Comma Use Notes
…because it’s swag to use correct punctuation
The Rules:
(1) Use commas to separate items in a series of two or more items
Ex. Jackson likes apples, oranges, watermelon, and grapes.
Ex. Finding healthy, appetizing fast food is difficult.
(2) Use a comma with a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) to separate two independent clauses
Ex. Maya is going to travel throughout Australia for a year, and I will be staying
home going to school.
Ex. We will be going to the mountains again this summer, but this time we will bring
mosquito repellant.
(3) Use a comma to set-off non-essential elements (extra information) such as a phrase or clause. Trick: you should be able to take the portion of the sentence between the commas out and the sentence will still make sense. See below.
Ex. Once upon a time, before television and computers, people read books for fun.
à Once upon a time, people read books for fun.
Ex. I am, as you can probably tell, pretty obsessed with Twilight.
à I am pretty obsessed with Twilight.
(4) Use a comma after an opening clause (this will be a dependent clause), word, or phrase
Ex. As you can see, the problem is much bigger than we imagined.
Ex. Because we get so much snow in Michigan, we usually get a snow day.
Ex. No, I don’t want pineapple on my pizza.
Ex. Sadly, she is sick and won’t be able to attend the concert.
(5) Use a comma to follow conventions of naming, citing sources, presenting addresses, dates, etc.
a. Use to separate a city from a state
Ex. I have lived in Orange, California and Farmington Hills, Michigan.
b. Use to separate the day of the month from the year, and after the year before continuing with the sentence.
Ex. My sister was born in December, 1986, a few days before Christmas.
c. Use to separate name from degrees or titles
Ex. Professor McDonald, Ph.D., received his doctoral from Yale.
(6) Use commas to separate adjectives
Ex. A thin, handsome man approached me after work.
(7) Use a comma with a conjunctive adverb to separate two independent clauses
NOTE: A semi-colon separates the two independent clauses and a comma follows the
conjunctive adverb
Ex. It rained during the afternoon; consequently, our trip to the mountains had to be postponed.
Comma Worksheet
“Let’s eat, Grandma!”
“Let’s eat Grandma!”
…grammar saves lives
Part I Directions: Put commas in the correct places in each sentence and label the sentence with the appropriate comma rule(s).
1. Even though the paint was still wet I couldn't resist touching it.
2. After the fire burned out I went inside the house.
3. In English class we read Old Man and the Sea Dracula and Beowulf.
4. I watched television took the dog for a walk and drove to the store to get milk.
5. William Shakespeare a famous playwright wrote Macbeth and Hamlet.
6. The three pound bass which was the biggest fish I ever caught tasted delicious.
7. While the turkey was cooking I prepared mashed potatoes.
8. My best friend John just bought a new lawn mower.
9. In the basement mice hide between the boxes.
10. After hiking in the woods for three hours I sat down to have a drink of water.
11. The big gray dog wouldn't stop barking last night.
12. Jane I would like you to meet my mother and father.
13. I need to go to the hardware store to get nails paint and light bulbs.
14. We drove all day consequently we were tired in the early evening.
15. I've had enough of your silly wild and inappropriate behavior.
Part II Directions: Write your own sentences that utilize each of the six comma rules.
Rule 1: ______.
Rule 2: ______.
Rule 3: ______.
Rule 4: ______.
Rule 5: ______.
Rule 6: ______.
Rule 7: ______.