Punctuating Pauses with Commas

Commas can warn readers of brief pauses and shifts of focus in a sentence. Use commas to indicate pauses in these situations:

To Set Off Non-Essential Information

If information could be removed from a sentence without changing the basic meaning, set off the information with commas.

Edwin, who used to play saxophone, marched with the brass band.

To Set Off Interruptions

Use a comma(s) to set off a word, phrase, or clause that interrupts the main thought of a sentence.