2. Because misused commas can obscure meaning, it is important to learn how to use commas correctly. At the completion of this unit you will be able to use commas correctly when writing.

3. Dates usually have several parts, including months, days, and years. Commas prevent dates from being unclear.

4. When a date is made up of three parts, use a comma after each item, except in the case of a month followed by a day.

5. Examples: Kathleen met her husband on December 5, 2003, in Mill Valley, California. Thursday, September 20, is the date our team is going to Camp Manitoqua.

6. If any part of the date is omitted, leave out the comma. Examples: Kathleen met her husband in December 2003 in Mill Valley, California. September 20 is the date our team is going to Camp Manitoqua.

7. When a geographical name is made up of a city and a state, use a comma after each item except when the state ends a sentence.

8. Examples: I lived in San Francisco, California, for 20 years. What happened at Lexington, Massachusetts, in 1775?

9. Numbers of one hundred or less and numbers made up of two words (i.e. three thousand) are generally spelled out in words. Other large numbers are written in numerals. Commas make large numbers easier to read.

10. With large numbers of more than three digits, count from the right and add a comma to the left of every third digit to separate it from every fourth digit.

11. Examples: a population of 17,782 1,151 miles

12. Use commas with three or more numbers written in a series.

13. Examples: Contestants 4, 22, and 54 are moving on to the final round. Read pages 564, 565, and 567 for more information on commas.

14. Do not use a comma with ZIP Codes, telephone numbers, page numbers, years, serial numbers, or house numbers.

15. Examples: ZIP Code 60423 Telephone Number 815-469-4474 Page Number on page 4529 Year 2012 Serial Number 978013253723 House Number 22150 Owens Rd

16. Commas are also used in addresses, salutations of friendly letters, and closings of friendly or business letters.

17. Use a comma after each item in an address made up of two or more parts.

18. Examples: Please send your contest entry to Jim Franklin, 476 Crescent Avenue, Middleport, New York 12230 Hickory Creek Middle School 22150 Owens Rd. Frankfort, IL 60423

19. Use a comma after the salutation in a personal letter and after the closing in all letters.

20. Examples: Dear Dad, Your daughter,

21. Commas are also used to separate direct quotations from other phrases in a sentence.

22. Use commas to set off a direct quotation from the rest of a sentence.

23. Examples: The doctor said, “Chicken pox is a contagious disease.” “Mrs. Abdallah,” the doctor asked, “how long have you had these spots?”