1. Punctuation
Commas

2. USE COMMAS to Separate Three or More Items in a Series
Examples
It is time for me to collect your quick writes, to read them, and to provide feedback on your work.
We had soft-boiled eggs, tomato juice, and dry wheat toast for breakfast.

3. DO NOT use a comma to separate only two items in a series.
Examples
He enjoys skiing and running.
He knew that she was envious of him and that she would try to ruin his plans.

4. USE COMMAS to Offset Introductory Phrases, Transitional Expressions, and Parentheticals
Examples
By the end of the day, everyone was exhausted.
Teachers, though, are underpaid.
The test, it seems, was too difficult.

5. "After eating the dog wanted to go out."
Today, commas are starting to disappear from short introductory phrases, but make sure to use a comma even for a short introductory phrase if the absence of a comma could cause confusion, as in
"After eating the dog wanted to go out."
Did someone eat a dog?
"After eating, the dog wanted to go out" would prevent the reader from getting this first impression.

6. USE COMMAS to Offset Appositives
Examples
Ralph, my best friend, eloped with my fiancé.
My best friend, Ralph, eloped with my fiancé.
The largest fish in the tank, a plecostomus, is over 10 years old.
Note: An "appositive" simply renames something. In the above examples "my best friend" and "Ralph" are exactly the same thing, so you would use commas to offset your "renaming" of the subject. Likewise, "the largest fish in the tank" is an appositive for "a plecostomus," so you need the commas.

7. USE COMMAS to Offset Nonrestrictive Clauses
Examples
Our doctor, whom we visit often, is on vacation.
VCE English, which is required for most students, is a challenging course.
Note: A "nonrestrictive clause" gives additional information that is not vital to the meaning of a sentence. In both examples above, the information between the commas could be removed, and the main points of the sentences would not change.

8. USE A COMMA Between Two Independent Clauses Separated by One of the "Fan Boys" (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)

9. FAN BOYS
Examples
He graduated from college with honours, and he was hired by IBM immediately after graduation.
She joined the health club, but she was not satisfied with the results.
He studied all night, for the instructor promised a "challenging" exam.
In other words, when you have two complete sentences separated by "for," "and," "nor," "but," "or," "yet," or "so," you should place a comma in front of the word that links the two sentences.

10. Just remember this model
complete sentence, [fan boys word] complete sentence.
Note: DO NOT use a comma if there is not a new subject after the word (one of the "fan boys") that links the two parts of your sentence.
Examples
He graduated from RMIT with honours and was hired by IBM immediately after graduation.
She joined the health club but was not satisfied with the results.

11. USE COMMAS to Separate Independent Clauses from Dependent Clauses
Examples
If the rain continues, we will have to cancel the picnic.
Although he studied all week, Frank was still unable to pass the exam.

12. Commas