1. Grammar Rules- Commas Commas are used to separate items in a list, note a pause in a sentence, assist a conjunction in connecting two sentences together, set apart non-essential clauses from a sentence, note an ‘appositive’, and separate items in dates or addresses.

2. Commas- Items in a list When there are three or more items in a list, put a comma after each item except the last. –EXAMPLE: Sharon went to the store and bought apples, oranges, peaches, and pears for dessert.

3. Commas- Pausing for yes, no, and um A comma goes after yes, no, and um in a sentence. –EXAMPLE1: Yes, we have a few bananas. –EXAMPLE2: Um, I don’t know the answer.

4. Commas- Used with conjunctions Two sentences may be combined with a “coordinating conjunction.” The coordinating conjunctions are: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. (FANBOYS) –EXAMPLE: Sharon went to the store, and she bought some groceries.

5. Commas- Marking an appositive An “appositive” is a word that renames something else in a sentence. Appositives are surrounded by a comma on each side. –EXAMPLE1: Mrs. Costisick, a teacher at MCHS, teaches her students grammar. –EXAMPLE2: That teacher over there, Mr. Robbins, is the football coach.

6. Commas- Dates and Addresses A comma is placed after the day and before the year in a date. –EXAMPLE: July 4, 1776 A comma is placed after a city and before a state in an address. –735 E. Main St. Lebanon, KY 40033