1. Commas help writers clarify their meaning and prevent confusion.
Comma rules: Use commas
-after a word or phrase that introduces a sentence.
- to set off the name or title of a person who is spoken to directly
- to set off words or phrases that interrupt the flow of the sentence
- to set off nonrestrictive appositives.
- after each item in a series

2. We use a comma after a word or phrase that introduces a sentence.
Last Thursday, we played our last baseball game. {
Last Thursday, we played our last baseball game.
Introduces when

3. We use a comma to set off the name or title of a person who is
We use a comma to set off the name or title of a person who is spoken to directly
Sarah, stop hogging the hop scotch. It is my turn. }
Sarah is the person being addressed specifically. “Sarah” starts the sentence so there is only one punctuation needed.

4. We use commas to set off words or phrases that interrupt the flow of
We use commas to set off words or phrases that interrupt the flow of the sentence
“for example” is set off by two commas, because it interrupts the flow of the sentence. }
Coach Moore, for example, is a great basketball coach.

5. We use commas to set off nonrestrictive appositives
“Sarah, Katie, and Val” are set off by commas, because they rename the noun girls. Their names tell you which girls I am talking about.
The girls, Sarah, Katie, and Val, decided not to go shopping.

6. We use commas after each item in a series
“Sarah, Katie, and Val” are also items in a series, so they are separated by a comma.
The girls, Sarah, Katie, and Val, decided not to go shopping.

7. Commas with Sentence Combining
Use a comma before the coordinating conjunction when joining two sentences.
Join sentences by using a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) to form a compound sentence.
Ex. The room was quiet.
The teacher began her lesson for the day.
The room was quiet, so the teacher began her lesson for the day.
Coordinating Conjunctions: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so

8. Commas with Sentence Combining, cont.
Use a comma after the introductory subordinate clause when joining two sentences forming a complex sentence.
Ex. The room was quiet.
The teacher began her lesson for the day.
Since the room was quiet, the teacher began her lesson for the day.
Some common subordinating conjunctions:
as after as if although as though because
before if provided since so that though
unless until when whenever wherever where
while

9. Commas with Sentence Combining, cont.
Comma is used after a conjunctive adverb when forming a compound sentence.
Ex. The room was quiet.
The teacher began her lesson for the day.
The room was quiet; therefore, the teacher began her lesson for the day.
Some common conjunctive adverbs:
therefore however moreover otherwise
consequently

10. Other comma uses - after the opening of a friendly letter
Ex: Dear Sally,
After the closing of a letter
Ex: Yours truly,
- between the day and year in a date
Ex: July 4, 1776

11. You Practice Combine the simple sentence cluster in three ways:
A. Combine them to form a compound sentence, using a coordinator.
B. Combine them to form a complex sentence, using a subordinator and placing the subordinate clause at the end of the sentence.
C. Invert the complex sentence you formed in B by moving the subordinate clause to the beginning of the sentence.
It is raining now.
The rain will stop soon.

12. It is raining now.
The rain will stop soon.
It is raining now, but the rain will stop soon.
Although it is raining now, the rain will stop soon.
C. It is raining now; however, it will stop soon.