Commas with a long subject

A comma can be used to group a long subject.

1. The subject of a sentence can consist of more than one person or thing. (This is known as a "compound subject".) Sometimes, the subject is made up of so many elements that writers like to end the list with a comma to group them together.

Example:

A clean driving licence, the ability to operate under pressure and 5 years'
experience in marketing, are the only criteria stipulated by the selection
panel .

("A clean driving licence, the ability to operate under pressure and 5 years'
experience in marketing" is the compound subject of this sentence. The verb is
"are" - from the verb "to be".)

SUBJECT?

The subject of a sentence is the person or thing that is performing the verb in the sentence. (Verbs are doing words like "to dance" and " to sit" - see lesson "Verbs".)

Balloons rose out of the stadium.
(The word "Balloons" is the subject of this sentence. They are performing the verb; in this case, the verb "to rise".)

David Baker is a real gentleman.
("David Baker" is the subject of this sentence. He is performing the verb; in this case, it is the verb "to be".)

The man next door saw that stray dog again.
("The man next door" - subject / "to see" - the verb)

Jack and Simon are in the swimming pool.
("Jack and Simon" - subject / "to be" - the verb)

FROWNED UPON

Be aware that ending a long compound subject with a comma is not popular with some grammarians. It is not wrong, but is best avoided.

Associated lessons:

Commas after a sentence introductions
Commas after a transitional phrase
Commas after interjections (yes, no, indeed)
Commas before conjunctions (and, or, but)
Commas for parenthesis
Commas in lists
Commas with numbers
Commas with quotation (speech) marks
Commas with the vocative case