Comma Usage

Rule #26f Use commas to separate items in a series. I ordered a hamburger, fries, and a soft drink.

Rule #26g Use a comma to separate two or more adjectives preceding a noun. I settled into my cozy, soft, new armchair.

Rule 26h Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction (and, but, for, nor, or, so, yet) when it joins independent clauses (two clauses that could each stand alone as a sentence). We went to school early, and we talked to all our friends.

Rule #26i Use commas to set off nonessential subordinate (dependant) clauses and nonessential participial phrases. My neighbor, who loves animals, works for the Animal Rescue League. The boy, playing with his Nintendo DS, tripped and fell.

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Rule #26j Use a comma after certain introductory elements. (1) Use a comma after yes, no, or any mild exclamation such as well or why at the beginning of a sentence. Yes, I’d like to see that movie.

Rule #26j (continued) (2) Use a comma after an introductory participle or participle phrase. Frightened by the noise, the child started to cry. Going to the store, I notice a leak in my front tires.

Rule 26j (continued) (3) use a comma after two or more introductory prepositional phrases or after one long introductory prepositional phrase. Near the tree by the edge of the water, we sat and talked. Up the dark, winding, steep circular staircase, the women walked carefully.

Rule #26j (continued) (4) Use a comma after an introductory adverb clause. After the organist finished playing, the audience clapped.

Rule #26k Use commas to set off an expression that interrupts a sentence. (1) Use commas to set off nonessential appositives and appositive phrases (pairs of adjacent nouns that play the same grammatical role in a sentence). Our neighbor, Charles Wilson, is a doctor.

Rule #26k (continued) (2) Words used in direct address are set off by commas. Class, read Chapter Two for tomorrow.

Rule #26k (continued) (3) Parenthetical expressions are set off by commas. She won, not surprisingly, first place in each event.

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Rule #26l Use commas in certain conventional situations: To separate items in dates (except in MLA format) and addresses. After the salutation of a personal letter and after the closing of any letter. To set off titles like Jr., Sr., or M.D., that follows a person’s name.

Rule #26l (continued) They have lived at 4315 Hill Street, Quincy, Illinois, since It happened on Monday, October 18, 2002, at 10 A.M.. Mr. Kurt H. Mathews, Jr.

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