Important Rules

COMMA RULES

USE A COMMA AND A COORDINATE CONJUNCTION

(FANBOYS) TO FORM A COMPOUND SENTENCE.

The family walked to the beach, but it was not far.

Comma Rules #1

USE A COMMA AFTER A LONG INTRODUCTORY PHRASE.

Without a thought for his own safety, Nathan rescued the dog.

Comma Rules #2

USE A COMMA AFTER AN INTRODUCTORY

DEPENDENT CLAUSE.

Although Jerry followed

the instructions, she still

could not fix her computer.

Comma Rules #3

USE COMMAS BETWEEN ITEMS IN A SERIES.

Seth bought burgers, chips, and a drink at the game.

Comma Rules #4

ALTHOUGH THE COMMA BEFORE THE CONJUNCTION IS USUALLY

OPTIONAL, IT MUST BE PRESENT IF THE ITEMS CONTAIN MORE THAN

ONE WORD.

Seth bought a burger with onions, fries with ketchup, and a cherry juice.

Comma Rules #4B

USE A COMMA BETWEEN

COORDINATE ADJECTIVES.

Mel rested her arms on the thin, colorful, paperback books as she thought.

Comma Rules #5

USE COMMAS WITH MULTIPLE ADJECTIVES. YOU CAN TELL IF THEY ARE CORRECT BY REPLACING THE COMMA

WITH “AND”.

We made our way down the long, straight, narrow road.

Comma Rules #5B

USE COMMAS TO SET OFF NOUNS OF DIRECT ADDRESS . COMMAS ARE ALWAYS USED TO SET OFF THE NAME OF SOMEONE WHO IS BEING

SPOKEN TO.

Mom, I found my shoes.

Comma Rules #6

USE COMMAS TO SET OFF PARENTHETICAL

ELEMENTS. OFTEN CALLED

“INTERRUPTERS”

George, of course, was able to start

the computer herself.

Comma Rules #7

USE COMMAS TO SET OFF A NON -RESTRICTIVE APPOSITIVE .

I F AN AP P O S IT IV E IS NO N - RES TRIC T IV E — THAT IS , I F

I T D O ES N’ T C O NTAIN ES S ENT IAL INFO RM ATIO N FO R

ID ENT IF Y ING THE NO U N THAT I T FO LLOWS — I T IS O F F - S ET BY C O M M AS .

Ms. Moore, our

English teacher, loves

holding spelling bees.

Comma Rules #8

DO NOT USE COMMAS TO SET OFF A RESTRICTIVE APPOSITIVE. IF AN APPOSIT IVE IS RESTRICT IVE —THAT IS ,

IF IT CONTAINS ESSENTIAL INFORMATION

FOR IDENTIFY ING THE NOUN THAT IT

FOLLOWS— IT DOES NOT REQUIRE ANY ADDED

PUNCTUATION.

The novel To Kill a Mockingbird was the only

book ever published by author Harper Lee.

Comma Rules #8B

USE COMMAS WITH DATES .

Jeremy left for Amelia

Island on August 28,

2000, for one last

weekend at the beach.

Comma Rules #9

USE COMMAS WITH ADDRESSES.

Marge’s family lived at

563 Linden Avenue,

Billings, Montana,

when he was born.

Comma Rules #10

USE COMMAS WITH DIRECT

QUOTATIONS.

Comma Rules #11

“I wish,” commented Grace, “that you wouldn’t call me so early in the morning.” Mary replied, “I can’t help it!”