Comma UsageYep, there are rules you

have to follow!

Rule #1: Separate items in series

Separate individual words, phrases, or clauses that occur in a series.

• Running jumping and spitting are not allowed in school.• You may not eat swear or lie in the

presence of your grandmother.• The politicians talked among

themselves ate massive amounts of food and lied continuously to the public.

• Running, jumping, and spitting are not allowed in school.• You may not eat, swear, or lie in the

presence of your grandmother.• The politicians talked among

themselves, ate massive amounts of food, and lied continuously to the public.

Rule #2: Use commas after introductory material

- Introductory words (yes, no, well)- Intro. participial phrases- Intro. prepositional phrases or a

series of them– more than 4 words

- Intro adverb clauses

Individual words

• Well I seriously doubt you can eat the golf ball in one bite.• Yes Shiela has my permission to

leave early.• Why I am very surprised by your

reaction to my proposal!

• Well, I seriously doubt you can eat the golf ball in one bite.• Yes, Shiela has my permission to

leave early.• Why, I am very surprised by your

reaction to my proposal!

Intro. participial phrasesShooting from the hip the cowpoke missed the target by a mile.Mouthing off to the principal Bert soon found himself in trouble.Lying openly the criminal swore he killed only three of the four people.

• Shooting from the hip, the cowpoke missed the target by a mile.• Mouthing off to the principal, Bert

soon found himself in trouble.• Lying openly, the criminal swore

he killed only three of the four people.

Intro. prepositional phrases(must use a comma if the phrase or combined phrases

contain 4 or more words)

On the morning of the parade we got on the float early.

In the cool of the afternoon shade the puppies gamboled and yipped.

On the morning of the parade, we got on the float early.

In the cool of the afternoon shade, the puppies gamboled and yipped.

Rule #3: between independent clauses, if they are joined by a conjunction

The material on both sides of the conjunction must be independent clauses (subject, verb, stand alone as a sentence).

Between independent clauses

*Living in Montana can be tough but we are known as a tough breed.

*Winning the gold medal was an incredible experience and he thanked everyone who helped him .

*Living in Montana can be tough, but we are known as a tough breed.

*Winning the gold medal was an incredible experience, and he thanked everyone who helped him .

Rule #4: Set off nonessential material

• Nonessential clauses • Nonessential participial phrases

• DO NOT set off material that is important to the meaning of the sentence.

• The doctor believing she was infallible refused to acknowledge her mistake.

• Montana the fourth largest state in the union has a relatively small population.

• The doctor, believing she was infallible, refused to acknowledge her mistake.

• Montana, the fourth largest state in the union, has a relatively small population.

The infallible doctor refused to acknowledge her mistake.

Rule 5: Set off materialwhich interrupts the sentence

• Appositives – a noun, pronoun, or entire phrase to identify or explain another noun/pronoun• Nouns of direct address• Parenthetical expressions

Appositives

• Entomology the study of insects sounds like an interesting but creepy field.• My dog Schnitzel only turns to

the left.

• Entomology, the study of insects, sounds like an interesting but creepy field.• My dog, Schnitzel, only turns to

the left.

Nouns of direct address

• Phillip will you stop making noise?• Will you please Phillip stop

making noise?

• Phillip, will you stop making noise?• Will you please, Phillip, stop

making noise?

Parenthetical expressions

• That is I think the dumbest thing you have ever done!• I think that is the dumbest thing

you have ever done.• He will I bet make the all-

conference team this year.

• That is, I think, the dumbest thing you have ever done!

• He will, I bet, make the all-conference team this year.

Rule 6: Various conventional uses

• Addresses, when in text• Dates• Salutations• Names that associate a title or

degree

• Take the package to Jim Palmer, 2007 Alameta Street, Billings, Montana 59333.• Monday, September 8, 1954, is

the day he was born.• Dear Maria,• Mara Green, ATC, PT, RN, will

serve as the trainer for the team.

That’s it!Know these rules and you can control the world

of commas!