1. Comma Usage
End marks are often used to separate complete thoughts. Commas, however, are used to separate words or groups of words within a complete thought.

2. Rule 1 – Use commas to separate items in a series. Words in a series:
January, February, and March are all summer months in the Southern Hemisphere. (nouns)
The engine rattled, coughed, and stalled. (verbs)
The baby was happy, alert, and active after her nap. (adjectives)

3. Phrases in a series:
There were fingerprints at the top, on the sides, and on the bottom. (prepositional phrases)
Cut into pieces, aged for years, and well dried, the wood was ready to burn. (participial phrases)

4. To pitch in a World Series game, to practice medicine, and to run for mayor are all things I hope to do some day. (infinitive phrases)
We sang, we danced, and we played trivia games. (short independent clauses).

5. Rule 2 -
Use a comma to separate two or more adjectives that come before a noun.
Jupiter is a large, strange planet.
My Dalmatian is a large, friendly dog.

6. Rule 3 -
Use a comma before and, but, for, or, nor, so, and yet when they join independent clauses in a compound sentence.
Ex.
John offered to get tickets, and I accepted.
They ate the cookies, but they didn’t drink the milk.

7. Rule 4 -
Use commas to set off an expression that interrupts a sentence.
Ex:
Our neighbor, Jane Smith, is a fine cook.
Naturally, we expected to win.
My answer is correct, I think.

8. Rule 5 -
Use commas to set off nonessential participial phrases or nonessential subordinate clauses.
Ex:
My sister, listening to her radio, did not hear me.
The Christmas Thief, which I recently read, was an interesting novel.

9. Rule 6 –
Use commas to set off appositives and appositive phrases that are nonessential.
Ex:
Hank, my cousin, was born in Texas.
Epcot Center, a popular vacation
destination, is located in Florida.

10. Rule 7- Use commas to set off words that are used in direct address.
Ex:
“Tom, please bring me home some pizza.”
“Mom, Francine needs your help.”

11. Rule 8 - Use commas to set off parenthetical expressions. Ex:
Jim, on the other hand, is a terrific soccer player.
Gina, on the contrary, is extremely lazy.

12. Rule 9 - Use a comma after certain introductory elements.
Use a comma after yes, no, well, or why at the beginning of a sentence.
Yes, we have no bananas.

13. B. Use a comma after an introductory participial phrase.
Ex:
Beginning the new school year, Zelda felt somewhat nervous.
Greeted with applause from his fans, John Kerry walked back out on stage after the first debate.

14. Use a comma after two or more introductory prepositional phrases.
Ex:
At the bottom of the hill, you will see the baseball diamond.

15. Use a comma after an introductory adverb clause.
Ex:
After I finish my homework, I will play Madden.

16. Rule 10 Use commas to separate items in dates and addresses.
Ex:
He was born on April 4, 1969.
He lived at 321 Parker Drive, Fair Lawn, N.J..

17. Rule 11 – Use commas after salutations. Ex: Dear Mother, Dear Sal,
Sincerely,
Yours Truly,

18. Test yourself!

19. A long time ago in a galaxy far far away there is unrest in the Galactic Senate. Several hundred solar systems under the leadership of the Rebel Leader Count Dooku have declared their intentions to secede from the Republic.   The separatist movement has made it difficult for the limited number of Jedi Knights to maintain peace and order in the galaxy.   Senetor Amidala the former Queen of Naboo is returning to Coruscant to vote on the critical issue of creating an army to assist the overwhelmed Jedi…

20. A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away, there is unrest in the Galactic Senate. Several hundred solar systems, under the leadership of the Rebel Leader Count Dooku, have declared their intentions to secede from the Republic.   The separatist movement has made it difficult for the limited number of Jedi Knights to maintain peace and order in the galaxy.   Senetor Amidala, the former Queen of Naboo, is returning to Coruscant to vote on the critical issue of creating an army to assist the overwhelmed Jedi…