commas with other punctuation
Where a comma goes, or whether it stays, when it meets another punctuation mark.
When the sentence requires a comma after material in parentheses or brackets, the comma follows the closing mark: Before signing the agreement (attached below), check the payment terms. “When the committee reconvenes [in June], it will vote,” the chair said. To decide whether a comma follows the closing mark, read the sentence without the enclosed material. If the sentence needs no comma at that point, none follows the closing mark: The agreement (attached below) contains the payment terms.
The period of an abbreviation does not replace a comma. Use both marks, because the period belongs to the abbreviation and the comma belongs to the sentence: The office closes at 5 p.m., but deliveries are accepted until six.
No comma follows a question mark or exclamation point that ends a question or thought placed before the words identifying who asked or thought it: Why now? the board asked itself.
A question mark or exclamation point that belongs to a title inside the sentence does not replace a comma the sentence requires. Keep both marks: The winning essay, “Who Pays for the Cleanup?,” will appear in June. The question mark belongs to the title; the comma closes the appositive. If the two marks together read awkwardly, rephrase the sentence.
Em dashes used in pairs to set off parenthetical material take no comma: When the guests arrive—probably around seven—serve the appetizers. With parentheses, the same sentence does need a comma: When the guests arrive (probably around seven), serve the appetizers.
A comma that ends quoted material goes inside the closing quotation mark: “The figures are final,” the treasurer said.
See also comma; comma with quotation marks; em dash; parentheses vs. dashes vs. commas.
Examples
UseIf the replacement arrives today (as promised), installation can begin. (The sentence comma follows the closing parenthesis.)
UseThe deadline was 3 p.m., and every application arrived on time. (The period after p.m. belongs to the abbreviation, and the comma after it belongs to the sentence, so both marks are needed. The comma does not replace the period.)
AvoidEllen, (our new treasurer) presented the budget. (Parentheses already set off the material inside them, so a comma before the opening parenthesis is unnecessary. Write Ellen (our new treasurer) presented the budget.)
UseWho signed off on this? Dana wondered. (No comma follows a question mark that ends a question placed before the words identifying who asked it.)
AvoidWho signed off on this?, Dana wondered. (No comma follows a question mark in this position, so the comma after the question mark is an error.)
UseThe article, “Can Downtown Recover?,” drew hundreds of letters. (The question mark belongs to the title, and the comma after it closes the appositive.)
AvoidWhen the guests arrive—probably around seven—, serve the appetizers. (Em dashes used in pairs take no comma, so the comma after the second dash is an error. Write When the guests arrive—probably around seven—serve the appetizers.)
Use“The figures are final,” the treasurer said. (The comma goes inside the closing quotation mark.)
Avoid“The figures are final”, the treasurer said. (In American English, the comma goes inside the closing quotation mark. Placing it outside is British practice. Write “The figures are final,” the treasurer said.)