Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Commas *

* But Were Afraid to Ask

Wendy, Zuniga, Sanchez, & Gustavo

Put a comma before and, but, for, nor, yet, so when they connect

two independent clauses.

If you use a conjunction between two independent clauses and leave

out the comma, you will have a run-on sentence.

The work of art was sublime, so I bought it immediately.

Her apartment was impeccable, yet the buyer did not make an offer.

Put a comma between items in a series.

She had to take comprehensive exams, write a dissertation, and defend her dissertation to culminate her degree in Chemistry.

It is permissible to omit the comma before the and connecting the last two members of a series, but more

often it is used.

Put a comma after an introductory expression that doesn’t flow smoothly into the sentence, or before an afterthought that is tacked on.It may be a word, a group of words, or a dependent clause.

Because she looked impeccable, she was the epitome of a top model.

Even though it seemed impossible, I was able to reach the zenith of Mt. Everest.

Put commas around the name of a person spoken to.

Wendy, your eyes eclipse the sun.

Laila, your sense of style is inimitable.

Put commas around an expression that interrupts the flow of the sentence (such as however, moreover, finally, therefore, of course, by the way, on the other hand, I am sure, I think).

I hope, of course, that she is in optimum health.

Put commas around nonessential material.

The man who won the chess championship, without much effort,

was peerless.

Mr. Cruz, the best Art History teacher in school, said that Greek columns are the quintessence of architecture.

Master the previous comma rules, and you will be writing like a pro.