1. Punctuation in a nutshell
Marc Hammel
Department of English
Justus Liebig University

2. Punctuation in a Nutshell
Take a look the following. This is by the way the title of a book about punctuation.:
He eats shoots and leaves. or He eats, shoots, and leaves.

3. Punctuation in a Nutshell
Commas are meant to make your text READABLE. Therefore, the primary rule is READABILITY.

4. Punctuation in a Nutshell
a. Series:
I like vanilla, chocolate, and pistachio ice cream.
b. One of the Golden Rules:
SC, MC / MC (,) SC
If you were a millionaire, you would probably be somewhere else.
Because you are not, you are slaving away here in this class.
While you were working so hard, your friends were having a good time.
Since your friends are still having a good time, you are beginning to feel depressed.
But take heart. You will soon be able to enjoy life if you pass your exams soon.

5. Punctuation in a Nutshell
c. Commas and Relative clauses

7. Defining/essential/ identifying Relative Clauses
It gives detailed information defining a general term or expression , and does not require commas.
A seaman is someone who works on a ship.
The professor who teaches chemistry 101 is an excellent lecturer.

8. Non-Defining/ essential/ identifying Relative Clauses
It gives additional information on something , and requires commas.
Do you know the girl, who is talking to Tom?
Professor Dan Gates, who teaches Linguistics 101, is an excellent lecturer.

9. Punctuation in a nutshell
d) Commas with two main clauses
You will sometimes have two complete clauses connected by a coordinating conjunction( ,for‘,and‘,nor, but,or yet or ,so,) and English always precedes those conjunctions with a comma.
Karl spent hours cooking Dietlind dinner, and Dietlind went out to the kebab shop.

10. Punctuation in a nutshell
e)Also use commas to introduce direct speech and to end it if there is no other punctuation at the end.
Karl said, "Oh, Dietlind! Why do you always reject me?" to which Dietlind replied, "shut up." Karl looked downcast. "l'm busy watching television," Dietlind
gently explained.

11. Punctuation in a nutshell
Dates
When a date consists of the day of the month followed by the year, the day of the month should be followed by a comma. When the day of the week is provided before the month, the day of the week should be followed by a comma. 
The store closed its doors for good on Wednesday, October 15, 1958.

12. Punctuation in a Nutshell
Don’ts and German punctuation
In German you use what I call the “Nebensatzzeichensetzung” ‐ good grief. Please do not use this in English.
I told him, that I would not do that. is a “don’t”. The that‐clause functions as an object and should not be separated from the verb.
I said that he was not there.
He promised me that he would be on time.
She asked her whether he could go early or not.