Apr 07, 2011 · Sometimes You Need a Comma With Participial Phrases, and Sometimes You Don’t. Today, we’re revisiting the concept of restrictive versus nonrestrictive elements. In past Grammar Girl episodes, I’ve talked about how to use the words “which” and “that” with restrictive and nonrestrictive elements.

May 23, 2019 · Using the serial comma here clarifies that the final item, business and leisure, is a single category. Without the serial comma, the list is confusing. Another example is when items at the end of the list could be read as describing an earlier item. He had to take care of two dogs, Jane and Louis. He had to take care of two dogs, Jane, and Louis.