How to use commas
Use commas to separate items in addresses. Use between the street, city, state, and country. Don't use a comma before the zip Code.
Examples; 1343 Ervin Road, Tucson, Arizona 86756 Rebecca moves to Perth, Australia, Last spring.
Do not include the second comma if the name and the abbreviated degree ends the sentence.
Example: I plan on having lunch with Joe Smith, M.D.
Use a comma between the name and the abbreviated degree.
Example: Joe Smith, M.D., will speak at the conference.
Use a comma after an introductory word when it begins a sentence.
Examples of introductory words include: -well -yes -no -why -however -unfortunately -finally -nevertheless.
A nonessential clause or phrase contains an idea that isn't needed to understand the main idea of the sentence. Use commas to set off the nonessential words. Essential clauses that are necessary to understand the sentence don't need commas.
Examples: Ms. Barnes, who lives next door, turns eighty today. The petting zoo, which is free, is in town this week.
Use commas to seperate items in dates. Don't use a comma to separate the month and day, or the month and year by themselves.
On Friday, May 5, 1995, our grandson was born. Our son was born in September 1980.
Only use the comma, when using a conjuction, to connect two complete sentences together.
for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so Examples: This job will be very difficult for her, but she will do her best. The applicant must be able to tell jokes and sing, and she must be able to dance. Craig joined the Army, so Darren joined the Marines.
Separate two or more coordinate adjectives before a noun. *Hint... Can you switch the order of the adjectives? yes... then you need a comma
Smart funny Eugene quickly advanced as a class leader.
An appositive is a noun phrase that identifies or explains another noun, it comes before or after the noun. Use a comma to set off an appositive.
Examples: -A very talented actor, Al received a standing ovation. -Everyone was at the meeting except Becky, the manager. -Lucy, my favorite aunt, is coming for dinner tonight.
Use a comma to separate off a quotation from the rest of the sentence. If a question comes first in a sentence, use a question mark.
-"I'll get breakfast," said Perry, "but hurry up." Emily asked, "Will you get the kids up?" -"Will I be late again?" she wondered.
Use a comma after an introductory phrase or clause.
-After the storm, broken tree limbs littered the street. -Living out on the boat for six months, Hector missed city life. -To check out a book, you must have a library card. -Until the fire chief found the problem, we stayed out.
Use a comma to separate off the the name of a person being addressed.
-Emily, are you ready to go? -Wake up Emily, you overslept!
Examples of commas being used after an introductory word when it begins a sentence.
-No, I haven't signed up for the basketball team yet. -However, I think it's too late to sign up.
Example of a coordinate conduction
-We must start soon, or we'll be late. -He couldn't sleep, nor could he eat. -Ronya stayed out too late, and she was sorry later.
Use commas in numbers with more than three digits. Put commas after every three digits, from right to left. Don't use commas in ZIP codes, street numbers, or years.
Examples; We paid $2,500 for a used car in 1972. The dealer at 11308 Oak St. sold 4,000,000 cars
A parenthetical expression, or side remark interrupts a sentence. Use commas to set off parenthetical words and expressions such as these.
Examples of parenthetical expressions include -After all -For example -Consequently -On the other hand -I suppose -For instance -To tell the truth -As a matter of fact
