How to use commas

When Do I Use A Comma?
1. Use commas before and, or, nor, for, so, yet, and but when they join two independent clauses.
Ex. I placed the typed sheet on his desk, and he picked it up and read it slowly. I knew he was angry, for he rose and stomped out of the room.
2. Use commas between the items of a series.
The man looked tired, thirsty, defeated, and sunburned.
3. Use commas between coordinate adjectives preceding a noun.
A comma between two adjectives indicates that the two adjectives are equal in their modifying force. A comma is not used when the modifier closer to the noun has more importance as an identifier of the noun.
Ex. Our teacher gave us a difficult, unfair examination. Our teacher gave us a difficult midterm examination. (Notice no comma)
TIP #1– If unsure about whether the adjectives are equal, try inserting AND between the adjectives. If it makes sense, chances are a comma is needed.
Difficult and unfair examination – makes sense
Difficult and midterm examination – does not make sense
TIP #2 – If you can reverse the order of the adjectives, they are coordinate and require a comma between them.
Unfair, difficult examination – makes sense
Midterm, difficult examination – does not make sense
4. Use commas after most introductory modifiers, especially if they are long and not obviously restrictive.
This is a judgment call. The inexperienced writer would do well to use commas after all introductory adverbial clauses except very short clauses denoting time.
Ex. Unless the floodwater recedes soon, we are in trouble. If we can prove that the signature was forged, we will win the case.
5. Use commas between any two words that might be mistakenly read together.
Ex. Before, he had been clean and sober. (Not … Before he had been …) Once inside, the dog jumped all over the furniture.
6. Use commas with nonrestrictive adjective clauses and phrases.
Restrictive clauses – provide identification of the noun it modifies. The man who owns the dog just came to the door. (No comma)
Nonrestrictive – provides information that is not essential for identification. John Smith, who owns the dog, just came to the door.
7. Use commas with more appositives.
Appositive – immediately follows a noun or pronoun that it renames. “A Renamer”.
Mrs. Graham, my fifth-grade teacher, taught me to love to read.
One comedian, the one with the lisp, was booed.
8. Use commas with absolute phrases.
Absolute – consists of a noun or a pronoun plus a verbal, modifies the sentence as a whole, not any special part of it.
Today being a holiday, I plan to loaf and relax.
Her replacement having arrived early, Bea had time to shop.
9. Use commas with parenthetical expressions.
These are words, phrases, or clauses that break into the sentence to explain, to emphasize, to qualify, or to point the direction of the thought.
Nikka’s cooking, to be quite honest, tastes terrible.
His appearance, I must admit, would scare anyone.
10. Use commas with words used in direct address.
“Remember, LuLu, that you need to stop by my office,” he said.
“I believe, sir, that you have been terribly misinformed,” LuLu replied.
11. Use commas with expressions designating the speaker in direct quotations.
“With your permission,” he replied, “there’s nothing I would rather do.”
12. Use commas with negative insertions used for emphasis, units out of their position, and “tag” questions.
Tired and footsore, the hikers finally reached camp.
Her answer was a great one, don’t you think?
13. Use commas with degrees, titles, and the like when they follow names.
Janet Dean, Ph.D., gave the opening address.
14. Use commas in dates and addresses.
On July 15, 1904, in a cottage at 316 High Street, Rochester, Minnesota, they were wed.