3. After a direct quotation when this is the subject or the object of a following verb. Thus,—
“They are coming; the attack will be made on the center,” said Lord Fitzroy Somerset.
“I see it,” was the cool reply of the duke.
Note. If the quotation ends with an interrogation point or an exclamation point, no comma is used.
4. To separate words, or groups of words, arranged in a coördinate series, when these are not connected by and, or, or nor.
If the conjunction is used to connect the last two members of the series but omitted with the others, the comma may be used before the conjunction.
- I found two saws, an axe, and a hammer.
- They were so shy, so subtle, and so swift of foot, that it was difficult to come at them.
- It would make the reader pity me to tell what odd, misshapen, ugly things I made.
- They groaned, they stirred, they all uprose.
Note 1. Commas may be used even when conjunctions are expressed, if the members of the series consist of several words, or if the writer wishes to emphasize their distinctness.
Note 2. Clauses in a series are commonly separated by semicolons unless they are short and simple (see [pp. 309–310]).
5. To set off words and phrases out of their regular order. Thus,—
Seated on her accustomed chair, with her usual air of apathy and want of interest in what surrounded her, she seemed now and then mechanically to resume the motion of twirling her spindle.—Scott.