Comma Rules

Comma Rules

The 9 most important rules to master comma placement

I. Lists

Use commas to separate 3 or more items in a list. 

I. Lists

Items can be nouns, verbs, or adjectives.

- I need to buy kiwis, coconuts, and limes. 

- Tonight I’m going to study, work, and babysit.

- The marbles are bright, colorful, and round. 

Multiple Choice

Choose the sentence with the correct comma placement.

• I need, sugar, butter, and eggs from the grocery store.

• I need sugar, butter, and eggs, from the grocery store.

• I need: sugar, butter, and eggs from the grocery store.

• I need sugar, butter, and eggs from the grocery store.

Multiple Choice

Choose the sentence with the correct comma placement.

• Jeremy, and I, have had our share of

  arguments.

• Jeremy and I, have had our share of arguments.

• Jeremy and I have had our share of arguments.

• Jeremy and I have had, our share of arguments.

II. Dependent ^VS Independent Clause

Use a comma to separate a dependent clause (incomplete thought) from an independent clause (complete thought).

II. Dependent ^VS Independent Clause

A dependent clause cannot stand alone as a complete sentence, while an independent clause can. 

- Whenever I write a text, I get confused about where to put commas.

- If the weather is nice, we're going to have a picnic later. 

II. Dependent ^VS Independent Clause

If the independent clause comes first, a comma is not used: 

- I get confused about where to put commas whenever I write a text.

- We're going to have a picnic later if the weather is nice. 

Multiple Choice

Choose the sentence with the correct comma placement.

• Although, you may be right I cannot take your word for it.

• Although, you may be right, I cannot take your word for it.

• Although you may be right I cannot take your word for it.

• Although you may be right, I cannot take your word for it.

III. Independent Clauses & 'FANBOYS'

Use a comma to separate two independent clauses when they are joined together by “F-A-N-B-O-Y-S”. 

III. Independent Clauses & 'FANBOYS'

Independent clauses can form a complete sentence if each contains a subject and a verb.

FANBOYS: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So 

III. Independent Clauses & 'FANBOYS'

• We have to go to the airport soon, for we have a flight to catch. 

• I tripped over a rock, and I fell into a puddle. 

• I do not want ice cream, nor do I want apple pie.

• He wants to buy a new phone, but he has already spent his money.

• We can drive to the beach, or we can take a bus.

• It was snowing outside, yet the roads were safe to drive on.

• The restaurant was inexpensive, so the family ate a lot for dinner.

Multiple Choice

Choose the sentence with the correct comma placement.

• Ophelia is picking up the food and I am making the centerpieces.

• Ophelia is picking up the food, and I am making the centerpieces.

Multiple Choice

Choose the sentence with the correct comma placement.

• She finished her work, and then took a long

  lunch.

• She finished her work, and then, took a long

  lunch.

• She finished her work and then took a long

  lunch.

• She finished her work and then, took a long lunch.

She finished her work and then took a long lunch.

A comma is unnecessary because the subject does not appear in front of the second verb.

Multiple Choice

Choose the sentence with the correct comma placement.

• You wear a lovely hat but you don't wear anything else.

• You wear a lovely hat, but you don't wear anything else.

Multiple Choice

Choose the sentence with the correct comma placement.

• You wear a lovely hat because you have a good taste in clothing.

• You wear a lovely hat, because you have a good taste in clothing.

You wear a lovely hat because you have a good taste in clothing.

'because' is not part of the FANBOYS

IV. Non-essential Elements

Use commas to separate nonessential elements within a sentence. 

IV. Non-essential Elements

Non-essential elements offer information that is not vital (nicht unbedingt notwendig) to the sentence. 

- My mother, who owns a blue truck, drove me to school today. 

- Her dog, strangely enough, loves the mailman.

- On the one hand, it's nicer. On the other hand, it's more expensive. 

Multiple Choice

Choose the sentence with the correct comma placement.

• I took Angie, the one with the freckles to the movie last night.

• I took Angie, the one with the freckles, to

  the movie last night.

• I took Angie the one with the freckles, to the movie last night.

• I took Angie, the one with the freckles, to the movie, last night.

Multiple Choice

Choose the sentence with the correct comma placement.

• My oldest brother James is the mean one.

• My oldest brother James, is the mean one.

• My oldest brother, James is the mean one.

• My oldest brother, James, is the mean one.

V. Introductory Elements

Use commas to separate an introductory element from the rest of a sentence.

V. Introductory Elements

An introductory element is a word or phrase (that is not an adjective) that comes before the subject in a sentence. 

- Hello, my name is Steven.

- Unfortunately, the only coffee left is decaf.

- Although I was completely out of breath, I reached the finish line.

Multiple Choice

Choose the sentence with the correct comma placement.

• Whenever Cheryl is in town she visits her sister.

• Whenever Cheryl is in town, she visits her sister.

• Whenever, Cheryl is in town, she visits her sister.

Multiple Choice

Choose the sentence with the correct comma placement.

• Although we had seen the film twice before, we never noticed these details.

• Although we had seen the film twice before we never noticed these details.

• Although. we had seen the film twice, before we never noticed these details.

• Although we had seen the film twice, before, we never noticed these details.

VI. Shifts and Pauses

Use a comma to indicate a pause or shift at the end of a sentence. 

VI. Shifts and Pauses

Note that this can also be a part of the sentence that refers back to the beginning of the sentence. 

- It was warm outside, not hot.

- You’re in a good mood today, aren’t you?

- The dog walked down the street happily, waving his tail with joy. 

Multiple Choice

Choose the sentence with the correct comma placement.

• Pamela’s name was on the guest list wasn’t it?

• Pamela’s name, was on the guest list wasn’t it?

• Pamela’s name, was on the guest list, wasn’t it?

• Pamela’s name was on the guest list, wasn’t it?

VII. Quotations

Use commas to set off quotations. 

VII. Quotations

Commas should generally be placed both before and after quotations appear within a sentence. 

- “Let’s go outside,” she said, “before the sun goes down!”

- According to Francis Bacon, “knowledge is power.” 

Multiple Choice

Choose the sentence with the correct comma placement.

• “Why” I asked “are you still here in Maine?”

• “Why,” I asked, “are you still here in Maine?”

• “Why,” I asked. “Are you still here in Maine?”

Multiple Choice

Choose the sentence with the correct comma placement.

• I am asking, if you would like to rollerblade together tomorrow.

• I am asking if you would like to rollerblade together tomorrow.

• I am asking if you would like to rollerblade together, tomorrow.

• I am asking, if you would like, to rollerblade together tomorrow.

I am asking if you would like to rollerblade together tomorrow.

This is not a direct quote, nor is it a direct question.

Multiple Choice

Choose the sentence with the correct comma placement.

• “Yes,” Ting said, “I did see the baby panda at the zoo today.”

• “Yes,” Ting said “I did see the baby panda at the zoo today.”

• “Yes” Ting said “I did see the baby panda at the zoo today.”

VIII. Titles, Addresses, and Dates

Use commas to organise titles, addresses, and dates.

VIII. Titles

Commas should be used to set off titles or positions following a name:

- Captain Lee, head of the theft department, finally caught the robber.

VIII. Addresses

Commas should also separate the individual elements of an address:

- He told me he lived at 221B Baker Street, London, England.

- I live in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

VIII. Dates

Commas usually separate the date and the year if the day of the month is involved, but not if only the month and year are mentioned:

- I had arrived in Durham in May 2018.

- I had arrived in Durham on May 21, 2018.

VIII. Dates

Commas usually separate the date and the year if the day of the month is involved, but not if only the month and year are mentioned:

- I had arrived in Durham in May 2018.

- I had arrived in Durham on May 21, 2018.

If the day of the week is mentioned, it is also separated by a comma:

- I had arrived in Durham on Thursday, May 21, 2018.



VIII. Dates

Commas usually separate the date and the year if the day of the month is involved, but not if only the month and year are mentioned:

- I had arrived in Durham in May 2018.

- I had arrived in Durham on May 21, 2018.

If the day of the week is mentioned, it is also separated by a comma:

- I had arrived in Durham on Thursday, May 21, 2018.

British style: day before month + no comma between month and year:

- I had arrived in Durham on Thursday, 21 May 2018. (UK)

Multiple Choice

Choose the sentence with the correct comma placement.

• Jackson’s white cat was born in June, 2013, at his farm.

• Jackson’s white cat was born in June 2013, at his farm.

• Jackson’s white cat was born in June 2013 at his farm.

Multiple Choice

Choose the sentence with the correct comma placement.

• Jackson’s white cat was born on June 28 2013 at his farm.

• Jackson’s white cat was born on June 28, 2013 at his farm.

• Jackson’s white cat was born on June 28, 2013, at his farm.

• Jackson’s white cat, was born on June 28, 2013, at his farm.

Multiple Choice

Choose the sentence with the correct comma placement.

• She left Albany, New York, on January 18 of

  that year.

• She left Albany, New York on January 18, of that year.

• She left Albany New York, on January 18 of

  that year.

• She left Albany New York, on January 18, of that year.

IX. Direct Address

When you address someone directly by name or title within a sentence, surround the name or title with commas.

IX. Direct Address

• Yes, Jean, you were right about the weather.

• I suspect, Michael, that you know the answer.

• Jackie, are you leaving so soon? 

Multiple Choice

Choose the sentence with the correct comma placement.

• Please Sasha, come home as soon as you can.

• Please, Sasha, come home as soon as you can.

• Please, Sasha come home as soon as you can.

• Please Sasha, come home, as soon as you can.

The End

Most Important Comma Rules