1. Comma Rules
English I

2. Items in a series
I like peas, beans, grapes, and apples.
2. City/State/Address
I live in Brandon, Mississippi, near the high
school.
3. Greeting/closing of a friendly letter
Dear John,
Love, Shelby
4. Date
I was born on December 18, 1990, in Memphis, Tennessee.

3. Use commas with coordinating conjunctions - “FANBOYS”
5. Compound Sentence:
I went to the store, and I bought a Coke.
For
And
Nor
But Or
Yet So
Use commas with coordinating conjunctions - “FANBOYS”
Note – Do not use a comma with a conjunction if there are not two sentences:
I went to the store and bought a Coke.

4. 6. Appositive
My sister, a teacher at Ole Miss, has three children.
7. Interrupter/parenthetical expression - (however, of course, to tell the truth, etc.):
- Northwest Rankin, to tell the truth, is a great school.
- Of course, I’m going to the game.
8. Noun of address
- Jason, please hand me that paper.
- Please sit down, Lisa, and be quiet.

5. In the barn the cows and pigs fought.
9. Introductory word - (yes, no, well, oh):
Yes, I made a good grade on the test.
10. Introductory phrase
- Whispering softly, Sam told me that he loved me.
- Behind the old barn, I saw a wild fox.**
** Introductory prepositional phrases that have four or more words need a comma. Less than four words – no comma:
In the barn the cows and pigs fought.

6. 11. Introductory clause (subordinate/dependent clause)
After we win the championship, we will go celebrate.
12. Coordinate adjective (two adjectives)
It was a cool, crisp day.
Hint - use a comma if you can insert “and” in place of the comma. - It was a cool AND crisp day.
13. To prevent misreading/to improve clarity
Whatever you do, do well.
Baking, Mary burned her finger.

7. 14. Name with a title or degree
- John Jones, Jr., lives in Dallas.
- My dentist is Seth Thomas, D.D.S.
15. To introduce a direct quote
Haley said, “ I worked hard on that Homecoming float.”
Note – no comma with an indirect quote:
Kyle said that he would meet us at the mall.

8. Nonessential clause (not necessary in the sentence)
Kelly’s car, which is blue, was stolen last night.
Note – No commas are used with essential clauses
The car that was stolen was Kelly’s.
Hint - Usually use commas with “which” but no commas with “that.”
Do not use a comma with “because”
I can’t go to the game because I have to work.