Comma Rules

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Comma Rules
(He likes commas)
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Rule 1

• Use a comma before the conjunction (and, for,
  but, or, nor, so) that joins the two independent
  clauses in a compound sentence.
• Now practice rule one on your worksheet.

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Practice Rule 1

• I like working outside and I also enjoy reading.
• Bronseen got out of school early so he took a
  nap.

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Rule 2

• Use a comma after relatively lengthy introductory
  phrases or dependent (subordinate) clauses.
• It is important to note that a comma should not
  be used when the clause or phrase comes at the
  end of the sentence (as illustrated by the third
  example on your worksheet).
• Now practice!

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Practice Rule 2

• In order to be successful one must learn to write
  well.
• After Adrianna learned the rules for using commas
  her grades improved.
• Mrs. Lemenagers grades were not good before she
  knew the comma rules.

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Rule 3

• Use commas to separate items in a series.
• If you are going to insert a comma proceeding the
  last item make sure you are consistent and do it
  every time. Otherwise, it may be omitted.
• Practice time!

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Practice Rule 3

• Tyler ordered two hamburgers a Coke and a large
  fry.

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Rule 4

• Use commas before and after non-essential
  elements (parts of the sentence providing
  information that is not essential in order to
  understand its meaning).
• If the clause is essential to the meaning of the
  sentence it is not set off by commas.
• Practice!

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Practice Rule 4

• Horace Mann Elementary which is the smallest
  school in the district enrolls only 160 students.
• The man who is wearing a tan jacket looks
  suspicious.

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Rule 5

• Use commas between coordinate adjectives (of
  equal importance) that modify the same noun.
• Do not separate adjectives of unequal importance.

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Rule 5 Contd

• A good way to determine if the adjectives are of
  equal importance is to reverse them in the
  sentence. If the sentence does not read well
  after the reversal, do not use a comma between
  them.
• Practice!

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Practice Rule 5

• By the end of the game the field was a slippery
  wet mess.
• Her big blue eyes and bright red hair made her
  strikingly beautiful.

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Rule 6

• Use commas to separate the elements of dates and
  places.
• Give it a try

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Practice Rule 6

• The date was June 12 1999.
•  He was born in St. Cloud Minnesota.
• Florence-Carlton School is located at 5602 Old
  Highway 93.
• Florence Montana started school this year
  September 4 1990.

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Rule 7

• Use a comma before a direct quotation.
• Also commas (and periods as well) go inside the
  quotation marks.
• Practice!

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Practice Rule 7

• When asked if he had studied for the test Paul
  replied "Only a little" and his grade showed it!
• "I dont like commas" said Bob.

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Rule 8

• Use commas before and after words and phrases
  like however and never the less that serve as
  interrupters.
• Practice, practice, practice!

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Practice Rule 8

• Adam did not like math.  He was however very
  successful in his math classes.
• Therefore he got good grades on his tests.