The SIX Basic Comma The SIX Basic Comma RulesRules

Thanks to a great book:Thanks to a great book:The LEAST You Should Know The LEAST You Should Know

about Englishabout English

Comma Rule #1Comma Rule #1The Serial…Comma, not Killer…The Serial…Comma, not Killer…

Place a comma between items in a Place a comma between items in a series as in the example below.series as in the example below.

I have my laptop, my pens, my pencils, I have my laptop, my pens, my pencils, and my MP3 Player in my backpack. and my MP3 Player in my backpack.

Comma Rule #2Comma Rule #2The Coordinating Conjunction The Coordinating Conjunction

Comma... Place a comma before a Comma... Place a comma before a coordinating conjunction that joins coordinating conjunction that joins two independent clauses. The two independent clauses. The coordinating conjunctions are: and, coordinating conjunctions are: and, but, for, nor, or, so, and yet.but, for, nor, or, so, and yet.

For Example: The best place to take a For Example: The best place to take a vacation is Chicago, but the best vacation is Chicago, but the best place to take a honeymoon is Hawaii.place to take a honeymoon is Hawaii.

Comma Rule #3Comma Rule #3The Introductory Word or Phrase The Introductory Word or Phrase

comma…comma…Always place a comma after an Always place a comma after an introductory word or phrase. See below.introductory word or phrase. See below.

John, what are you doing to my car? ORJohn, what are you doing to my car? ORAs I walked down the street, I ran into a As I walked down the street, I ran into a

friend I hadn’t seen in years.friend I hadn’t seen in years.

Comma Rule #4Comma Rule #4The Interrupting Word/Phrase Comma…The Interrupting Word/Phrase Comma…

Always place a comma before and after Always place a comma before and after any word or phrase that can be removed any word or phrase that can be removed from the sentence and still make sense.from the sentence and still make sense.

For Example: John, the teacher, wrote his For Example: John, the teacher, wrote his name on the board. ORname on the board. OR

I ran down the street, though I didn’t have I ran down the street, though I didn’t have to, and fell down and hurt my crown.to, and fell down and hurt my crown.

Comma Rule #5Comma Rule #5The Concluding Word/Phrase Comma…The Concluding Word/Phrase Comma…

Always place a comma before any word Always place a comma before any word or phrase that is just tagged on at the or phrase that is just tagged on at the end of the sentence. See below.end of the sentence. See below.

Is that you in the corner, John? ORIs that you in the corner, John? ORI hadn’t seen John in years, though that I hadn’t seen John in years, though that

didn’t make much difference in our didn’t make much difference in our friendship.friendship.

Comma Rule #6Comma Rule #6The Catch-all Comma…use it… The Catch-all Comma…use it… to separate numbers more than four digits to separate numbers more than four digits

long (1,000,000),long (1,000,000),to separate city from state, (Paris, Texas),to separate city from state, (Paris, Texas),to separate month & year (August 15, to separate month & year (August 15,

1980),1980),before and after titles (James Smith, M.D., before and after titles (James Smith, M.D.,

is no longer working here.),is no longer working here.),or to prevent confusion (To err is human; or to prevent confusion (To err is human;

to forgive, divine.)to forgive, divine.)

Here’s the book…Here’s the book…

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Tim McGinnTim McGinn&&

The NWACCThe NWACCWriting CenterWriting Center