Comma Rules Common comma rules with examples 1

Comma Rules Common comma rules with examples

#1 - Separate independent clauses 1. Use a comma before any coordinating conjunction (and, but, for, nor, so, yet) that links two independent clauses (phrases that could stand alone as their own sentence).

1. "I went running, and I saw a duck. " Two independent clauses (both COULD stand alone as sentences) “I went running. ” “I saw a duck. ”

#2 - Dependent Clause 2. Use a comma after a dependent clause that starts a sentence.

2. "When I went running, I saw a duck. " Dependent (needs help) = “When I went running” Independent (can stand alone) = “I saw a duck. ”

#3 – Offset Appositives 3. Use commas to offset appositives from the rest of the sentence. Appositives rename something in the sentence.

3. "While running, I saw a mallard, a kind of duck. " "A kind of duck" is the appositive, which gives more information about "a mallard. " Another example: "Brit, a nervous gamer, often sweats while playing Fortnite. "

#4 - Separate a List of Items 4. Use commas to separate items in a series.

4. "I saw a duck, a magician, and a gas station when I went running. "

#5 5. Use a comma after introductory adverbs or phrases.

5. "Finally, I went running. " "Unsurprisingly, I saw a duck when I went running. " "Yes, I saw a duck when I went running. "

#6 - Said Lead-in 6. Use a comma when attributing quotes.

6. The runner said, "I saw a duck" (15). If attribution comes before the quote, place the comma outside the quotation marks. If attribution comes after the quote, put the comma inside the quotation marks. "I saw a duck, " said the runner (15).

#7 - Separate multiple adjectives 7. Use a comma between two adjectives that modify the same noun.

7. "I saw the big, mean duck when I went running. "