Salem High School

1
Comma Rules

• Salem High School
• Ray W. Moore

2
Use a comma and a coordinate conjunction to form
a compound sentence.
Comma Rule 1
Suzy walked to school
but it was not far.
3
Use a comma after a long introductory phrase.
Comma Rule 2
Without a thought for his own safety Nathan
rescued the dog.
4
Use a comma after an introductory dependent
clause.
Comma Rule 3
Although Alan followed the instructions he still
could not fix his computer.
5
Use commas between items in a series.
Comma Rule 4
Scott bought burgers chips and a drink at the
game.
6
Although the comma before the conjunction is
usually optional, it must be present if the items
contain more than one word.
Comma Rule 4 B
Scott bought a burger with onions Cool Ranch
Doritos and a cherry slurpy.
7
Use a comma between coordinate adjectives.
Comma Rule 5
Sally rested her arm on the thin green leather
book as she thought.
8
Do not use commas in front of a common usage.
Comma Rule 5 B
The agile speedy baseball player scooped up the
grounder to short.
9
Use commas to set off nouns of direct address.
Comma Rule 6
I told you Jack that I am faster than you.
10
Use commas to set off parenthetical elements.
Comma Rule 7
Sally of course was able to start the computer
herself.
11
Use commas to set off a non-restrictive
appositive.
Comma Rule 8
Mr. Ingerson our world history teacher often
must act as an umpire in departmental meetings.
12
Do not use commas to set off a restrictive
appositive.
Comma Rule 8B
The novel To Kill a Mockingbird was the only book
ever published by author Harper Lee.
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Use commas to set off a non-restrictive adjective
clause.
Comma Rule 9
To Kill a Mockingbird which was written by
Harper Lee is the only book she ever published.
14
Do not use commas to set off a restrictive
adjective clause.
Comma Rule 9
The man who is juggling is my brother.
15
Use commas with dates.
Comma Rule 10
Jeremy left for Nags Head on August 28 2000 for
one last weekend at the beach.
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Use commas with addresses.
Comma Rule 11
Majids family lived at 563 Linden Avenue
Chicago Illinois 62931 when he was born.