English B60 Commas

Between items in a series When you have three or more items in a series, separate those items with commas. Before going to bed, I brush my teeth, wash my face, and put on my pajamas. You do not need to put a comma between two item series. I like to eat bananas and pears. Make sure you include the oxford comma (the comma before the “and” and the last item in the series) to avoid confusion.

With a FANBOY between ICs Put a comma with a coordinating conjunction between two independent clauses to fix a run on or comma splice. I was too tired to study last night, so I’ll do it on Saturday. If you have a FANBOY without a comma, you have a run on. If you have a comma without a FANBOY you have a comma splice.

After introductory material Material that introduces the rest of your sentence should be set off with a comma. If the material at the start of your sentence cannot stand alone, then it needs a comma after it. It could be a single word. I enjoy being a student. However, it is a lot of work. Or it could be a phrase. We don’t have the materials we need to start the project. In the mean time, we’ll do the assigned reading. Or it could be a clause. Because he forgot his backpack, he can’t turn in his homework.

To set off non-essential material If you have additional information in your sentence that is not grammatically necessary and is not the main idea you are trying to convey, you should set it off with commas. My mother, who is 65 years old, loves Elvis. Your instinct might be to use parenthesis, but they are more informal, so use commas instead.

Between two adjectives that modify the same noun If you have two adjectives that modify the same noun, separate them with commas. The cold, dark night was the longest of her life. Make sure you do not put a comma between an adverb and the adjective it is modifying. The bright red ball bounced on the pavement.

Direct address Use commas to set off words and phrases directly addressing the audience.

Other uses Direct quotations Dates Addresses Numbers Charlotte Lucas, in Pride and Prejudice, says, “Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance” (69). Dates I got married on June 26, 2008. Addresses She was born in Sacramento, California. Numbers He received 1,000 valentines.

Practice Working together in small groups, add commas where necessary in the following sentences. On January 15 2008 our office moved to Mechanicsville VA. After the coach thoroughly bawled us out we left the locker room with his harsh words ringing in our ears. Ms. Carlson you are a valued customer whose satisfaction is very important to us. Putting together a successful fundraiser Patricia discovered requires creativity and good timing. Roger is a warm affectionate father. German shepherds can be gentle guide dogs or they can be fierce attack dogs. Daniel always wanted a handmade violin but he couldn’t afford one.