The Basic Rules to Guide You

Unreliable Rules

“When in doubt, leave it out.”

“Put a comma where there is a natural pause.”

“Sprinkle them sparingly, like salt.”

Commas to Set Off Introductory Words, Phrases & ClausesUse commas after

introductory word, phrase, or clause.

Examples:Instead, my mom decided

to sell her van.Late that night, the news

show reported the presidential election results.

Since the writers workshop did not meet last night, Lauren spent the evening in the library.

1. Reluctantly the instructor agreed to postpone the test.

2. When Kim plays video games she shuts out the world.

3. During the seventh-inning stretch Harry Cary led the fans in “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.”

4. In fact the car has had very few problems.5. Yawning loudly Eric said, “Is it morning

already?”

Practice 1,

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Commas to Join Items in a SeriesWhen a series of three or more

words, phrases, or clauses is connected with and or or, place a commas after each item except the last one. The final comma goes before and or or.

Examples: Motorcycles, off-road vehicles,

and cars are his passion at seventeen.

The dog had tracked mud across the porch, into the kitchen, and up the stairs.

The doctor asked Neville if the pain occurred before he ate, after he ate, or while he ate.

1. Mycology is the study of yeasts molds mushrooms and other fungi.

2. The ancient Maya restricted the consumption of cocoa to the aristocracy because of the cost of growing the beans and the labor involved in processing them.

3. The dog looked as if he had been dipped in water coated with dirt and set out to dry.

4. The children watched in fascination as the magician reached into his hat pulled out a dove and released it into the air.

5. Students screamed as the lights flickered the alarm sounded and the elevator jerked to a halt.

Practice 2, ,,

√

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, ,

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Commas to Join Independent ClausesUse a comma with a FANBOYS

conjunction to join independent clauses.

What is FANBOYS?• for• and• nor • but• or• yet • so

Examples: Harrison thought that researching

would be the easy part of his project, but it turned out to be the hardest.

I feel exhausted already, and tomorrow is just Tuesday.

Karen’s sinus medication makes her sleepy, so she avoids taking it during the day.

1. The weeds were tall and the mower died whenever Helen tried to but through them.

2. The upholstery was worn and faded but the couch was still comfortable.

3. Leo received a credit card in the mail but did not remember requesting it.

4. Lorenzo was studying so he let the answering machine pick up his calls.

5. “You can pay now or you can take up to ninety days to pay on our easy credit plan,” said the salesclerk.

Practice 3,

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Commas Around InterruptersAn interrupter is a word,

phrase, or clause inserted into a sentence to give more information about some element within the sentence. An interrupter is never essential to the structure of the sentence. If your took it out, the sentence would still make perfect sense.

Examples:The dog, tail wagging,

bounded toward its owner.The student, disappointed

by her grades, withdrew from the course at midterm.

1. The interruption brief as it was distracted Heather and made it hard for her to focus on her work again.

2. Mr. Angelo a friend of my family runs the delicatessen on Third Street.

3. Breanna sighing heavily opened her book to study.4. The banana apparently left by one of the children

lay forgotten in the back seat until it was brown and shriveled.

5. Lava lamps which first appeared in the 1970s became popular again in the 1990s.

Practice 4, ,

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, ,

, ,

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Comma SpliceA comma splice is a type

of run on sentence because it joins two independent clauses with a commas. This joining is called a comma splice.

Example:Two pieces of paper

slipped out of Desmond’s notebook, a student walking by picked them up and ran down the hall after Desmond.

Two pieces of paper slipped out of Desmond’s notebook, a student walking by picked them up and ran down the hall after Desmond.

Period & Capital LetterTwo pieces of paper slipped out of Desmond’s

notebook. A student walking by picked them up and ran down the hall after Desmond.

Comma and FANBOYS ConjunctionTwo pieces of paper slipped out of Desmond’s

notebook, and a student walking by picked them up and ran down the hall after Desmond.

Comma Splice Corrections

1. The computer screen was hard to read, light from the window created a reflection on the screen’s surface.

2. Fitness is important to Sandra, she jogs every morning.

3. The store will open in the morning, it is closed for inventory.

Practice 5