The SIX Basic Comma Rules Comma Rule 1

The SIX Basic Comma Rules

Comma Rule #1 l The Serial Comma, not Killer… l Place a comma between items in a series as in the example below. l. I have my laptop, my pens, my pencils, and my MP 3 Player in my backpack. l This also includes a series of adjectives. l The fun, fuzzy puppy is so cute!

Practice Carlos wants to visit Paris Italy Germany and China. l Carlos wants to visit Paris, Italy, Germany, and China. l My favorite colors are blue red and pink. l My favorite colors are blue, red, and pink. l I like to go hiking fishing swimming and camping during summer. l I like to go hiking, fishing, swimming, and camping during summer. l

Comma Rule #2 l The Coordinating Conjunction Comma. . . l Place a comma before a coordinating conjunction that joins two independent clauses. l The coordinating conjunctions are: for, and, but, yet, or, so. l For Example: l The best place to take a vacation is Chicago, but the best place to take a honeymoon is Hawaii.

Practice We can go to the zoo or we can go to the movie theater. l We can go to the zoo, or we can go to the movie theater. l They like chocolate but they like vanilla better. l They like chocolate, but they like vanilla better. l We will go to the restaurant now for we are very hungry. l We will go to the restaurant now, for we are very hungry. l

Comma Rule #4 l The Interrupting Word/Phrase Comma… l Always place a comma before and after any word or phrase that can be removed from the sentence and still make sense. l John, the teacher, wrote his name on the board. l I ran down the street, though I didn’t have to, and fell down and hurt my crown.

Practice l Daniel Garrison a farmer wakes up very early. l Daniel Garrison, a farmer, wakes up very early. l Mr. Tanner my teacher is wearing a gray shirt. l Mr. Tanner, my teacher, is wearing a gray shirt. l The car a 1967 Ford Mustang is very fast. l The car, a 1967 Ford Mustang, is very fast.

Comma Rule #3 l The Introductory Word or Phrase comma… l Always place a comma after an introductory word or phrase. See below. l John, what are you doing to my car? l As I walked down the street, I ran into a friend I hadn’t seen in years.

Practice l Yes I would like more water please. l Yes, I would like more water please. l Sorry we do not have enough room. l Sorry, we do not have enough room. l Well I hope the problem will be fixed soon. l Well, I hope the problem will be fixed soon.

Comma Rule #5 l The Concluding Word/Phrase Comma… l Always place a comma before any word or phrase that is just tagged on at the end of the sentence. See below. l Is that you in the corner, John? l I hadn’t seen John in years, though that didn’t make much difference in our friendship.

Practice: l Are you ok Bob? l Are you ok, Bob? l Where are you going to the gym? l Where are you going, to the gym? l I really want that one the red one. l I really want that one, the red one.

Comma Rule #6 l The Catch-all Comma…use it… l to separate numbers more than four digits long (1, 000), l to separate city from state, (Paris, Texas), l to separate month & year (August 15, 1980), l before and after titles (James Smith, M. D. , is no longer working here. ), l To set off a quote (He yelled, “Stop!”

Practice: The capital of the United States is Washington D. C. l The capital of the United States is Washington, D. C. l Today is Tuesday June 10 1992. l Today is Tuesday June 10, 1992. l I would like 10000000 dollars. l I would like 10, 000 dollars. l The sign said “James Joyce Ph. D. ” The sign said, “James Joyce, Ph. D. ” l