power of the comma

In dates, the year is set off from the rest of the sentence with a pair of commas. Which is correct?

• On December 12, 1890, orders were sent out for the arrest of Sitting Bull.

• On December 12, 1890 orders were sent out for the arrest of Sitting Bull.

The elements of an address or place name are separated by commas. A zip code, however, is not preceded by a comma. Which is correct?

• Please send the letter to Greg Carvin at 708 Spring Street, Washington, IL 61571.

• Please send the letter to Greg Carvin at 708 Spring Street, Washington, IL, 61571.

Rules for series:Use a comma to separate each item in a series; a series is a group of three or more items having the same function and form in a sentence. Which is correct?

• Mary promised that she would be a good girl that she would not bite her brother, and that she would not climb onto the television.

• Mary promised that she would be a good girl, that she would not bite her brother, and that she would not climb onto the television.

Rule for compound sentences: Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction (and, but, yet, so, or nor, for) when it joins two complete ideas (independent clauses). Which is correct?

• You can go shopping with me or, you can go to a movie alone.

• You can go shopping with me, or you can go to a movie alone.

Rule for complex sentences: If the dependent clause comes before the independent clause, separate it with a comma. Which is correct?

• Because of the thunderstorm, our flight has been delayed.

• Because of the thunderstorm our flight has been delayed.

• Because, of the thunderstorm ,our flight has been delayed.

• Because of the thunderstorm our flight, has been delayed.

Rule for direct address: When a speaker in a sentence names the person to whom he is speaking, this addressing of his audience is called direct address. Direct address is indicated by the use of a comma or commas, depending upon its placement within the sentence. Which is correct?

• I think John, you’re wrong.

• I think, John you’re wrong.

• I think, John, you’re wrong.

Rule for introductory words/phrases: Use a comma after an introductory clause or phrase. Which is correct?

• When Evan was ready to iron his cat, tripped on the cord.

• When Evan was ready to iron, his cat tripped on the cord.

• When Evan, was ready to iron, his cat tripped on the cord.

Rule for interjections: Expressions such as yes, no and indeed (which usually feature at the start of a sentence) are known as interjections. When used at the start of a sentence, an interjection can be followed by a comma or an exclamation mark. Which is correct?

• Yes, she will apologize.

• Yes she, will apologize.

Rule for interrupters: Surround the interruptions in the sentence with commas. You should be able to take out what you surround and still have the sentence make sense (just like dashes). Which is correct?

• My essay, to be perfectly honest flew out, the bus window.

• My essay to be perfectly honest, flew out, the bus window.

• My essay, to be perfectly honest, flew out the bus window.

Rule: If you have two or more adjectives in a row, put a comma in between them if you can switch the adjectives around and the sentence still makes sense. Which is correct?

• I hate hot, muggy days like this.

• I hate hot muggy days like this

• I hate hot, muggy, days like this