1. Salem High School Ray W. Moore
Comma Rules
Salem High School
Ray W. Moore

2. Use a comma and a coordinate conjunction to form a compound sentence.
Comma Rule #1
Use a comma and a coordinate conjunction to form a compound sentence.
Suzy walked to school but it was not far.

3. Use a comma after a long introductory phrase.
Comma Rule #2
Use a comma after a long introductory phrase.
Without a thought for his own safety Nathan rescued the dog.

4. Use a comma after an introductory dependent clause.
Comma Rule #3
Use a comma after an introductory dependent clause.
Although Alan
followed the instructions
he still could not fix
his computer.

5. Use commas between items in a series.
Comma Rule #4
Use commas between items in a series.
Scott bought burgers chips and a drink at the game.

6. Comma Rule #4 B
Although the comma before the conjunction is usually optional, it must be present if the items contain more than one word.
Scott bought a burger with onions Cool Ranch Doritos and a cherry slurpy.

7. Use a comma between coordinate adjectives.
Comma Rule #5
Use a comma between coordinate adjectives.
Sally rested her arm on the thin green leather book as she thought.

8. Do not use commas in front of a common usage.
Comma Rule #5 B
Do not use commas in front of a common usage.
The agile speedy baseball player scooped up the grounder to short.

9. Use commas to set off nouns of direct address.
Comma Rule #6
Use commas to set off nouns of direct address.
I told you Jack that I am faster than you.

10. Use commas to set off parenthetical elements.
Comma Rule #7
Use commas to set off parenthetical elements.
Sally of course was able to start the computer herself.

11. Use commas to set off a non-restrictive appositive.
Comma Rule #8
Use commas to set off a non-restrictive appositive.
Mr. Ingerson our world history teacher often must act as an umpire in departmental meetings.

12. Do not use commas to set off a restrictive appositive.
Comma Rule #8B
Do not use commas to set off a restrictive appositive.
The novel To Kill a Mockingbird was the only book ever published by author Harper Lee.

13. Use commas to set off a non-restrictive adjective clause.
Comma Rule #9
Use commas to set off a non-restrictive adjective clause.
To Kill a Mockingbird which was written by Harper Lee is the only book she ever published.

14. Do not use commas to set off a restrictive adjective clause.
Comma Rule #9
Do not use commas to set off a restrictive adjective clause.
The man who is juggling is my brother.

15. Comma Rule #10
Use commas with dates.
Jeremy left for Nags Head on August for one last weekend at the beach.

16. Use commas with addresses.
Comma Rule #11
Use commas with addresses.
Majid’s family lived at 563 Linden Avenue Chicago Illinois when he was born.