Rule #1 Use commas to separate three or more items in a list or series. Example: Sally went to the store to purchase eggs, milk, and butter. Practice (add commas where needed): 1) Soccer hockey and basketball are Timmy’s favorite sports. 2) Lilly wants to order pizza cheese sticks garlic bread and soda for lunch.

Rule #2: Use commas between two independent clauses that are joined by a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS). An independent clause is a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence. These are called compound sentences. Example: Computers can be valuable in education, but many schools cannot afford enough of them. Practice (add commas where needed): 1) Hockey players have a lot of gear but their most important pieces of equipment are their skates. 2) The quality of the ice affects skating so stadiums take care to maintain their rinks.

Rule #3 Use commas to set off appositives from the rest if the sentence. An appositive is a word or phrase that identifies or renames a noun or pronoun. Example: The best middle school around, Highland Middle School, has won many games. Example: Many other inventors, people from all over the world, added to the growth of radio. Practice (add commas where needed): 1) The Indians natives of the area made beautiful pottery. 2) Redwoods the giant trees were used for dugout canoes.

Use commas to distinguish between items in an address or a date. Rule #4 Use commas to distinguish between items in an address or a date. Example: On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr., gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. Practice (add commas where needed): 1) The war officially began on April 12 1861 when Confederate troops fired upon Fort Sumter South Carolina. 2) Fort Sumter is a national monument at 1214 Middle Street Sullivan’s Island South Carolina 29482.

Use a comma after the greeting in Rule #5: Use a comma after the greeting in a friendly letter and after the closing of any letter. Examples: Dear Danielle, Sincerely, Thank you, Love, Practice (add commas where needed): 1) Dear Mom Love Cindy

Rule #6 Use commas to separate a noun of direct address from the rest of the sentence. (A noun of direct address is a noun that names a person being spoken to in the sentence.) Example: Sally, did you know that an interior designer can change wallpaper and fabrics on a computer screen? Practice (add commas where needed): 1) Jim what grade did you get on your vocabulary quiz? 2) Did you know Sally that I got an A!

Rule #7 Use commas to set off the exact words of a speaker from the rest of the sentence. Example: The firefighter reported, “It took two hours to extinguish the fire.” Practice (add commas where needed): 1) The teacher reminded “Your assignment is due tomorrow.” 2) “Pizza is my favorite meal” Jim declared.

Rule #8 Use commas to separate two or more adjectives that equally modify the same noun. Example: Comfortable, efficient cars are becoming more important to drivers. Practice (add commas where needed): 1) In the wild crazy years of the 1920’s, radios became very popular. 2) Soon companies were designing radios with beautiful stylish cabinets.

Rule #9 Use commas to set off a side remark that adds information or shows a relationship between ideas. Example: To tell the truth, Jan is one of my best friends. HMS, in my opinion, has the best students around. Practice: You don’t need a telescope however to see all the beautiful sights in the sky. English is one of the most important subjects in school I think.

Rule #10 Use a comma after yes, no, or any mild exclamation such as well or why. Examples: Yes, you may borrow my bike. Well, I think you are wrong again. Practice: Well we can watch a movie or listen to music. Why it’s Leah!