Core Grammar

Adjective

A word that modifies (tells the reader more about) a noun.

When do you separate a pair of adjectives with a comma?

Before a noun. Ex: the sweaty, nervous attorney stood up in front.

How to test if two words that come before a noun need to be separated w a comma

Create a new sentence that put each of the modifying words separately in front of the noun you suspect they modify if it doesn't make sense independently do not insert a comma between the modifying words

Compound noun

Made up of two nuns that together, express a single thought. Ex: criminal attorney

Adverb

Modifies an adjective (or a verb)

How to use commas with adverb-adjective verbs.

Treat adverb-adjective pairs as uninterrupted unit when placing commas. Ex: the young, obviously nervous attorney stood up in front of the panel of judges

When do you add commas to a date

When the day and month are given, the year functions as an interruption and requires a pair of commas. If you do not use the full date you do not need to separate the year with a comma. Ex: the pl filed the complaint on March, 10, 2017, in the superior court in Hatfield.

When do you add a comma when referring to a state

When you write the name of a city, along w it's state, the state functions as an interruption. Ex: the PL filed the complaint in Columbia, South Carolina, court.