COMMAS Use commas between two or more adjectives of equal rank that modify the same noun. Kristen applied a blue, shiny glaze to the vase.

RULES, CONTINUED Use a comma after every item in the series except the last one. Woody Allen is a writer, an actor, and a director of popular movies. (words in a series) We searched under the beds, inside drawers, and in closets for the lost ring. (phrases in a series) The doctor explained how the blood test is done, what it reveals, and why it is necessary. (clauses in a series)

RULES, CONTINUED Use commas after words like first, second, and third when they introduce a series. There are four steps to any painting job: first, scraping; second, sanding; third, priming; and fourth, painting.

Add necessary commas to the following sentences. One sentence is correct already. 1) Throughout history there have always been fads in music clothing hairstyles and diets. 2) Fads catch on for a number of reasons: first they are fun; and second they make people feel as if they belong to the popular culture.

EXERCISES, CONTINUED 3) Some of the most enjoyable fads include dances toys games and jewelry. 4) However, fads such as diets skateboards and freestyle bicycles can be dangerous. 5) On the other hand, the brightly colored hula hoops of the 1960’s provided good exercise.

RULES, CONTINUED Use a comma after introductory words or mild interjections such as oh, yes, no, and well. No, we didn’t see any snakes while we were hiking in the mountains. Use a comma after two or more prepositional phrases at the beginning of a sentence. After four rounds with the champ, Diaz was ready to call it a day.

RULES, CONTINUED Use commas to set off one or more words that interrupt the flow of thought in a sentence. (however, therefore, for example, I suppose, moreover, I believe, by the way, in fact, after all, of course, furthermore, nevertheless) The judge, after long deliberation, sentenced the prisoners. William, moreover, made the all-state hockey team. The tire has a slow leak, by the way. Tim, however, decided not to attend.

RULES, CONTINUED Use commas to set off nouns of direct address. Marcia, call a timeout! In the hallway, Mark, is a package for you.

 Use commas to set off appositives. An appositive is a word or phrase that explains or identifies another word. Usually, the appositive comes directly after the word it explains. There are two types of appositives: essential and nonessential.

RULES, CONTINUED Most appositives are nonessential and must be set off by commas for that reason. Timmy, the largest of the boys, was teasing my sister. The Count of Monte Cristo, written by Alexandre Dumas, is a fascinating book.

RULES, CONTINUED Essential appositives are needed to make the meaning of the sentence clear, so they do not get set off by commas. The author Ernest Hemingway is known for his simple, unadorned writing style.

Add necessary commas to the following sentences. 1) Alice Walker the famous writer was born in Georgia. 2) At the age of twelve she lost the sight in one eye in a shooting accident. 3) This young girl nevertheless did not let her partial loss of sight hold her back. 4) That book her first was titled Once. 5) In 1982 her eighth book The Color Purple was published.