Commas, mid sentence Copy

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Commas which appear in mid sentence tend to be in pairs. The pair of commas can surround a single word. The test is, if that word is taken out, would the sentence still make sense?

I would, therefore, like you to behave.

I would be happy, however, to lend you £5.

The pair of commas can surround more than one word – a phrase even – and again, the test is the same. If the words between the commas were take out, would the sentence still make sense?

I am, as you will have already guessed, several months pregnant!

Sometimes, how you word a sentence makes a difference to whether you need commas at all.

Here, you do.

Frances, who works in Accounts, was in an auto accident.

Here, you don’t.

The lady who works in Accounts was in an auto accident.

In the second example, ‘who works in Accounts’ can’t be removed (without losing sense). So, no commas are needed in that case.