Download when to use the comma - East Penn School District

WHEN TO USE THE COMMA: Record the Rules for Commas Using p. 607-622
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Ex. The basketball coach recommended that I practice dribbling, shooting, weaving, and passing. [words in a series]
Ex. We could meet before English class, during lunch, or after school. [phrases in a series]
Ex. Before I go anywhere, I must see that my room is clean, that my little brother is home from the softball game, and that the
trash has been put out. [clauses in a series]
**Do not place a comma before or after a series unless the series end with “etc.”; in that case, a comma is needed.
Ex. Randy bought hamburger, buns, onions, etc., for the cookout.
**Words commonly used in pairs are set off as one item in a series: bread and butter, pork and beans, ham and eggs, etc.
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Ex. Lana is an intelligent, sensitive young woman
** Notice that there is not a comma between sensitive and young. To determine whether two adjectives modify a noun
equally, substitute “and” for the possible comma: intelligent and sensitive young woman. If this can be done, a comma is
necessary
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**Remember FANBOYS!
Ex. The drama club will be putting on Macbeth, and I can hardly wait to audition.
Ex. Amy was nervous about computer programming, but she has been doing very well.
**Comma should not be used when dealing with compound verbs, compound subjects, or compound objects
Ex. My sister went to Emory University but decided to attend the University of Virginia instead. [compound verb]
Ex. Television crews covered the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500 races [compound object]
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** A nonessential clause/phrase is exactly that: not essential. Such a clause may be used to describe something, to explain
something, or to add extra information, but it can be omitted without changing the basic/essential meaning of the sentence.
Ex. Margaret Mead, who was a disciple of Ruth Benedict, was a noted anthropologist. [subordinate clause simply adds
meaning; therefore, it is nonessential.]
Ex. All students who get 92% on their tests will receive an “A”. [the clause “who get 92% on their tests” is essential because if
removed, it changes the meaning of the sentence]
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** Use a comma after words such as well, yes, no, and why when they begin a sentence.
** Use a comma after an introductory participial phrase [a phrase that acts like an adjective to modify a noun or pronoun]
Ex. Looking poised and calm, Jill sauntered toward the bus stop.
** Use a comma after a succession of introductory prepositional phrases.
Ex. At the beginning of the second quarter, he scored a touchdown.
** Use a comma after an introductory adverb clause.
Ex. After my father had locked the car door, he remembered that the keys were still in the ignition.
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**Appositives and appositive phrases are usually set off by commas [an appositive is a word, with or without modifiers, that
follows a noun or pronoun and identifies or explains it.]
Ex. Mrs. Williams, our English teacher, got her degree from the University of Massachusetts.
**When an appositive is so closely related to the word it modifies that it appears to be part of the word, no comma is
necessary. An appositive of this kind is called a restrictive appositive and is usually one word.
Ex. My brother Matt is getting married next year.
Ex. Our friend Jess lives in New York City.
**Words used in direct address are set off by commas
Ex. Mother, did you remember to call Mrs. Smith?
Ex. Will you answer the question, Monica?
**Parenthetical expressions are set off by commas
Ex. By the way, did you see our football team on the sports news?
Commonly used parenthetical expressions
after all
for example
as a matter of fact
however
by the way
I believe (think, hope, etc.)
consequently
incidentally
in fact
in the first place
naturally
nevertheless
on the other hand
therefore
**A contrasting expression introduced by “not” is parenthetical and should be set off by commas
Ex. It is the girls’ team, not the boys’ team, that made it to the state finals.
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** Use a comma to separate items in dates and addresses
 Don’t use commas in dates consisting of a month/season and a year
 Don’t use a comma between a state and zip code
**Use a comma after the salutation of a letter and after the closing of a letter