Comma UsageComma UsageRules, Examples, and Practice

Items in a seriesItems in a series13f: Use commas to separate items in a

series◦She had been a correspondent for the wire service

in London, Paris, Rome, and Madrid. (words)◦ I studied for the test on the way to school, during

homeroom, and in study hall. (phrases)◦The reporter wanted to know who I was, where I

went to school, and I felt about getting my driver’s license. (clauses) Do NOT use a comma before the first item or the final

item in a series.

Tips:Tips:

When and, or, or nor joins the last two items in a series, you may omit the comma before the conjunction if the comma is not needed to make the meaning clear.

CLEAR: Soccer, basketball and lacrosse are my favorite sports.

UNCLEAR: Joetta, Lucia and Ben are rehearsing a scene from the musical Grease.

Tips:Tips:

If all items in a series are joined by and, or, or nor, do not use commas to separate them.

Derrick and Han and Jina will represent the senior class.

PracticePracticePeter opened the world almanac checked the index andidentified the capital of Rwanda.

Interested people can give their applications to Jill JonesLucy Mason or me.

Mark asked the newcomer when he moved to townwhere he works why he chose Alex City and what helikes to do on weekends.

13g: Use a comma to separate tow 13g: Use a comma to separate tow or more adjectives preceding a noun.or more adjectives preceding a noun.Katherine Dunham is a creative, talented

dancer and choreographer.Did you see that boring, silly, worthless

movie?◦Do NOT use a comma before the final

adjective in a series if the adjective is a thought of a part of the noun

Tips:Tips:Two tests will help you determine whether an adjective

and a noun form a unit.

Test 1: Insert the word and between the adjective and the noun. If and fits sensibly, use a comma.

Example: It was a crisp, clear fall day. (And would fit logically between crisp and clear but not between clear and fall.)

Test 2: Change the order of the adjective. If they can be reversed sensibly, use a comma. (Clear, crisp day makes sense, but fall, crisp day and fall, clear day do not.)

PracticePractice

1. The nimble wily stealthy ferret eyed the rabbit cautiously.

2. The reviewer described the movie as action packed thrilling and breathtakingly realistic.

3. Jim and Pedro sat enthralled during the long exciting basketball game.

13h: Use a comma before a coordinating 13h: Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction when it joins independent clauses.conjunction when it joins independent clauses.

Coordinating conjunctions are for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so (FANBOYS)

The sky looks clear, yet rain has been forecast.

I saw a performance of August Wilson’s Fences, and now I am eager to read his other plays.

Tips:Tips:

Always use a comma before for, so, or yet joining independent clauses. The comma may be omitted before and, but, or, or nor when the independent clauses are very short and the meaning is clear without the commas.

UNCLEAR: I will work with Emma and Josh will help Madison.

CLEAR: I will work with Emma, and Josh will help Madison.

Tips:Tips:

Do not confuse a compound sentence with a simple sentence that contains a compound verb.

Ashley and I looked everywhere for the sheet music, but we couldn’t find it.

Ashley and I looked everywhere for the sheet music but couldn’t find it.

Tips:Tips:

Also remember that compound subjects and compound verbs are not separated by commas unless they are made up of three or more items.

When you begin a project and when you finish it are closely related.

My Three Sons, I Love Lucy, and The Dick Van Dyke Show are all considered television classics.

PracticePracticeHeracles has been portrayed in several

movies and his name has some to stand for someone of immense strength.

This mighty warrior’s father was Zeus and his mother was a mortal named Alcmene

Many Greek mythological figures were characterized as the children of gods and mortals and were known as “demigods.”

13i: Use commas to set off nonessential 13i: Use commas to set off nonessential subordinate clauses and nonessential participial subordinate clauses and nonessential participial phrasesphrasesA nonessential clause or participial phrase

contains information that is not necessary to the sentence.

Carla Harris, who was offered scholarships to three different colleges, will go to Vassar in the fall.

Frightened by the thunder, both of the kittens jumped into my lap.

13i continued13i continuedAn essential subordinate clause or

participial phrase is not set off by commas because it contains information that is necessary to the meaning of the sentence.

Carla Harris is the only senior who was offered scholarships to three different colleges.

Any student wanting to go on the trip to South America should sign up by Friday.

13i continued13i continuedSome subordinate clauses and participial phrases

may be either nonessential or essential. The presence or absence of a comma tells the reader how the phrase or clause relates to the main idea of the sentence.

The squirrel, with its bushy tail twitching, was nibbling on an acorn. (Only one squirrel is in sight.)

The squirrel with its bushy tail twitching was nibbling on an acorn. (More than one squirrel was visible, but only one was twitching its tail.)

PracticePractice

Mr. Lowe who is a former pro football player is helping to coach the junior varsity team this year.

Maria caught a steelhead which is a kind of trout as well as some rainbow trout.

Tourists who are not fond of cold weather should think twice about vacationing in Alaska where temperatures can drop to below zero.

13j: Use a comma after certain 13j: Use a comma after certain introductory elementsintroductory elements Use a comma after yes, no, or any mild exclamation, such as well

or why at the beginning of a sentence. ◦ Yes, you are welcome to join us.

Use a comma after an introductory participle or participial phrase.◦ Proofreading my report, I saw that I had written gorilla, instead

of guerrilla, before the word warfare.

13j continued13j continuedUse a comma after two or more introductory

prepositional phrases or after one long introductory prepositional phrase◦ In the park near my house, a music festival will

take place this weekend.◦On the day when the last autumn leaf finally fell, I

packed my bags.Use a comma after an introductory adverb

clause.◦While the orchestra tuned their instruments, the

stagehands checked the curtains.

PracticePractice

Walking as fast a possible we reached the store just before it closed.

In the scene at the end of Casablanca Rick says goodbye to Ilsa.

Why let’s take dancing classes together.

No I really do not enjoy working in the garden.

Often mistaken for Halle Berry my aunt is often asked for her autography

13k: Use commas to set off an 13k: Use commas to set off an expression that interrupts a sentenceexpression that interrupts a sentenceUse commas to set off nonessential

appositives and appositive phrases◦Sipa, a game similar to volleyball, is a

popular sport in the Philippines.◦ James Baldwin wrote the novel Go Tell It

on the Mountain.Words of direct address are set off

by commas◦Dexter, please help your brother set the

table.◦You seem upset, my friend.

13k continued13k continuedParenthetical expressions are set

off by commas.◦After all, by the way, for example, in

fact, in the first place, on the other hand, naturally

◦The train heading to Edinburgh will, I am sure, be on time.

◦My grandfather, by the way, created these colorful sand paintings.

◦We could see by the way Malinda worked that she wanted to do her best. (not parenthetical)

PracticePractice

Susannah to tell the truth is not the world’s most diligent student.

Bushido the code of honor of the Japanese samurai warriors was the subject of the professor’s lecture.

Listen pal I wouldn’t touch that electric wire if I were you.

13l: Use commas in certain 13l: Use commas in certain conventional situationsconventional situationsDates/addresses

◦Hawaii achieved statehood on August 21, 1959, and became the fiftieth state.

◦Write to me at 423 Twentieth Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84101-0423.

◦We began rehearsals on June 20.◦After many years of foreign rule, the

Philippines became an independent nation on 4 July 1946.

◦Did a severe storm hit Luzon in October 1999?

13l continued13l continuedSalutations/closings of personal

letters◦Dear Angela,◦Love,

Titles that follow a person’s name◦Peter Grundel, Jr.◦Lorraine Henson, Ph.D.◦Hazel Sellers, M.D.

13m13mDo not use unnecessary commas

◦Amy, and I put a videocassette, and a fashion catalog, in the time capsule.

◦My brother, and I, enjoy hiking, and last summer, we spent a week, in Arizona, exploring the Grand Canyon, with our cousins.

PracticePractice

His parents were married on June 3 1975 in Portland Oregon.

The association has its headquarters at 6749 56th Street Kansas City MO 64153.

The principal of BRHS is Jose Reyes Jr.Our guest speaker will be Marrisa Valdez

Ph.D.By the way, did you know that, the

Robertsons have moved, to Palo Alto, CA?