UNSW Writing Style Guide UNSW Writing Style Guide | Page 39

Commas
Lists
Commas are essential to separate items in lists . In Australia , we generally do not use serial commas ( before ‘ and ’):
Students can attend events , lectures , tutorials and study groups .
Students can attend events , lectures , tutorials , and study groups .
Occasionally , a comma is needed before ‘ and ’ for clarity , particularly where one of the items in a list contains an internal ‘ and ’:
We engage barristers , conveyancers , and copyright and property lawyers .
We engage barristers , conveyancers and copyright and property lawyers .
Introductory clauses
You can also use commas for introductory clauses , to separate the body of the sentence from its opening statement . This gives the reader a short pause for better readability :
Despite repeated efforts to contact the regulator , we have had no further information on this matter .
In June 2018 , the matter was presented to Parliament .
Parentheses
You can use a pair of commas to separate a subordinate clause ( the ‘ added ’ part of the sentence you would read as an aside ):
The best way to see Sydney is via ferry , which offer great views of the harbour .
The best way to see Sydney , unless you suffer from seasickness , is by ferry .
Which
She ordered a pizza , which everyone else thought was a great idea .
She ordered a pizza which had at least a dozen toppings .
For more information , see ‘ That and which ’ in the ‘ Commonly misused terms ’ section .
Conjunctive adverbs
Conjunctive adverbs connect two ideas within a sentence . Examples include ‘ therefore ’, ‘ namely ’, ‘ in addition ’, ‘ however ’, ‘ rather ’, ‘ in conclusion ’ and ‘ for instance ’. In the traditional construction , you follow these adverbs with a comma to create the required pause :
They came from a rural area ; therefore , they decided live on campus .
The University has three main campuses , namely , UNSW Kensington , UNSW Paddington and UNSW Canberra at the Australian Defence Force Academy .
Dashes
Dashes give a sentence ‘ punch ’, so you should use them sparingly to maximise their effect . Only use them when commas are not enough – such as to signify an abrupt change in a sentence , to expand on a word or phrase , or to introduce an amplification or explanation .
A single dash allows you to add something with impact to the end of a sentence : It was over – no doubt about it .
You can use a pair of dashes to isolate a parenthetic expression within a sentence ( here they act like commas but with more impact ):
The company – there ’ s no need to say its name – was facing ruin .
Use an en dash with a space on either side , rather than a longer em dash or a shorter hyphen : It was over – no doubt about it .
It was over — no doubt about it .
It was over - no doubt about it .
The word ‘ which ’ is always preceded by a pause , and therefore by a comma . A helpful trick : if you can read the sentence without slightly pausing before ‘ which ’, you should be using ‘ that ’ instead .
Writing Style Guide | Punctuation 39 | Back to contents