Summary Rules For Comma Usage

Summary Rules For Comma Usage provides a brief list of comma rules in order to help students use commas correctly in sentence formation.

A Brief List of Comma Rules

1. Use a comma or commas to separate a direct quotation that is a full sentence from any explanatory material.

2. Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction in a compound sentence.

[NOTE] Coordinating conjunctions: and, but, or, nor, and for.

3. Use a comma to separate words, phrases, or clauses in a series.

4. Use commas to set off nonessential words like "yes," "no," "therefore," and "however;" appositives; and nouns of direct address.

5. Use commas to separate and set off parts of an address and parts of a date.

6. Use a comma after the salutation of a friendly letter and the complimenttary closing of all letters.

7. Use a comma to set off an introductory adverb clause.

Subordinating conjunctions that introduces adverb clauses - after, because, so that, when, although, before, than, whenever, as, if, though, where, as if, how, unless, wherever, as though, since, until, and while.

8. Use a comma to set off an introductory participial phrase, as well as an introductory prepositional phrase, or phrases of four or more words.

9. Use a comma to set off a nonessential phrase of clause; that is, a phrase of a clause which can be omitted without changing the meaning of the main clause.

Summary Rules For Comma Usage was compiled by the webmaster of Basic English Grammar.

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