1. Comma Rules

2. Rule #1. Put a comma before the coordinating conjunction when connecting two COMPLETE sentences together. – Example: We went shopping. We bought milk. We went shopping, and we bought milk.

3. F.A.N.B.O.Y.S. For And Nor But Or Yet So – *These are the conjunctions you will find connecting complete sentences…if you can memorize this, it will be really easy to see where commas go for rule #1.

4. Rule #2 When listing three or more items in a series, separate them with commas. – Example: I bought apples, oranges, bananas, and pineapple. I took my hair dryer, my curling iron, and my hairspray.

5. Rule #3 – After an introduction (dependent clause): When we went shopping, we bought apples. – Before a question: Her shirt was cute, don’t you think? – Comment added to end of the sentence I know the answer, I think.

6. Rule #4 Put commas around the name of a person you are talking to. – Example: John, where are you going? Where are you going, John?

7. Rule #5 Put commas around words that interrupt the flow of the sentence. – Example: The woman, however, forgot her hat. The woman, who was wearing a red hat, blocked my view. The new teacher, Mrs. Kyle, is really nice.

8. Rule #6 Put commas around information that is not needed in the sentence. – Example: Sara, my cousin, forgot her lunch. Mozart, the composer, wrote many pieces of music.

9. Other uses for commas: Use after the greeting in a personal letter Dear Aunt Silvia, Dates February 3, 2013 Addresses I live at 2059 E. Sunny Drive, Ogden, UT 84414 Use after the closing of a letter Sincerely, After a mild interjection Oh, I didn’t see you there. Indicate a pause to avoid confusion. After Kelly, Jennifer will get a turn.