Comma rules

with subjects and verbs

• a comma should not separate a subjects from its verb
• this comma only makes the sentece seem stilted (awkard because of being too formal)
• - The things that cause me joy, may also cause me pain.
• + The things that cause me joy may also cause me pain.
• - Navigating through snow, sleet, wind, and darkness, is a miserable way to travel.
• + Navigating through snow, sleet, wind, and darkness is a miserable way to travel.

between 2 nouns in a compound subject

• comma between two nouns in a compound subject or object
• don't separate two nound that appear together as a compound subject or compound object
• you don't need a comma when you're simply listing two items
• - Cleo, and her band will be playing at Dockside Diner next Friday.
• + Cleo and her band will be playing at Dockside Diner next Friday.
• - Cleo will wear a sparkly red blazer, and high heels.
• + Cleo will wear a sparkly red blazer and high heels.

between 2 vebs in a compound predicate

• a compound predicate is when the subject of a sentence is doing more than one thing
• in a compound predicate that contains two verbs, don't separate them with a comma
• - Cleo will sing, and play the banjo.
• + Cleo will sing and play the banjo.
• this mistake is common when the predicate is made up of long verb phrases
• - I meant to buy tickets for Cleo’s show, but ran out of time.
• + I meant to buy tickets for Cleo’s show but ran out of time.
• if there is a chace os misreading, use comma
• Cleo spotted the man who entered the diner, and waved.

splices

• a comma splice is when you want to join two independent clauses with a comma, but in those cases you need a conjunction or a semicolon
• yo can fix a comma splice by adding a conjunction or changing the comma to a semicolon
• Or, you can simply write the two independent clauses as separate sentences.
• - We were out of milk, I went to the store.
• + We were out of milk, so I went to the store.
• + We were out of milk; I went to the store.
• + We were out of milk. I went to the store.

after introductory phrase

• a comma normally follows participial phrases that introduce a sentence
• when an adverbial phrase begins a sentence, it's often followed by a comma. If the phrase is longer than about four words, use the comma
• After the show, Cleo will be signing autographs. Behind the building there is enough space to park two limousines. Without knowing why, I crossed the room and looked out the window. In 1816 life was very different. Suddenly, an angry black cat sprang from the shadows.
• if there is a chance of misreading the sentece, use the comma
• - Before eating the family said grace.
• + Before eating, the family said grace.

with comparison

• don't use a comma before "than" when you're making a comparison
• - This box is lighter, than that box.
• + This box is lighter than that box.
• - Hardcover books are more expensive, than paperback books.
• + Hardcover books are more expensive than paperback books.

with interrupters or parenthical elements

• interrupters are little thought that pop up in the middle of a sentence to show emotion, tone, or emphasis
• a parenthical element is a phrase that adds extra information to the sentence but could be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence
• both sould be set off with commas
• - The weather I was happy to see was beginning to clear.
• + The weather, I was happy to see, was beginning to clear.
• - Geoff’s cooking skills if you can call them skills left something to be desired.
• + Geoff’s cooking skills, if you can call them skills, left something to be desired.
• - Mary unlike Anne is very organized.
• + Mary, unlike Anne, is very organized.

with a question tag

• a question tag is a short phrase or even a single word that is added to the end of a statement to turn it into a question
• a question tag should be precedes by a comma
• These willow trees are beautiful, aren’t they? You didn’t actually write a 600-page vampire romance novel, did you? I know, right?

with direct address

• when addressing another person by name, set off the name with commas
• Mom, I can’t find my shoes! Cleo, there’s someone on the phone for you. Hello, Chester.

with an appositive

• an appositive is a word or phrase that refers to the same thing sas another noun in the same sentence, often they provide additional information about the noun or helps to distinguish it in some way
• if you can remove the apposite without changing the meanig of the sentence, is a nonessential and should be set off with commas
• My mother, Angela, is a wonderful cook.
• Chocolate, my favorite treat, always makes me feel better after a bad day.
• if the appositive is necessary, it's said to be essential and should not be set off with commas
• Edgar Allan Poe’s poem The Raven is a classic.
• The detective Sherlock Holmes is one of literature’s greatest sleuths.

in dates

• when writing a date in month-day-year format, set of the year with commas
• July 4, 1776, was an important day in American history
• If you are using the day-month-year format commas are unnecessary.
• Applications are due by 31 December 2016.
• If you are referencing a day of the week and a date, use a comma
• On Tuesday, April 13, at three o’clock, there will be a meeting for all staff.
• When you are referencing only a month and year, you don’t need a comma.
• The region experienced record rainfall in March 1999.

between coordinate adjectives

• when multiple adjectives modify a noun to an equal degree, they are said to be coordinate adjectives and should be separated by commas.
• to identify a coordinate adjective try to switch the order of them. If the sentence still sounds natural, they are coordinate.
• That man is a pompous, self-righteous, annoying idiot. That man is a self-righteous, annoying, pompous idiot. The sweet, scintillating aroma of cinnamon buns filled the kitchen. The scintillating, sweet aroma of cinnamon buns filled the kitchen.
• If the adjectives are not coordinate, don’t separate them with a comma.
• - The adorable, little boy was eating ice cream.
• + The adorable little boy was eating ice cream.

before but

• use comma before the word but if it is joining two independent caluses
• - Cleo is a good singer but she’s an even better dancer.
• + Cleo is a good singer, but she’s an even better dancer.
• If but is not joining two independent clauses, leave the comma out.
• - My teacher is tough, but fair.
• + My teacher is tough but fair.
• - Life is, but a dream.
• + Life is but a dream.

before and

• when you have a list that only contain two items, don't use a comma before the and
• My dog Charlie is cute, and smart.
• My dog Charlie is cute and smart.
• Cleo’s favorite activities are singing on stage, and relaxing in the sunshine.
• Cleo’s favorite activities are singing on stage and relaxing in the sunshine.

with lists

• when you have a list that contains more than two elements, use commas to separate them
• - Julie loves ice cream books and kittens.
• + Julie loves ice cream, books, and kittens.
• + Julie loves ice cream, books and kittens.

serial comma (Oxford comma)

• the comma before the and is called oxford comma
• te Oxford comma is optional

separating a verb and its object

• don't separate a transitive verb from its direct object with a comma
• - I’m glad I trained, Charlie not to beg for scraps.
• + I’m glad I trained Charlie not to beg for scraps.
• - Mary said, she likes chocolate.
• + Mary said she likes chocolate.

with nonrestrictive clause

• a nonrestrictive clause offers extra information about something you have mentioned ina sentence, but the information isn't essential to identify the thing you're talking about, they are usually introduced by "wich" or "who"
• nonrestrictive clause shoud be set off by commas
• Posey’s Cafe, which Chester recommended, is a fantastic restaurant.

with restrictive clauses

• restrictive clauses adds information about something you have mentioned in a sentece, they are often introduced by "that" or "who"
• restrictive clauses should never be set off by commas
• The cafe, that Chester recommended, is a fantastic restaurant.
• The cafe that Chester recommended is a fantastic restaurant.

between corelative conjuctions

• correlative conjunctions are conjunctions that come in pairs (such as either/or, neither/or, and not only/but also) and connect words or phrases in a sentence to form a complete thought
• commas are unnecessary with correlative conjunctions
• - Either the blue shirt, or the red sweater will look good with your jeans.
• + Either the blue shirt or the red sweater will look good with your jeans.
• - You can wear a pashmina not only for warmth, but also for fashion.
• + You can wear a pashmina not only for warmth but also for fashion.

between direct quote and attribute tag

• an attribute tag is a phrase like "he said" or "she claimed" that identifies the speaker of a quote or a piece of dialogue
• use commas to separate attribute tags from quotes
• The professor remarked, “How attentive you have been today!” “Once you know the solution,” Tiffany said, “the whole problem seems very simple.” “You have ice cream on your nose,” my friend snickered. “When you leave the house,” my mother yelled, “don’t slam the door!”
• if a quotation before an attribute tag ends ina question mark or exclamation point, there's no need for a comma
• - “You have a spider on your nose!”, my friend yelled.
• + “You have a spider on your nose!” my friend yelled.
• - “Where did that spider come from?”, I asked.
• + “Where did that spider come from?” I asked.

inside quotation marks

• in American English, commas always go before closing quotation marks, in British English, however, te comma goes after closing the quotation marks
• “Pass me that thesaurus,” said Matthew. “If you knew what was good for you, you’d sit down and finish that essay right now,” my roommate said. “We’re going down to the soup kitchen to help serve dinner,” her mother called.

before parenthesis

• commas may be placed after the clising parenthesis but not before either the opening or the coling parenthesis
• After opening the new cookie tin, Chester had a hard time replacing the lid. After opening the new cookie tin (and eating several of the cookies), Chester had a hard time replacing the lid.
• After opening the new cookie tin, (and eating several of the cookies), Chester had a hard time replacing the lid. After opening the new cookie tin (and eating several of the cookies,) Chester had a hard time replacing the lid.

between an article and a noun

• don't use comma between an article and noun
• The company managers accidentally scheduled the, weekly meeting for Saturday. A, bouquet of flowers may be created using more than one type of flower. I’ll have an, apple.
• The company managers accidentally scheduled the weekly meeting for Saturday. A bouquet of flowers may be created using more than one type of flower. I’ll have an apple.

with "as well as"

• usually doesn't require commas unless it's part of a nonrestrictive clause
• Please proofread for grammatical mistakes as well as spelling.
• Spelling mistakes, as well as grammatical errors, are distracting to readers.

with "such as"

• if it introduces a nonrestrictive clause, requires commas
• Coniferous trees, such as pine and spruce, do not drop their needles in the winter.
• if it introduces a restrictive clause, omit the commas
• Trees such as pine and spruce do not drop their needles in the winter.

before "too"

• using comma before "too" is optional
• I like bananas too. I too like bananas.
• a comma simply adds emphasis
• I like bananas, too. I, too, like bananas.