No Comma with Essential Elements
Jared Aragona
No comma with essential elements: Do not use commas to set off essential elements of the sentence, such as clauses beginning with that (relative clauses) or other essential phrases or words. That clauses after nouns are always essential. “That” clauses following a verb expressing mental action are always essential.
Essential relative clause:
There are a few events that I must tell you about.
(No comma between “events” and “must.”)
Essential relative clause:
People who have the same interests can be found when you explore your own interests more adventurously.
(No comma between “People” and “who” or “found” and “when.”)
Essential phrase:
Ten people in the classroom were annoyed by the car alarm.
(No commas between “people” and “in” or “annoyed” and “car.”
Essential words:
Melville’s book Typee was the one that brought him popular fame as a writer.
(No commas before or after “Typee” here.)
The MLCKRB (Master List Code Key and Rule Book): An English Grammar & Style Handbook by Jared Aragona, CC BY 4.0
