Commas

1. Commas After Introductory Phrases : Prepositional Phrases (start with time and space word + noun)

Example: Among the winners, brunettes were the smartest.

DOL: After the show was over we packed up the props, slippers, gowns, and make up and went to dinner.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • ••

1. Commas after Introductory Phrases: Participial Phrases (start with -ing, -ed words—they act like adjectives)

Example: Running quickly, she ate her favorite ice cream.

DOL: Walking briskly toward home she thought about what she’d have for dinner.

1. Commas After Introductory Dependent Clauses

When, whenever, after, as, before, once, since, till, until, now that, as long as, as soon as, though, although, even though, if, while if, once, in case, unless, provided that, because, so, so that, just as, as if, while, whereas

Example: Because she wasn’t feeling well, she put on her red pajamas and slept in.

DOL: As soon as I’m finished drinking my coffee I’ll help you.

1. Commas After Introductory Words: Conjunctive Adverbs and Interjections

Example: Yes, I’m feeling fine.

DOL: Whoa that’s the longest equation I’ve ever seen!

DOL: Consequently the government must make a new law.

2. Commas to Separate Items in a Series: Words, Phrases, Clauses

Example: Alaska, Texas, and California are our three largest states.

DOL: She walked home from school made herself a sandwich and sat on the couch.

DOL: The school board should start reading student feedback listening to teachers and minimizing their paperwork.

3. Commas to Separate Adjectives (that equally modify the same noun; colors excluded)

Example: It was a warm, starry, fragrant evening.

DOL: She wore a soft green velvet coat.

DOL: He gave her a long-stemmed red rose.

4. Commas to Set Off Nonessential Elements: Appositive Phrases (restate a noun or pronoun)

Example: Ms. Vinjamuri, my English teacher,

loves commas.

DOL: Florida also called the sunshine state has two seasons: hot and very hot.

4. Commas to Set Off Nonessential Elements: Antithetical Phrases (not or unlike)

Example 1: Rocky Road, not Turtle Tracks, is the most chocolaty ice cream.

DOL: Marcy unlike Bobby brought her books to class today.

4. Commas to Set Off Nonessential Elements

Which sentence doesn’t need commas to set off a phrase?

She stood unwilling to move until she finally passed out and fell over.

My white ‘69 Oldsmobile which still ran like new puttered as I drove her on the fresh asphalt.

The girl who wore white gloves turned and coughed.

4. Commas to Set Off Nonessential Elements: Interjections and Conjunctive AdverbsExample : The longest river in the world, in fact, is in

South America.Example : She really meant to steal your wallet,

nonetheless.

DOL:I wasn’t hungry though.

DOL: I wanted to tell you by the way that I’ll be picking up pizza.

5. Comma + FANBOYS to Separate Independent ClausesExample 1: I told Jen what he said , and she

advised me to forget it.

DOL: I tried to tell you you wouldn’t listen! She was so tall, her head grazed the ceiling.

6. Commas in an Address or Date

Separate like terms with commas:

May 2002 (no comma needed)May 14, 2002

1474 Prairie Meadow StreetColorado Springs, CO 80921

7. Commas and Names• Letter salutation: Dear Abby,

• Letter signature: Love, Mom

• Direct address of another person: Hey, Ronda

• Introduction of another person: My sister, Sue, wanted to come.

DOL

Saturday May 12 2001Dear Sally

My address is 283 Pemberly Rd. San Diego CA 33459. I miss you Sally.

Love Mary