The document provides guidance on using commas, including placing commas before coordinating conjunctions to join independent clauses, using commas in a series of three or more items, setting off introductory words and phrases with commas, and avoiding comma splices. Examples are given to illustrate proper use of commas with introductions, series, conjunctions, and interrupters. Common comma errors like splices are also addressed.

1. The Basic Rules to Guide You

2. Unreliable Rules
“When in doubt, leave it out.”
“Put a comma where there is a natural pause.”
“Sprinkle them sparingly, like salt.”

3. Commas to Set Off Introductory
Words, Phrases & Clauses
Use commas after introductory
word, phrase, or clause.
Examples:
 Instead, my mom decided to
sell her van.
 Late that night, the news
show reported the
presidential election results.
 Since the writers workshop
did not meet last night,
Lauren spent the evening in
the library.

4. Practice 1
1. Reluctantly, the instructor agreed to postpone the
test.
2. When Kim plays video games she shuts out the
,
world.
3. During the seventh-inning stretch Harry Cary led
,
the fans in “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.”
4. In fact,the car has had very few problems.
5. Yawning loudly Eric said, “Is it morning already?”
,

5. Commas to Join Items in a Series
When a series of three or more words,
phrases, or clauses is connected
with and or or, place a commas
after each item except the last one.
The final comma goes before and or
or.
Examples:
 Motorcycles, off-road vehicles, and
cars are his passion at seventeen.
 The dog had tracked mud across
the porch, into the kitchen, and up
the stairs.
 The doctor asked Neville if the pain
occurred before he ate, after he ate,
or while he ate.

6. Practice 2
1. Mycology is the study of yeasts molds mushrooms and
, , ,
other fungi.
2. The ancient Maya restricted the consumption of cocoa
√ to the aristocracy because of the cost of growing the
beans and the labor involved in processing them.
3. The dog looked as if he had been dipped in water coated
,
with dirt and set out to dry.
,
4. The children watched in fascination as the magician
reached into his hat pulled out a dove and released it
, ,
into the air.
,
5. Students screamed as the lights flickered the alarm
sounded,and the elevator jerked to a halt.

7. Commas to Join Independent
Clauses
Use a comma with a FANBOYS conjunction
to join independent clauses.
What is FANBOYS?
• for
• and
• nor
• but
• or
• yet
• so
Examples:
 Harrison thought that researching
would be the easy part of his project, but
it turned out to be the hardest.
 I feel exhausted already, and tomorrow
is just Tuesday.
 Karen’s sinus medication makes her
sleepy, so she avoids taking it during the
day.

8. Practice 3
1. The weeds were tall and the mower died whenever
,
Helen tried to but through them.
2. The upholstery was worn and faded but the couch
,
was still comfortable.
3. Leo received a credit card in the mail but did not
√ remember requesting it.
4. Lorenzo was studying so he let the answering
,
machine pick up his calls.
5. “You can pay now or you can take up to ninety days
,
to pay on our easy credit plan,” said the salesclerk.

9. Commas Around Interrupters
An interrupter is a word, phrase,
or clause inserted into a
sentence to give more
information about some
element within the sentence.
An interrupter is never essential
to the structure of the sentence.
If your took it out, the sentence
would still make perfect sense.
Examples:
 The dog, tail wagging, bounded
toward its owner.
 The student, disappointed by
her grades, withdrew from the
course at midterm.

10. Practice 4
1. The interruption, brief as it was distracted Heather
,
and made it hard for her to focus on her work again.
2. Mr. Angelo a friend of my family runs the
, ,
delicatessen on Third Street.
3. Breanna, sighing heavily, opened her book to study.
4. The banana,apparently left by one of the children ,
lay forgotten in the back seat until it was brown and
shriveled.
5. Lava lamps,which first appeared in the 1970s ,
became popular again in the 1990s.

11. Comma Splice
A comma splice is a type of
run on sentence because it
joins two independent
clauses with a commas.
This joining is called a
comma splice.
Example:
 Two pieces of paper
slipped out of Desmond’s
notebook, a student
walking by picked them up
and ran down the hall
after Desmond.

12. Comma Splice Corrections
Two pieces of paper slipped out of Desmond’s
notebook, a student walking by picked them up and
ran down the hall after Desmond.
 Period & Capital Letter
 Two pieces of paper slipped out of Desmond’s
notebook. A student walking by picked them up and
ran down the hall after Desmond.
 Comma and FANBOYS Conjunction
 Two pieces of paper slipped out of Desmond’s
notebook, and a student walking by picked them up
and ran down the hall after Desmond.

13. Practice 5
1. The computer screen was hard to read, light from
the window created a reflection on the screen’s
surface.
2. Fitness is important to Sandra, she jogs every
morning.
3. The store will open in the morning, it is closed for
inventory.