Comma Rules
Rule #1
Use commas to separate items in a series
 Ex. The camp counselor distributed
baseballs, bats, volleyballs, tennis
rackets, and t-shirts.
 We will have a government of the people,
by the people, and for the people.
Rule #2
Independent Clauses

Use a comma before for, and, nor, but,
or, yet, and so (FAN-BOYS) when they
join independent clauses.
Ex. Patrick brought the sandwiches, and
Cindy brought the salad.
Rule #3
Nonessential Clauses (& Phrases)
Use commas to set off nonessential clauses
and nonessential participial phrases
Ex. Miko, who lives across the street from me,
won a scholarship to UCLA.
Rule #4
Introductory Elements: use a comma
after certain introductory elements
Ex. Calling for a timeout, the referee blew
his whistle.
Ex. No, I haven’t taken the exam yet.
Ex. By the moon’s light, I saw the secret
entrance.
Rule #5
Interrupters: Use commas to set off
elements that interrupt
Ex. Sarah Palin, a politician from Alaska,
was John McCain’s running mate.
Ex. You are, I hope, planning to be on
time.
Rule #6
Conventional Settings
• Use commas to separate items in dates
and addresses (On Saturday, June 21, )
• After the salutation/closing of a letter
(Ex. (1) Dear Megan, (2) Sincerely,)
• Use commas to set off a name that has
an abbreviation (Ex. Dr., Jr., M.D.,)
E.g. Ken Griffey, Jr., could have broken
Maris’ record.
Rule #7
Unnecessary Commas
Do not use unnecessary commas! This can be
just as confusing as not having enough
commas:
On Friday, after school, my friend, Rita, and I
played badminton at the house until her
dog, Ruffles, a frisky, golden retriever got
hit by a moving truck.
Rule #8
Use commas in between adjectives that
describe the same word.
Example:
It was a beautiful, sunny, warm day.
OR
It was a beautiful, sunny, and warm day.
Rule #9
AVOID comma splices

A comma splice is a sentence in which two
independent clauses are joined by a comma
with no conjunction.
Use one of the following four techniques to
correct a comma splice:




Change the comma to a semicolon.
Write the two clauses as separate sentences.
Insert a coordinating conjunction following the
comma.
Make one clause dependent on the other.
Rule #9, cont’d

Comma Splice:
 Kristy forgot to set her alarm, she woke up forty
minutes late.
Let’s fix the comma splice!

Change the comma to a semicolon:

Write the two clauses as separate sentences:

Insert a coordinating conjunction following the comma:

Make one clause dependent on the other: