Commas

Commas are used to indicate a pause between parts of a sentence, to separate items in a list, to set off introductory elements, and to clarify meaning.

Use commas to separate items in a series, placing a comma before the conjunction (and, or) in the last item, known as the Oxford comma.

An introductory element is a word, phrase, or clause that comes before the main clause and sets the stage for the sentence, often requiring a comma after it.

Use a comma before a conjunction when it connects two independent clauses or when it separates items in a complex list.

A dependent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb but cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.

Place a comma after the dependent clause when it precedes the independent clause.

Commas are used to separate the name or title of a person being addressed from the rest of the sentence.

A non-essential clause provides additional information that can be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence, and it is set off by commas.

Use commas to separate coordinate adjectives that equally modify a noun, but do not use commas with cumulative adjectives.

Use commas to separate the elements of a date (day, month, year) and to separate elements of an address (street, city, state).