Clauses, phrases, and participles, oh my! With all the ways you can use commas incorrectly in your resume, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.
And if using proper punctuation isn’t your natural skill set, you might panic when you have to update your resume. Refer to this blog series if you can’t remember the rules.
As I explained in Punctuation Perfection: How to Use Commas in Your Resume, Part I on the serial comma and Part II on clauses, misplaced or omitted commas can dramatically change the meaning of your sentences. To ensure your message gets across the way you intend, read on and learn how to use commas correctly with parenthetical phrases, dates and states, and present participle phrases.
Note: This post is the third in my “Punctuation Perfection” series, written to help you get your resume into flawless shape. I’ll share common punctuation mistakes and the rules you should be following. From remembering your commas through formatting with pipe marks, adhering to these guidelines will improve your chances of getting an interview.
If you want all the punctuation rules right away, with examples from real resumes, purchase my e-book “Punctuation Perfection for an Error-free Resume: 20+ Rules You Might Be Breaking.” (Coming soon.)
Parenthetical Phrases
Don’t forget to use two commas for parenthetical phrases that use commas instead of parentheses. These are phrases that qualify or describe something and are offset by commas. One comma goes before the descriptor, and one goes after.
For example:
Led firm to receive American Advertising Award (ADDY), most prestigious in the nation, 2 years in a row.
Most prestigious in the nation describes the award and is offset by commas. Always remember that second comma. It can be easy to forget.
States and Dates
When writing a bullet point that includes the name of a city and state or a date that consists of a day, a month, and a year, make sure to include commas surrounding the state or year.
See these examples:
Selected to lead Madison, Wisconsin, sales and marketing division.
Recruited to organize July 4, 2023, celebration for students and faculty.
However, if there is no day, only a month and a year, in your sentence, you do not need a comma between the two, as in this example:
Won Employee of the Month for October 2023.
Barring that exception, use commas surrounding states following a city and full dates in your resume.
Present Participle Phrases
Make sure to use a comma before a present participle phrase. This type of phrase describes what the subject (in your resume, that’s you) is doing and uses the -ing form of the verb.
Here are examples of how to use a present participle phrase in your sentence:
Boosted revenue 33% in 6 months, bringing profitability from $65M to $80M.
Improved hiring process by converting to ATS, decreasing time-to-fill cycle 15%.
Make sure there is always a comma before the word ending in -ing.
If you wonder whether you’re making an error with commas in your resume, ask someone to proofread it for you. It’s better if they find your mistake than a hiring manager. It’s always a good idea to have a second set of eyes on your document.
I hope you found this week’s post on using commas correctly with parenthetical phrases, states and dates, and present participle phrases helpful for creating an error-free resume. Stay tuned for more punctuation perfection in part four, when I teach you when — and when not — to use periods in your resume.
P.S. If you don’t want to wait, get all the punctuation rules right away in my e-book “Punctuation Perfection for an Error-free Resume: 20+ Resume Rules You Might Be Breaking.” (Coming soon.)
Need personal assistance with your resume or job search? Book a complimentary consultation today!
Kristin S. Johnson, CJSS, CCMC, COPNS, CG3C, CBBSC
Job Search Coach and Resume Writer
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