COMMAS (a comma stands for a “pause”)

In a series: 3 or more items in a list/series within a sentence – put comma after each one except the last one

Nurses dentists and surgeons are medical professionals.

Physicians prevent identify and cure diseases.

Doctors work in hospitals clinics and private offices.

In a compound sentence: put a comma BEFORE the conjunction (and, but, or) –need a subject and predicated before the comma/conjunction and a subject and predicate after the comma/conjunction.

Vaccines are inexpensive and they prevent many illnesses.

Nurses assist doctors but physician’s assistants give physical examinations themselves.

DO NOT USE A COMMA TO SEPARATE COMPOUND SUBJECTS OR COMPOUND PREDICATES UNLESS IT IS A SERIES OF THREE OR MORE ITEMS.

After introductory words: For introductory words at the beginning of a sentence, a comma follows.

Kirsten do you know the story’s theme?

Yes this theme is very obvious.

Well can you explain your answer?

Sure I can give it a try.

Interruptors and Appositives: These can come at beginning, middle, or end of a sentence…

At beginning, put one comma after.

In middle, put a comma before and after the interruptor/appositive.

At end, put one comma before interruptor/appositive…end punctuation will follow.

Robert Scott an Englishman was a month behind Roald Amundsen who discovered the South Pole.

Scott however died during his return from the South Pole.

Write a report James on the two men’s expeditions.

Of course Amundsen’s sleds were pulled by dogs.

Scott on the other hand mistakenly used ponies.

Amundsen beat Scott to the Pole by only a month however.

Dates: Put a comma between day and year—must have month, day, and year. DO NOT USE A COMMA IF A DATE CONSISTS OF ONLY A MONTH AND A DAY OR A MONTH AND A YEAR.

She was born September 29 1973.

The tournament has been scheduled for July 5.

The United States entered World War I in April 1917.

Address: Put a comma between city and state or city and country. Use a comma between a street and city when in a sentence, but NOT between the city and ZIP code.

The flight went from Miami Florida to Cancun Mexico.

Set off the second part of a date or an address when it is included in a sentence.

On July 14 1789 citizens of Paris France revolted.

Quotations/Dialogue: Separate a direct quotation from other words in a sentence. The comma goes OUTSIDE the quotation marks at the beginning and INSIDE the quotation marks at the end.

Cher said “ The cowbird does not raise its own young.”

“It lays its eggs in other birds’ nests ” Tom added.