2. Rule 1 Use commas to separate words and word groups with a series of three or more. The Billionaire’s estate will be divided between his wife, son, daughter, niece, and favorite charity.

3. Rule 2 Use a comma to separate two adjectives when the word and can be inserted between them. She had long, flowing hair.

4. Rule 3 Use a comma when an –ly adjective is used with other adjectives
Rule 3 Use a comma when an –ly adjective is used with other adjectives. To test whether an –ly word is an adjective, see if it can be used alone with the noun. The elderly, crippled man sat alone. The terribly crippled man sat alone.

5. Rule 4 Use commas before or surrounding the name or title of a person directly addressed. Yes, General, the troops are ready. No, Billy, you can’t go.

6. Rule 5a Use a comma to separate the day of the month from the year and after the year. The boys met their new coach on June 5, 2007, at the athletic field. Commas are not needed if the date is inverted 

7. Rule 5b If any part of the date is omitted, leave out the comma
Rule 5b If any part of the date is omitted, leave out the comma. The boys met the new coach in June 2007 at the athletic field.

8. Rule 6 Use a comma to separate the city from the state and after the state. I worked in Austin, Texas, for three years.

9. Rule 7 Use commas to surround degrees or titles used with names
Rule 7 Use commas to surround degrees or titles used with names. Elizabeth Stoebe, M.D., is the doctor of John Smith Jr. and John Smithe III. Commas never set off I,II,III, and are no longer required for Jr. and Sr.

10. Rule 8 Use commas to set off expressions that interrupt the flow of the sentence. It is, as you will note, quite important.

11. Rule 9 When starting a sentence with a weak clause, use a comma
Rule 9 When starting a sentence with a weak clause, use a comma. If you want an A, you need a score of 90 points or better. Don’t use the comma when the sentence starts with a strong clause followed by a weak clause. You need a score of 90 points or better if you want an A.

12. Rule 10 Use a comma after phrases of more than three words that begin a sentence. To qualify for medical trials, patients must be 50 years of age. If the phrase has fewer than 3 words, the comma is optional. To qualify, patients must be 50 years of age.

13. Rule 11 If someone or something is sufficiently identified, the description following is considered nonessential and should be surrounded by commas. Johnny, whose mother died, always dreaded Mother’s Day.

14. Rule 12 Use a comma to separate two strong clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (and, or, for, but, nor). Mom is bathing the children, but Dad is busy mowing the lawn.

15. Rule 13 Use a comma to separate two sentences when it helps in avoiding confusion. I bought chocolate and strawberry ice cream, and vanilla is what he prefers .

16. Rule 14 Use commas to introduce or interrupt direct quotations shorter than three lines. “When,” I questioned, “will you cut your hair?”

17. Rule 15 Use a comma to separate a statement from a question
Rule 15 Use a comma to separate a statement from a question. You’re busy, aren’t you?

18. Rule 16 Use a comma to separate contrasting parts of a sentence
Rule 16 Use a comma to separate contrasting parts of a sentence. That isn’t my dog, it’s yours.

19. Rule 17 Use a comma when beginning sentences with introductory words such as well, now, or yes. Well, I thought I’d seen it all!

20. Rule 18 Use commas surrounding words such as therefore and however when they are used as interrupters. He wasn’t thrilled, however, to find his car on fire.

21. Rule 19 Use a comma before introductory words such as namely, that is, i.e., and e.g. (for example, and for instance respectively) You’ll want to bring writing materials, i.e., pens, pencils, and paper.

22. Rule 20 When numbers are more than 4 digits long, separate the numbers into groups of three starting from the right 3, ,222

23. Common misuses of the comma: 1
Common misuses of the comma: 1. after a phrase that begins an inverted sentence At the top of a tree, perched a parrot. 2. before the first or after the last item in a series Cathy packed, cheese, fruit, and wine, for the picnic. 3. between an adjective and the noun that follows it She was a caring, friendly, person.

24. Common misuses of commas: 4
Common misuses of commas: 4. after a coordinating conjunction and, but, or, nor, for, so, and yet The girls were excited, yet, giggly before the performance they had prepared for. 5. after such as or like You will need to bring writing materials to the meeting such as, pens, pencils, and paper. 6. before than Salmon fishing in Alaska is more fun, than bullhead fishing in Minnesota.

25. Common misuses of commas: 7
Common misuses of commas: 7. After although Although, the cat was wild, the children wanted to take it home. 8. to set off an indirect quotation Mom once told me, that beauty is on the inside. 9. with a question mark or an exclamation point “ Won’t you come with?,” he asked.

26. Works Cited
Hacker, Diana. The Bedford Handbook. Boston, Bedford/St. Martin’s,
2006.
Straus, Jane. The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation. 4 June 2008
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