11 COMMA RULES TO MAKE YOU A BETTER WRITER THOSE PESKY COMMAS! 11 COMMA RULES TO MAKE YOU A BETTER WRITER

RULE #1 IN A SERIES

RULE #1 In a series of 3 or more… I like nachos, burritos, and tamales. , , 3 items = 2 commas I brought my sleeping bag, sleeping pad, canteen, and a tent on the trip. , 4 items = 3 commas

When 2 or more adjectives precede a noun… RULE #1 When 2 or more adjectives precede a noun… , , Sara found a slimy wet squishy slug in her sleeping bag. 3 adjectives before the noun = 2 commas

NO commas between an adverb and an adjective… RULE #1 NO commas between an adverb and an adjective… The extraordinarily observant student picked up a wad of paper off the floor. No Commas Needed!!

RULE #2 QUOTATION MARKS - Use commas to set off explanatory words (such as Rachel said, replied Maggie, announced Tim) of a direct quotation.

RULE #2 QUOTATION MARKS “So far,” began Elissa, “English has been very enlightening.” Gasping for breath, Tristan announced, “The pigeons pecked at my ankles and chased me across the street.”

RULE #3 TOO MEANS ALSO -Use commas to separate “too” from the rest of the sentence when it can be replaced by the word “also.”

RULE #3 TOO MEANS ALSO , , I want to go to Culver’s for dinner too. Running 26.2 miles would make my legs ache, too. ,

RULE #4 IN DATES -Use commas between the day of the month and the year. -In a sentence, the comma follows the year.

RULE #4 IN DATES , , , December 6 2017 October 31 1989 was the last Halloween that I went “trick-or-treating.”

RULE #5 IN ADDRESSES -Use commas between the name of the city/town and the name of its state or country and the rest of the sentence. -In writing the address in a sentence, use a comma after each item (Except between state and zip code).

RULE #5 IN ADDRESSES , Sydney Australia, sounds like a wonderful place to visit. Mail the package to 1234 Candy Cane Lane, Hopkins, MN 55305. ,

RULE #6 DIRECT ADDRESS -Use commas to set off the nouns of a direct address (or, the name of someone directly spoken to).

RULE #6 IN DIRECT ADDRESS , , , Explain to us Mr. Hunter why you felt the need to sign with the California Angels for more money. , Good afternoon Anna!

RULE #7 INTERJECTIONS - Use commas before and/or after words that are interjected into sentences. Interjection words include yes, no, well, oh.

RULE #7 INTERJECTIONS , , Yes I would love to go see Frozen on Ice! Well, I wasn’t sure whether the note was from him or not, so I threw it away!

INTRODUCTORY WORDS/PHRASES RULE #8 INTRODUCTORY WORDS/PHRASES - Use commas to separate introductory words or phrases from the rest of the sentence.

INTRODUCTORY WORDS/PHRASES RULE #8 INTRODUCTORY WORDS/PHRASES Key words that indicate an introductory phrase – when, while, after, before, if, so, since. If these words begin a sentence, use a comma after the phrase, but ignore them in the middle of a sentence.

INTRODUCTORY WORDS/PHRASES/CLAUSES RULE #8 INTRODUCTORY WORDS/PHRASES/CLAUSES Since hearing the prognosis, I have been a nervous wreck. After the movie, we went for ice cream. , Unfortunately, the game cannot be rescheduled. If you are ill, you ought to see a doctor.

RULE #9 APPOSITIVES - Use commas to set off appositives. An appositive is a noun or phrase that comes immediately after another noun to give more information about that noun.

RULE #9 APPOSITIVES Sally, my neighbor, sells seashells by the seashore. Emily Fox, a standout guard for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers, is a world champion bottle flipper. ,

RULE #10 CONJUNCTIONS Use a comma before the conjunction that joins two independent clauses. (Ind. Clause = Subject + Verb) Conjunctions = FANBOYS For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So

RULE #10 CONJUNCTIONS Rebecca wants to learn to play the guitar, but her guitar only has two strings. James dreams of becoming a rock star, so he rehearses every day. ,

NONESSETIONAL PHRASES & CLAUSES WITHIN A SENTENCE RULE #11 NONESSETIONAL PHRASES & CLAUSES WITHIN A SENTENCE Use a pair of commas in the middle of a sentence to set off clauses, phrases, and words that are not essential to the meaning of the sentence. Use one comma before to indicate the beginning of the pause and one at the end to indicate the end of the pause.

CLUES TO DECIDE IF NONESSENTIAL: RULE #11 CLUES TO DECIDE IF NONESSENTIAL: If you leave out the clause, phrase, or word, does sentence still make sense? Does the clause, phrase, or word interrupt the flow of words in the original sentence? If you move the element to a different position in the sentence, does the sentence still make sense?

RULE #11 Clause: That Tuesday, which happens to be my birthday, is the only day when I am available to meet. Phrase: This restaurant has an exciting atmosphere. The food, on the other hand, is rather bland. Word: I appreciate your hard work. In this case, however, you seem to have over-exerted yourself.

RULE #11 WHICH or THAT Clauses that start with which are nonessential Clauses that start with that are essential

RULE #11 WHICH or THAT The book that I borrowed from you is excellent. The book, which I’ve read five times, is excellent.