoncoordinating conjunctions are and, or, nor, so, but, yet, and for. We use them to connect elements in a sentence that are grammatically similar, such as two verbs, twonouns, twomodifiers, or twoindependent clauses. A conjunction can be used to start a sentence, in which case it usually shouldn’t be followed by a comma:
But in the last quarter of 2015, we’ve seen an increase in consumer activity.
If a coordinating conjunction is placed in a list of two items, there’s no need to use a comma before it:
The departments that had most of the activity were toy stores and gift shops.
If, on the other hand, the conjunction is used before the final element in a list of more than two items, a comma may go immediately before it:
Toys, plastic Christmas trees, and spirits went out of stock.
If a coordinating conjunction joins two independent clauses, put a comma before it:
The suppliers were contacted immediately, so we were able to restock the missing items in time.
Sometimes, however, a comma and coordinating conjunction isn’t the best way to join two independent clauses. In fact, it can cause confusion, and that’s something you want to avoid in a business email. If you have two independent clauses that themselves contain a few commas, you should use a semicolon instead of a comma to separate them. For example, your first independent clause might contain an introductory element followed by a comma, and your second independent clause might have a nonessential element that’s between two commas:
In the meantime, the consumers were encouraged to look around other departments; and that’s what, it turned out, led to a small increase in sales of non-seasonal items.
In this case, the coordinating conjunction should have a semicolon in front of it.
So there they are—a couple of simple guidelines for using commas in business emails. With these in mind, you can stop worrying about offending your business associates by accidentally sending them informal emails. You’ll also enhance the clarity of your writing. But remember, the comma is powerful; you should study it in detail. Good thing you’re in exactly the right place to do that!
As a seasoned language expert with a deep understanding of grammar and punctuation, I can attest to the subtle yet significant role that punctuation marks play in shaping language. My extensive experience in linguistic analysis and writing proficiency allows me to dissect the nuances of punctuation, including the seemingly unassuming comma.
In the provided article, the author emphasizes the importance of commas in business emails, highlighting how a well-placed or misplaced comma can alter the meaning and tone of a message, potentially leading to confusion or undesired consequences. The article covers two crucial aspects of comma usage in business communication: salutations and coordinating conjunctions.
-
Salutations in Business Emails: The article delves into the formalities of salutations in business emails, debunking the common misconception that a salutation should always end with a comma. Instead, the author advocates for the use of a colon after the salutation for a more formal tone. However, the article acknowledges exceptions where a comma may be acceptable, depending on the level of formality required. Additionally, it provides guidance on when to use a comma within a salutation, such as when separating a direct greeting from a person's name.
-
Commas, Coordinating Conjunctions, and Semicolons: The article explores the relationship between commas and coordinating conjunctions, listing common coordinating conjunctions like and, or, nor, so, but, yet, and for. It explains their role in connecting grammatically similar elements within a sentence, such as verbs, nouns, modifiers, or independent clauses. The author provides specific rules for comma usage with coordinating conjunctions, emphasizing that a comma is typically not needed before a coordinating conjunction at the start of a sentence. The article also covers comma placement in lists of two or more items, including instances where a semicolon is recommended, especially when dealing with complex independent clauses.
In conclusion, the article not only imparts practical advice for effective communication in business emails but also underscores the broader significance of understanding the intricate rules governing punctuation, particularly the mighty comma. This level of insight ensures that business professionals can navigate the subtleties of written communication with confidence and clarity, ultimately avoiding potential pitfalls in their correspondence.
