1. COMMAS

2. Not using commas can cause big (gross!) problems

3. Missed commas change meanings…
Rachel Ray finds inspiration in cooking her family and her dog.
Rachel Ray finds inspiration in cooking, her family, and her dog.

4. Missed commas change meanings…
Man bacon makes anything taste good.
Man, bacon makes anything taste good.

5. Missing commas change meanings…
Toilet only for disabled elderly pregnant children.
Toilet only for disabled, elderly, pregnant, and children.

8. COMMA USES
Use commas to separate items in a series of three or more things.
I saw a duck, a magician, and a grocery store when I went running.
I bought a sweater pants and a dress at the mall.

9. COMMA USES
Use a comma to separate independent clauses (complete thoughts) when they are joined by a FANBOYS conjunction. (For, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)
I went running, and I saw a duck.
He went to the mall and she went to the movies.

10. COMMA USES
Use a comma to separate a dependent clause (incomplete thought) from an independent clause (complete thought)
Because the duck spoke to me, I thought I was going crazy.
Although I like to shop I wanted to make it to the movies on time.

11. COMMA USES
Use a pair of commas in the middle of a sentence to set off words or phrases that are not essential elements of the sentence, such as appositives.
I saw a mallard, a kind of duck, while I was running.
My favorite store Sears sells everything from clothes to appliances.

12. COMMA USES
Use a comma to separate a quotation from the rest of a sentence.
“Hey you,” the duck shouted, “why are you running?”
“Thank you for shopping with us” the cashier said as I walked away.

13. COMMA USES
Use a comma after an introductory clauses, phrases, or words that come before the main clause.
When I went running, I saw a duck.
After the mall I met her at the movies.

14. COMMA USES
Use a comma to separate the name of a city from a country or state.
I saw the talking duck while running in South Bend, Indiana.
The Fairfield Commons is located in Beavercreek Ohio.

15. COMMA USES
Use a comma to separate the day of the week from the month and year.
February 13, 2014 was the day my daughter was born.
Today is Thursday January

16. Use a comma before any coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) that links two independent clauses.
Use commas to separate items in a series of three or more things.
Use a pair of commas in the middle of a sentence to set off words or phrases that are not essential elements of the sentence, such as appositives.
Use a comma to separate a quotation from the rest of a sentence.
Use a comma to separate a dependent clause (incomplete thought) from an independent clause (complete thought)
Use a comma to separate the day of the week from the month and year.
Use a comma to separate the name of a city from a country or state.

17. 1. No I will not be available to work on Friday July 2.
2. Despite wanting to go the movies I have to go to dinner with my family.
3. Luke the younger brother on Modern Family can be quite the space cadet.
4. “Welcome to the world” they said to the new baby who was born in Dayton Ohio.
5. I wanted to go to the mall but my car broke down.
6. I need to buy presents for Vita Kate Mikel and Zach.
7. On Thursday the day before yesterday I booked my ticket to fly to Rome Italy on June

18. Putting commas in the wrong place also affects understanding
and changes meanings of sentences!