Tandem Fidget’s Practically Painless

Primer of English Grammar 

Part V.3: The Care and Feeding of Commas, Rules 6 and 7

Use a comma: 1. In a sentence before a coordinating conjunction.2. In a sentence after a dependent clause or phrase.3. Between items in a list (series).4. To indicate direct address.5. To set off dates, addresses, and titles.6. Between two or more coordinative adjectives.7. To set off non-restrictive elements.

Coordinative adjectives: 1. can be rearranged in any order2. can be separated by “and”3. modify the noun separately from the other adjectives

Oleander Von Upchuckle groaned in his sleep because of his bleeding, aching, burning, and itching fingers. 

Oleander Von Upchuckle groaned in his sleep because of his aching, itching, burning, and bleeding fingers. 

or Oleander Von Upchuckle groaned in his sleep because of his bleeding and aching and burning and itching fingers. 

Oleander Von Upchuckle groaned in his sleep because of his bleeding fingers. Oleander Von Upchuckle groaned in his sleep because of his aching fingers. Oleander Von Upchuckle groaned in his sleep because of his burning fingers. Oleander Von Upchuckle groaned in his sleep because of his itching fingers. 

Cumulative adjectives do not use commas between them.

Cumulative adjectives modify the adjective right after it.

The bright green leaves sparkled in the sunlight.

Coordinative adjectives: 1. can be rearranged in any order2. can be separated by “and”3. modify the noun separately from the other adjectives

The colored glass figurine bounced harmlessly on the carpet.

Use a comma: 1. In a sentence before a coordinating conjunction.2. In a sentence after a dependent clause or phrase.3. Between items in a list (series).4. To indicate direct address.5. To set off dates, addresses, and titles.6. Between two or more coordinative adjectives.7. To set off non-restrictive elements.

Oleander Von Upchuckle juggled gerbils.

the shadow puppet masterthe brain surgeonthe sign language interpreterthe harpist

Oleander Von Upchuckle , the harpist, juggled gerbils.

NONRESTRICTIVE ELEMENTS USE COMMAS TO SET THEM OFF FROM THE REST OF THE SENTENCE.

Nonrestrictive elements provide additional information about a subject that is already clearly defined.  Nonrestrictive elements are not essential to the meaning of the sentence. 

The éclair, a delicious French pastry, beckoned to me from the bakery window.

The gerbils that Oleander Von Upchuckle juggled were small, neutered males.

DO NOT USE COMMAS TO SET OFF RESTRICTIVE ELEMENTS FROM THE REST OF THE SENTENCE.

 Restrictive elements define or limit the subject.  Restrictive elements provide information that is is necessary, or essential, to the meaning of the sentence.

The lizard, which had lost its tail, scampered under the rock.The lizard that had lost its tail scampered under the rock. 

or The hawk, which had a lizard’s tail in its beak, flew back to its nest.The hawk that had a lizard’s tail in its beak flew back to its nest.

The lizard, which had lost its tail, scampered under the rock.The lizard that had lost its tail scampered under the rock. 

or The hawk, which had a lizard’s tail in its beak, flew back to its nest.The hawk that had a lizard’s tail in its beak flew back to its nest.

The lizard, which had lost its tail, scampered under the rock.The lizard that had lost its tail scampered under the rock. 

or The hawk, which had a lizard’s tail in its beak, flew back to its nest.The hawk that had a lizard’s tail in its beak flew back to its nest.c

O city of Thebes, glory of Asia, whence on a day I came to Priam's princely home with many a rich and costly thing in my dower, affianced unto Hector to be the mother of his children, I Andromache, envied name in days of yore, but now of all women that have been or yet shall be the most unfortunate; for I have lived to see my husband Hector slain by Achilles, and the babe Astyanax, whom I bore my lord, hurled from the towering battlements, when the Hellenes sacked our Trojan home; and I myself am come to Hellas as a slave, though I was esteemed a daughter of a race most free, given to Neoptolemus that island-prince, and set apart for him as his special prize from the spoils of Troy.

Tandem Fidget’s Practically Painless

Primer of English Grammar 

Part V.3: The Care and Feeding of Commas, Rules 6 and 7