Comma Rules
COMMAS are important marks of punctuation that help to divide sentences into readable
parts by indicating pauses. If you master the ten rules that follow, you will improve the
clarity of your writing.
1. Use a COMMA after introductory elements in a sentence.
Examples:
 Surprisingly, comma rules are not very difficult to learn.
 That is, as long as you are willing to study.
 When students complete practice exercises on grammar, they will apply
rules that they just learned.
Punctuate:
 Oddly enough most students love to study.
 Practically speaking I would bet most students will earn an “A” on their
test.
 If you ever have a chance to meet a comma expert thank your lucky stars!
 While students complete the exercises in this packet they will learn some
very important comma rules.
2. Use a COMMA to separate a nonessential interrupting element
(such as a participial phrase or adjective clause) from the rest of a
sentence. Do not use COMMAS with phrases or clauses that are
essential to the meaning.
Examples:
 After they stopped at the store, Dan and his brother walked to school.
 Dan and his brother, the one who usually drove his car, walked to school
on Monday.
 The Titanic, an unsinkable ship, sank.
 Anyone who finishes early may start tomorrow’s assignment.
Punctuate:
 No one in school however knew that Bill’s middle name was “Gideon.”
 My brother thinks that broccoli the world’s tastiest vegetable should be
eaten at every meal.
 Mrs. Smith after being hypnotized by the magician fell off of the stage
during an assembly.
 The most important thing that the astronauts took to the moon not
counting a ton of powdered vegetables was a shiny roll of duct tape.
 Everyone who has an “A” should stand up to receive an award.
3. Use a COMMA to separate items or phrases in a series, unless the
items are separated by the words AND or OR.
Examples:
 * Calvin liked sausage, cereal and prunes for breakfast.
 * Calvin liked sausage, cereal, and prunes for breakfast.
 Bring your notebook and textbook and pencil to class each day.
 Bring either your gum or mints or candy on the trip.
* Note: With the last item in a series, you can use a comma before the and if you
want. Often the comma is not used, but either way is correct.
Punctuate:
 Max is clever wise wonderfully funny and good with gorillas.
 Tacos burritos and fried ice cream are the specialty of the house at the new
Mexican restaurant.
 Uncle Felix is rich and weird and funny bubble gum cookies and earrings.
 You will see hippos giraffes zebras monkeys and penguins at the zoo.
 Why not bring your complaints ideas and suggestions to the next meeting?
4. Use a COMMA, along with the connecting word AND, BUT, OR,
FOR, or NOR, to separate the two parts of a compound sentence.
Examples:
 Alex ate a hamburger, and Bill gobbled up four tacos and an order of fries.
 Last year I was an alien in the school play, but this year I am a chicken.
 Marvin hated vitamins, for his mother always made him take them with
cod liver oil.
Punctuate:
 Beth absolutely loves jelly and pickle sandwiches but won’t touch any
other kind of sandwich in the world.
 Kate weaseled out of soccer practice yet I think she makes the best
candidate for MVP.
 The boy hated cartoons yet he could sing the theme song to all of my
favorites.
 Michelle enjoyed her pets and she loved caring for them each and every
day.
 Did Mom say that we will go out to dinner or did Dad say that he will
cook at home?
5. Use a COMMA to separate an ending element from the rest of the
sentence.
Examples:
 Mary gave most of her customers the same haircut, at least most of the time.
 I want another cookie, Mom.
 Dad cooked a huge meal, at the same time reviewing my homework.
Punctuate:
 I love oatmeal and raisin cookies incidentally.
 I must have that puppy in the window the one with the three black paws.
 Mike is the star quarterback on our football team the Daniel Boone Blazers.
 Jim lives in the attic a place of cobwebs and dreams.
6. Use a COMMA between the different parts of a date.
Examples:
 Bernie and Polly were married on August 14, 1999.
 Cheryl was born on March 1, 1949, in a little town in southern Colorado.
 Damien began cello lessons on October 23, 1999, because his father wanted him
to carry on the family tradition.
Punctuate:
 On December 4 1289 a Roman teenager invented the world’s first dating service.
 Years ago on November 1 1988 Eva decided that by December 1 1989 Bill should
propose marriage.
 It was early on the morning of May 5 2007 that Wayne learned the concept of
“corporal punishment.”
 At midnight on December 31 1999 the world celebrated a new millennium.
7. Use a COMMA between each part of an address, except for the state
AND the zip code.
Examples:
 The ad read, “Ed’s Painting School, 401 Last Avenue, Dillpot, Delaware 19898.”
 I lived at 340 West Pile Street, Newark, Alabama before I moved.
Punctuate:
 Send your complaints to Mary Bell 141 Laurel Road Hickory Arkansas 72065.
 Please send my refund to 6542 Hullabaloo Lane Fort Kent Texas 78514.
 If you arrive early stop in and see me at 600 Rose Avenue Philadelphia Pa.
8. Use a COMMA after a name followed by Jr., Sr., OR other
abbreviated titles, like M.D.
Examples:
 Mattie McGuire, Ph.D., was famous for her art technique, “splotch and splatter.”
 Melvin Schwinn, M.D., and Lawrence Gutting, Jr., are in charge of training.
 Emily Strong, R.N., is the best nurse in the hospital.
Punctuate:
 For Teacher of the Year I nominated Dr. Youse Ph.D. for his famous lectures.
 Otto Rizzo Jr. has discovered that spending the extra time makes all of the
difference.
 Brain Stile Sr. made his debut at last night’s concert.
9. Use a COMMA after the salutation of a friendly letter and
after the closing of either a friendly letter or a business letter.
Examples:
Dear Uncle Bob,
Please buy me a new bike. My old one is broken.
Sincerely,
Ralph
10.Use a COMMA to separate coordinate adjectives before a
noun, unless the coordinate adjectives are separated by AND
or OR.
Examples:
 One more comma rule to go in this long, easy packet.
 The tall, red-haired stranger asked me a question.
 Cold and windy days do not bother me. (NO comma needed)
Punctuate:
 Nobody saw the gray lonely pigeon on the park bench.
 It was a dark and stormy night.
 Jeff ate the steamy attractive bowl of Spam nuggets.
 Nobody believed his weary pointless lies anymore.