5 comma rules 1. Items in a series2. Before FANBOYS3. After Intros4. Before + After added descriptions5. Separating unnecessary information from

the sentence

I am taking art, music, and gym class this semester.

My hobbies are hiking, swimming, and writing.

My best friends are Kelly, Janet, and Sarah.

Marco ran like a track star to catch the bus, but he realized he was too late as it drove off.

Steve practiced pitching every day after

school, for he wanted to make the team.

Lacy went to the mall, and she bought four new blouses.

I can go to the movies, or I can stay home.

FOR AND NOR BUT OR YET SO

Because he was so funny, Charlie was very popular with the other kids.

If you want to come along, be at my house by 2:00.

At last night’s game, the gym was packed.

Realizing her mistake, Sarah apologized.

When it rains heavily, our basement floods.

Meryl Streep, my favorite actress, has a new movie coming out.

My uncle, the one with the hat, likes to dance.

Jeff, my sister’s boyfriend, hit a homerun.

Cindy is, believe it or not, planning to visit Australia next year.

It is going to snow today, as a matter of fact.

I waited, if you can imagine, in the rain for two hours.

STRONGER than a comma WEAKER than a period Connects related thoughts

EXAMPLE:The rainstorm struck without warning;

everyone at the game got soaking wet.

Used to call attention to what follows it Use it when the second part of the sentence

helps explain the first part of the sentence It’s like a trumpet announcing something

EXAMPLES:I had a big problem this morning: my coffee

pot broke.I have three favorite ice cream flavors:

chocolate, strawberry, and raspberry swirl.

Show that someone is speaking Usually introduced or followed by commas Periods and commas at the end of quotations

always go inside the quotation marks. Question marks and exclamation points go

inside BUT only if they are part of the quoted material.

“You’re going to miss the bus!” Lizzy shouted.Who said, “That hat is funny-looking”?Who asked, “Where is the door?”

Contractions: I’m = I am, We’ll = We will

Possession:Singular –

Sally’s carPlural –

Men’s room children’s library Cats’ litter box teachers’ books

Sometimes found after prefixesSelf-confidentEx-convictAnti-aging cream

Compound modifiers before nounsUser-friendly machineMeat-eating dinosaur

Compound nouns and verbs Cross-pollination soldier-statesman

Spelled out numbers from 21-99 Twenty-one ninety-nine

Spelled out fractions Three-fifths one-half

Phone numbers Division of a word at end of line

In 1803, Thomas Jefferson purchased the Louisi-ana Territory.