1. Commas When do you use them?

2. Remember: EVERY COMMA HAS A PURPOSE IN YOUR WRITING! YOU DON’T PUT A COMMA WHENEVER YOU TAKE A BREATH OR PAUSE…

3. Rules we know so far… - Interjections that don’t show strong emotion - FANBOYS (coordinating conjunction) combining two independent clauses - AAWWWUBBISS (subordinating conjunctions) at the BEGINNING of a sentence, joining a dependent and independent clause

4. Rule #1: Names Place a comma when addressing a person. Example: - Let’s eat, Grandma. - “Mom, may I go outside to play in the fluffy snow?” asked Suzie.

5. Rule #2: Introductory words or phrases Place a comma after an introductory word (like an interjection) Example: - Okay, I guess I will go. - No, I didn’t think we had to go. Place a comma after an introductory phrase Example: - Last week, we bought our tree.

6. Rule #2: Introductory phrases Place a comma after an introductory phrase - It can be an prepositional phrase that starts with a preposition and ends with a noun For example: - Over the break, please make sure you keep reading. - Throughout the year, we will work on many standards.

7. Rule #2: Introductory phrases Place a comma after an introductory phrase - It can be an infinitive phrase that starts with an infinitive and ends with a noun For example: - To help out in the classroom, please pick up after yourselves. - To renew your license, you go to the courthouse.

8. Rule #3: Dates Place a comma between the day and year. If the date is in the middle of the sentence, place a comma after the year also. For example: - Today is December 3, 2014. - On December 16, 2014, your paper is due.

9. Rule #4: Places Use a comma to separate a city and state when writing a specific place. If the place is in the middle of the sentence, place a comma after the state as well. Example - I live in Adel, Iowa. - We visited Phoenix, Arizona, last summer.

10. Rule #5: Series or list Place a comma to separate items in a list or series. The series can be nouns (proper or common) - I bought eggs, milk, and cheese. The series can be adjectives - The girl is sweet, caring, and beautiful. The series can be verb phrases - We worked outside, came inside, and drank hot cocoa.

11. Rule #6: Two adjectives in a row Use a comma to separate two adjectives in a row. If the adjectives are separated with a conjunction you DO NOT need a comma. For example: - The shiny, white lights sparkled on the tree. - I love the sweet, fresh smell of cookies.