THOSE PESKY THOSE PESKY COMMAS!COMMAS!

14 COMMA RULES TO 14 COMMA RULES TO MAKE YOU A BETTER MAKE YOU A BETTER

WRITER WRITER

RULE #1RULE #1 IN A SERIES IN A SERIES

- Use commas when two or more - Use commas when two or more adjectives precede a noun; use a adjectives precede a noun; use a comma after each adjective, except the comma after each adjective, except the last one. last one.

- - Use a comma after every item in a Use a comma after every item in a series of three or more.series of three or more.

- Do NOT use commas when an adverb - Do NOT use commas when an adverb describes an adjective!describes an adjective!

RULE #1RULE #1 In a series of 3 or In a series of 3 or more… more…

I like nachos burritos and tamales.

, ,3 items = 2 commas

I brought my sleeping bag sleeping pad Nalgene bottle and a tent on the trip.

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4 items = 3 commas

RULE #1RULE #1 When 2 or more adjectives When 2 or more adjectives precede a noun…precede a noun…

Sara found a Sara found a slimyslimy wetwet squishysquishy slug in her sleeping bag.slug in her sleeping bag.

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3 adjectives before the noun = 2 commas

RULE #1RULE #1 NO commas between an NO commas between an adverb and an adjective…adverb and an adjective…

The The extraordinarilyextraordinarily observantobservant student picked up a wad of paper student picked up a wad of paper off the floor. off the floor.

No Commas Needed!!

RULE #2RULE #2 QUOTATION MARKSQUOTATION MARKS

- Use commas to set off - Use commas to set off explanatory words (such as explanatory words (such as Rachel saidRachel said, , replied Maggie, replied Maggie, announced Tim)announced Tim) of a of a direct direct quotationquotation..

RULE #2RULE #2 QUOTATION MARKSQUOTATION MARKS

““So far “ So far “ began Elissabegan Elissa “English “English has been very enlightening.”has been very enlightening.”

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Gasping for breath, Tristan announced “The pigeons pecked at my ankles and chased me across the street.”

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RULE #3RULE #3 TOO MEANS ALSOTOO MEANS ALSO

-Use commas to separate “too” -Use commas to separate “too” from the rest of the sentence from the rest of the sentence when it can be replaced by the when it can be replaced by the word “also.” word “also.”

RULE #3RULE #3 TOO MEANS ALSOTOO MEANS ALSO

I want to go to Culver’s for dinner I want to go to Culver’s for dinner tootoo. .

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,Running 26.2 miles would make my Running 26.2 miles would make my legs ache legs ache tootoo. .

RULE 4RULE 4 IN DATESIN DATES

-Use commas between the day -Use commas between the day of the month and the year. of the month and the year.

-In a sentence, the comma -In a sentence, the comma follows the year. follows the year.

RULE #4RULE #4 IN DATESIN DATES

December 6 2007December 6 2007,

October 31 1989 was the last October 31 1989 was the last Halloween that I went “trick-or-Halloween that I went “trick-or-treating.” treating.”

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RULE #5RULE #5 IN ADDRESSESIN ADDRESSES

-Use commas between the name -Use commas between the name of the city or town and the name of the city or town and the name of its state or country and the of its state or country and the rest of the sentence. rest of the sentence. -In writing the address in a -In writing the address in a sentence, use a comma after each sentence, use a comma after each item (item (ExceptExcept between state and between state and zip code). zip code).

RULE #5RULE #5 IN ADDRESSESIN ADDRESSES

Sydney Australia sounds like a Sydney Australia sounds like a wonderful place to visit. wonderful place to visit.

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,Mail the package to 1234 Candy Mail the package to 1234 Candy Cane Ln Hopkins MN 55305. Cane Ln Hopkins MN 55305. ,

RULE #6RULE #6 LETTERLETTER

- Use commas after the - Use commas after the greeting and closing of a greeting and closing of a letter. letter.

RULE #6RULE #6 LETTERLETTER

Dear Mom Dear Mom I love your home cooking! I love your home cooking!

With love With love TimmyTimmy

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RULE #7RULE #7 DIRECT ADDRESSDIRECT ADDRESS

-Use commas to set off the -Use commas to set off the nouns of a direct address (or, nouns of a direct address (or, the name of someone directly the name of someone directly spoken to). spoken to).

RULE #7RULE #7 IN DIRECT ADDRESSIN DIRECT ADDRESS

Explain to us Explain to us Mr. HunterMr. Hunter why you felt why you felt the need to sign with the California the need to sign with the California Angels for more money. Angels for more money.

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Good afternoon Anna!

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RULE #8RULE #8 INTERJECTIONSINTERJECTIONS

- Use commas before and/or - Use commas before and/or after words that are after words that are interjected into sentences. interjected into sentences. Interjection words includeInterjection words include yes, no, well, oh. yes, no, well, oh.

RULE #8RULE #8 INTERJECTIONSINTERJECTIONS

YesYes I would love to go see I would love to go see High School High School Musical on IceMusical on Ice! !

, ,Well I wasn’t sure whether the note

was from him or not, so I threw it away!

RULE #9RULE #9 INTRODUCTORY INTRODUCTORY

WORDS/PHRASESWORDS/PHRASES- Use commas to separate - Use commas to separate introductory words or introductory words or phrases from the rest of phrases from the rest of the sentence.the sentence.

RULE #9RULE #9 INTRODUCTORY INTRODUCTORY WORDS/PHRASESWORDS/PHRASESKey words that indicate an

introductory phrase – when, while, after, before, if, so, since.

If these words begin a sentence, use a comma after the phrase, but ignore them in the middle of a sentence.

RULE #9RULE #9 INTRODUCTORY INTRODUCTORY

WORDS/PHRASESWORDS/PHRASESSinceSince hearing the prognosis hearing the prognosis II have have beenbeen a nervous wreck. a nervous wreck.

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,After the movie we went for ice cream. Unfortunately the game cannot be rescheduled.

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RULE #10RULE #10 INTERRUPTERS INTERRUPTERS

(PARENTHETICAL EXPRESSIONS)(PARENTHETICAL EXPRESSIONS)

- Use commas to set off words - Use commas to set off words or groups of words that or groups of words that interrupt the flow of thought interrupt the flow of thought in a sentence. in a sentence.

RULE #10RULE #10 INTERRUPTERS INTERRUPTERS

(PARENTHETICAL (PARENTHETICAL EXPRESSIONS)EXPRESSIONS)I I on the other handon the other hand love to eat love to eat

chocolate cookies. chocolate cookies. ,

,Change I believe is life’s only constant.

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,Learning about commas for example helps us become better writers.

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RULE #11RULE #11 APPOSITIVEAPPOSITIVE

- Use commas to set off - Use commas to set off appositives. An appositive is a appositives. An appositive is a noun or phrase that comes noun or phrase that comes immediately after another immediately after another noun that gives more noun that gives more information about that noun.information about that noun.

RULE #11RULE #11 APPOSITIVEAPPOSITIVE

Sally Sally my neighbormy neighbor sells seashells by sells seashells by the seashore. the seashore.

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,Emily Fox a standout guard for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers is a world champion cup stacker.

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RULE #12RULE #12 CONJUNCTIONSCONJUNCTIONS

-Use a comma before the Use a comma before the conjunction that joins two conjunction that joins two independent sentences. independent sentences. (Sentence = Subject + Verb)(Sentence = Subject + Verb)

Conjunctions = FANBOYS For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So

RULE #12RULE #12 CONJUNCTIONSCONJUNCTIONS

Rebecca wants to learn to play the Rebecca wants to learn to play the guitar guitar butbut her guitar only has two her guitar only has two strings. strings.

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,James dreams of becoming a rock star so he rehearses every day.

RULE #13RULE #13 IN PHRASESIN PHRASES

- Use a comma to separate a - Use a comma to separate a phrase phrase (an explanatory group (an explanatory group of words without a subject of words without a subject and/or verb)and/or verb) from the rest of from the rest of the sentence.the sentence.

RULE #13RULE #13 IN PHRASESIN PHRASES

Running through the woodsRunning through the woods I tripped I tripped on a log and scraped my knee. on a log and scraped my knee.

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,The window cracked from the cold The window cracked from the cold needed to be replaced. needed to be replaced.

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RULE #14RULE #14 IN CLAUSESIN CLAUSES

- Use a comma to separate a - Use a comma to separate a clause (a group of words with clause (a group of words with its own subject and verb) its own subject and verb) from the rest of the sentence. from the rest of the sentence.

RULE #14RULE #14 IN CLAUSESIN CLAUSES

The snow storm The snow storm which was the worst which was the worst of the yearof the year made driving terrible. made driving terrible.

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, My neighbor who lives in a tent My neighbor who lives in a tent values the preservation of our values the preservation of our environment. environment.

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