10 rules for comma use

• Rule 1: Use a comma between items that are listed in a series, which contain three or more words or clauses.
• Rule 2: Use a comma when quoting the words of others.
• Rule 3: Use a comma when writing dates and addresses.
• Rule 4: Use a comma after introductory phrases.
• Rule 5: Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction when it joins two independent clauses. ...
• Rule 6: Use a comma after a subordinate/dependent clause when it begins a sentence. ...
• Rule 7: Use a comma to set off an adjective clause if it is not essential to the meaning of the sentence. ...
Rule 8: Use a common when using conjunctive adverbs. Conjunctive adverbs are words like however, on the other hand, although, nevertheless, consequently, therefore, especially, moreover, and for example .
Rule 9: Use a comma to break up the flow of a sentence.
Rule 10: Use a comma to set off an appositive word or phrase that is used to describe or identify another noun.

Full Answer

What are the comma rules for writing a sentence?

10 Rules for Using Commasi 1. Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction (and, or, but, nor, yet, so, for) that separates two independent clauses. There are eighty people in the room, but I do not think they are all planning on eating the buffet. 2. Use a comma after an introductory word, phrase, or clauses that come before a main clause.

What are commacommas?

Ten Easy Comma Rules Rule 1: Use a comma between items that are listed in a series, which contain three or more words or clauses. Rule 2: Use a comma when quoting the words of others. Rule 3: Use a comma when writing dates and addresses. Rule 4: Use a comma after introductory phrases. Rule 5: Use a ...

When do you use a comma in a quote example?

The 10 Comma Rules That Guide The Comma {,} Usage Rule 1 Exception For The First Rule Of The Comma Rule 2 Exception To Rule 2 Of The Comma Rule 3 Rule 4 Coordinate Adjectives Cumulative Adjectives Rule 5 Restrictive Element Nonrestrictive Element Adjective Clauses Nonrestrictive Clause Restrictive Clause Phrases Functioning As Adjectives

How do you use a comma in a 15A rule?

What are the 8 rules for commas?

Commas (Eight Basic Uses)Use a comma to separate independent clauses. ... Use a comma after an introductory clause or phrase. ... Use a comma between all items in a series. ... Use commas to set off nonrestrictive clauses. ... Use a comma to set off appositives. ... Use a comma to indicate direct address. ... Use commas to set off direct quotations.More items...

What are the 15 rules for commas?

Terms in this set (15)Rule 1: 3 things in a series. ... Rule 2: introductory phrase. ... Rule 3: introdutory participles. ... Rule 4: interrupt flow. ... Rule 5: appositives. ... Rule 6: after introductory word and direct names. ... Rule 7: use conjunctions to join main clauses. ... Rule 8: after an adverb clause that introduces a sentence.More items...

What is the rule for using a comma?

Use commas to separate three or more words, phrases, or clauses written in a series. Use commas to separate two or more coordinate adjectives that describe the same noun. Be sure never to add an extra comma between the final adjective and the noun itself or to use commas with non-coordinate adjectives.

What are the 12 comma rules?

ShareUse a comma to separate items in a list (but beware of the serial comma). ... Use a comma to join independent clauses. ... Use a comma to join a dependent clause and an independent clause. ... Use a comma following an introductory word group. ... Use a comma to interrupt a sentence or to provide additional information.More items...

How many comma rules are there?

There are four types of comma: the listing comma, the joining comma, the gapping comma and bracketing commas.

Do you put a comma after in 2020?

A year or another number might serves as subject, and no comma is needed unless required by other structures. Presuming the question is about a year used with a month and day, as in January 12, 2020, the answer is yes.

What are the examples of comma?

2. Examples of Comma UseThe pet store has cats, dogs, hamsters, fish, and turtles. Listing things.I really wanted cereal this morning, but I didn't have any milk. Connecting clauses.Well, if you really want pancakes, I guess I can make them. Creating pauses.14-Jan-2019

How do you use commas examples?

Rule 1. Use commas to separate words and word groups in a simple series of three or more items. Example: My estate goes to my husband, son, daughter-in-law, and nephew. Note: When the last comma in a series comes before and or or (after daughter-in-law in the above example), it is known as the Oxford comma.

How do you use a comma for kids?

2:595:06THE COMMA - Punctuation Marks - Grammar and Spelling for KidsYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWe also use commas when addressing someone directly to separate their name from the rest of theMoreWe also use commas when addressing someone directly to separate their name from the rest of the sentence. Let's see what happens in the story.

What are the 13 comma rules?

13 rules for using commas without looking like an idiotUse a comma before any coordinating conjunction (and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet) that links two independent clauses. ... Use a comma after a dependent clause that starts a sentence. ... Use commas to offset appositives from the rest of the sentence.More items...•27-Mar-2017

How many commas do you need for 3 words?

One use of the comma is to separate three or more words, phrases, or clauses in a list or series. Commas go after each item except the last. Note: In British usage, there is no comma before the conjunction (such as and or or) before the last item in the series....Score: Reset.From:To:Cingletree Learning

Do you use a comma when listing 3 things?

Commas should be used when three or more items in a series are listed. A comma should be placed between each of the three items (it is also acceptable to leave out the comma between the second-to-last item and the last item in the series). Items in the series may consist of a word, clause, or phrase.

What is dependent clause?

A dependent clause, or subordinate clause, is one that can’t stand alone as a whole sentence. It should be separated from the independent clause that follows it using a comma: If you can’t make it, please call me. After the race, John was exhausted.

How to use commas in a list?

Rule #1: Use Commas to Separate Items in a List. This probably the first use of commas you learned in school: separating items in a list of three or more things. Here’s an example: The cake mix requires flour, sugar, eggs, and butter. Note that some style guides would not add the comma after the word “eggs”.

When to use a comma in a sentence?

Rule #7: Use Commas to Separate Coordinate Adjectives. When you’re describing something with two or more adjectives, you can use a comma between them if those adjectives are coordinating . (They’re coordinating if you could place “and” between them.) You shouldn’t put a comma after the final adjective.

Do you need a comma after an independent clause?

However, it’s normally not necessary to use a comma if the independent clause comes first: Please call me if you can’t make it. John was exhausted after the race. For more on this, plus an example of an instance where a comma is required after the independent clause, take a look at Subordinate Clauses and Commas.

What is the comma used after the penultimate item in a list?

We need bread, milk, cheese and eggs. In the first case, the “serial comma” or “Oxford comma” is used after the penultimate item in the list. In the second case, that comma is omitted. Some writers have very strong feelings for and against the serial comma.

Do you need a comma in Sue and John?

John was determined to get the unicorn slime his daughter wanted, but all the shops had sold out. You don’t need a comma if both the independent clauses are relatively short and similar in meaning: Sue went to the shops and John went home.

Do you put a comma before or after a sentence?

Sometimes, you might want to include extra information within a sentence that isn’t essential to its meaning. You should set this information off using a comma before and a comma after it: John went for a jog, which took half an hour, before having a long hot shower.

What are the 10 commas?

Questions On The 10 Comma Rules 1 Even though Jackson had studied Nigella Lawson’s recipes for months he underestimated how long it would take to juice 300 oranges. 2 On January 15, 2004 our office moved to 29 commonwealth Avenue, Mechanicsville VA 23111 3 “Yes dear, you can have dessert,” my mother said. 4 Cricket, which orginated in England is also popular in Australia, South Africa and India. 5 A member of an organization, that provides housing for AIDS patients, was also appointed to the commission.

How to start a sentence about Mary?

At first, starting the sentence, the reader will think that you are about to cook mary. Probably Mary is some kind of vegetables or other food materials. However, since we all know that Mary is the name of a person, a female, to be precise, then things start to get confusing. Because you will start thinking about how will they cook Mary. But what if the name is not Mary, let say it a name you have never heard before. And since you do not know the meaning and you see the word cook in the sentence, I believe you will quickly assume that we are talking about food here, but upon reading the statement further, things get even more complicated

Why do we use commas in a sentence?

Commas are a useful punctuation device that separates the structural components of a sentence. However, so many people do not know how to use them correctly. Learn the comma rules once and for all so you can prevent comma splices in your papers. Before you can understand when to use a comma and when not to, you need to know what elements need ...

What are the 10 commas?

The Ten Comma Rules. Rule 1: Use a comma between items that are listed in a series, which contain three or more words or clauses. Example: We went to a movie, ate dinner and then went to a party. Example: I bought a chocolate cake, strawberry pie and some ice cream for the party. Rule 2:

When to use a comma before a coordinating conjunction?

Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction when it joins two independent clauses. A coordinating conjunction, also known as FANBOYS, include for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so. Remember independent clauses are two complete sentences.

What is the comma rule for appositive words?

Rule 10: Use a comma to set off an appositive word or phrase that is used to describe or identify another noun. Example: That was the best day of my life, the day when my daughter was born. (“day” is repeated and is described further after the comma). Don’t let these ten comma rules make you feel overwhelmed.

When to use a comma after a subordinate clause?

Use a comma after a subordinate/dependent clause when it begins a sentence. Subordinate/dependent clauses begin with words like if, because, after, when, as, while, since, even though, although, before, and whenever.

When to use a comma in an adjective?

Use a comma to set off an adjective clause if it is not essential to the meaning of the sentence. Adjective clauses usually start with words like that, which or who. Example: My uncle, who lives in Santa Barbara, loves to surf. Example: The college, which is in El Cajon, is very nice.

What is the rule for conjunctive adverbs?

For a better explanation on adjective clauses, click here. Rule 8: Use a common when using conjunctive adverbs. Conjunctive adverbs are words like however, on the other hand, although, nevertheless, consequently, therefore, especially, moreover, and for example .

Why is it important to use a fanboy?

It doesn’t express a full thought. USES: FANBOYS are important when you want to connect two sentences together with a comma instead of separating them with a period. It is a way to connect ideas, and common sentences together.

What is an independent clause?

An independent clause has both a noun and a verb and can stand on its own. A dependent clause cannot stand on its own, it does not express a full thought, it is also known as a fragment. The FANBOY (for, and, nor, but, or, yet) which in this case is but and separates two independent clauses.

How to fix a comma in a sentence?

There are five ways to fix this: ( One ), put a period where the comma is, ( Two ), use a semicolon instead, ( Three ), use a semicolon, coordinating conjunction, ( fourth ), semicolon, conjunctive adverb, comma, ( fifth ), change one of the independent clauses to a dependent or fragment.

When do you put a comma before a coordinating conjunction?

1. A comma comes before a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) when both are independent clauses. CORRECT: I would love to go hiking, but I have to study organizational communication. INCORRECT: I would love to, but I have to study. EXPLANATION: In the correct sentence, both sentences in bold are independent clauses.

Is there a comma after "because"?

The first incorrect example shows a comma before because it creates extra wordiness. Everything after the “because and comma” is just extra information that is usually not needed.

What does "strange" mean in a sentence?

The phrase sounds strange, meaning the adjectives are not coordinating and don’t need a comma or dash. The phrase sounds correct with “ (I ruined the) blue wool sweater (I wore last week when I got grease on it from cooking).”. USES: Some adjectives should be separated in order to lessen the confusion for the reader.

When do you not use fanboys?

When you do not use FANBOYS are when the ideas do not connect unless you have a point you are trying to achieve within the sentence, but the diction and word choice should support this point. Think of sentences as a formula you have to put together and punctuation can help you achieve that. 2.