1. COMMA SENSE

2. Short Stuff: Many sentences begin with introductory “stuff” Sometimes the “stuff” is a short group of words called a phrase or a clause. An introductory phrase or clause is set off from the rest of the sentence with a comma. Ex: In the back of the refrigerator, a moldy jar of mayonnaise sat beside a plate of greenish-looking pork chops.

3. Your turn! Punctuate the following sentence: Although she denies it I’m not at all surprised that Sheri ate your Jell-O.

4. Long Stuff Introductory phrases and clauses can be short, like By the way, but they can also be very long, sometimes even longer than the main part of the sentence. Some introductory words include if, when, while, although, after, because Ex: If you eat a lot of candy of any kind and never floss or brush your teeth, your teeth may rot.

5. Your turn! Punctuate the following sentence: While we watched Megan lunge for the aquarium that was about to topple off the table we all held our breath.

6. Ending Stuff Stuff can also be tacked on to the end of sentences.  Ex. I want more ice cream, Mom. I want it now, by the way.

7. Your turn! Punctuate the following sentence: I must have that lobster in the window the one with the sumptuous tail. NO!!!!!!

8. Quotations: Use a comma to set apart the exact words of a quotation from the rest of the sentence. Example:  “Call me when you get home,” said her mother.  Jane whispered, “Can you hear that tapping noise?” He said, "Our team will win the championship." "Our team," the coach asserted, "will win the championship." "Our team will win the championship," John stated.

9. Side by Side When two adjectives occur side by side in a sentence, they are called coordinate adjectives and should be separated with a comma. If the word and or or separates two adjectives, then no comma is needed. Ex. Natalie loves playful, cuddly puppies.

10. Additional Comments Use commas to separate two or more coordinate adjectives that describe the same noun. Never use a comma with non-coordinate adjectives. He was a difficult, stubborn child. (coordinate) He was a stubborn, difficult child. (coordinate) She often wore a gray wool shawl. (non-coordinate) She often wore a wool gray shawl. (non-coordinate) Incorrect: She often wore a wool, gray shawl.

11. Your turn! Punctuate the following sentence: The lonely dejected slug sat on a soggy bun.

12. Dates Use a comma to separate items in a date. Do not use a comma between the month and the day of the month. Use a comma after the date if the sentence continues.  Example: On Saturday, June 29, I’ll have two graduation parties to attend.

13. Lists and Lists Commas can serve as little dividers in lists. Whenever you have a list (or a series) of items, you need to separate them so that they don’t run into one another. You can separate them with the words and or or, or you can separate them with commas. o Ex: Calvin liked sausage, sugary cereal, and prune tarts for breakfast. o Ex: Hobbes enjoys pouncing on Calvin, lounging in front of the fire, playing Calvinball, and eating tuna.

14. Your turn! Punctuate the following sentence: Bella used her babysitting money to buy Lip Smackers bubble gum a Halloween wig and Oreos.

15. Grammar Guru Gabble: An interesting side note Did you know there is a dispute among grammar gurus over that last comma in a list, the one before the “and”? The comma used in a list is called a serial comma, or an Oxford comma Some writers and publishers use the comma, and some don’t (like Oxford University Press, hence the name “Oxford comma”)

17. Grammar Joke!

18. Transitions Use a comma to separate transitions from the sentence (such as: first, next, finally, also, later in the story, in addition, etc.)  Example: Therefore, I believe young people should not smoke.

19. First Things First: Sentences often begin with a little something extra. Use a comma after YES, NO, or WELL, if it begins the sentence.  Ex: No, I don’t want to go to the mall. Sometimes it is a word like well, oh, or however. o Ex: Well, I guess I’d like to try the new flavor of ice cream. To show that a word is extra, it is set off with a comma. That means, of course, that the comma goes after the word. o Ex. Would you marry me? o No, I wouldn't marry you if you were the last man on Earth.

20. Your turn! Punctuate the following sentence: Sadly he took his bassoon and went home.

21. What’s wrong with this picture?

22. Addressing Someone Use a comma to set apart a NAME BEING SPOKEN TO.  Example: Tom, what time is your dad picking us up?  Example: What time are we leaving, Miss Squires?

23. Appositives/Explainers Use a comma to set apart a noun or phrase that explains or identifies something.  Example: Adam Smith, a seventh-grade student, won the essay contest.

24. Interrupters It is also possible to add a word or group of words somewhere in the middle of the sentence, interrupting the flow of the sentence o Ex. Jerry and his brother, incidentally, walked to school on Monday. o Ex. Jerry and his brother, by the way, walked to school on Monday. o Ex. Jerry and his brother, the one who lives on Green Street, walked to school on Monday.

25. Your turn! Punctuate the following sentence: The most important supplies the astronauts took to the moon not counting a ton of powdered vegetables was a shiny roll of duct tape.

26. What’s wrong with this picture?

27. Compounds A compound sentence means that there are two parts to your sentence. If you want to get fancy, you can call those “parts” independent clauses (meaning each part of the sentence could stand on its own). Ex: George ate an enchilada, and Julian gobbled up four tacos and an order of refried beans.

28. Your turn! Punctuate the following sentence: Turkeys are not exactly known for their great brain power and nobody thinks that worms are likely to win scholarships to Harvard.

29. Last teacher joke! (for now)

30. Additional Comments Don't put a comma after the main clause when a dependent (subordinate) clause follows it (except for extreme contrast). Incorrect: The cat scratched at the door, while I was eating. Correct: She was still quite upset, although she had won the Oscar.

31. Additional Comments Do not use commas to set off essential elements of the sentence, such as clauses beginning with that. That clauses after nouns are always essential. Incorrect: The book, that I borrowed from you, is excellent. Correct: The book that I borrowed from you is excellent. Incorrect: The apples, that fell out of the basket are bruised. Correct: The apples that fell out of the basket are bruised.

32. Additional Comments Don't use a comma to separate the subject from the verb. Incorrect: An eighteen-year old in California, is now considered an adult. Incorrect: The most important attribute of a ball player, is quick reflex actions.

33. Geographical Name/Location When a geographical name or location has two or more parts to it, use a comma after each different type of part. A second comma follows the last item, unless it comes at the end of the sentence. Incorrect: I meant Pittsburg Kansas instead of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. (Commas needed to separate city and state) Incorrect: I meant Pittsburg, Kansas instead of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Comma needed after last item, Kansas) Correct: I meant Pittsburg, Kansas, instead of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. If the parts are joined by a preposition, no comma is needed. Incorrect: I meant Pittsburg, in Kansas, instead of Pittsburgh, in Pennsylvania. Correct: I meant Pittsburg in Kansas instead of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvani a.