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Mastering Comma Rules: Punctuation Guide for Clear Writing

Learn the essential comma rules to improve your writing clarity and precision. Understand when to use commas in series, independent clauses, nonessential phrases, introductory elements, interrupters, conventional settings, and adjective lists. Avoid common errors like unnecessary commas and comma splices. Enhance your writing skills with proper comma usage.

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Mastering Comma Rules: Punctuation Guide for Clear Writing

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  1. Comma Rules Rule #1 Use commas to separate items in a series • Ex. The camp counselor distributed baseballs, bats, volleyballs, tennis rackets, and t-shirts. • We will have a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

  2. Rule #2 Independent Clauses • Use a comma before for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so (FAN-BOYS) when they join independent clauses. Ex. Patrick brought the sandwiches, and Cindy brought the salad.

  3. Rule #3 Nonessential Clauses (& Phrases) • Use commas to set off nonessential clauses and nonessential participial phrases Ex. Miko, who lives across the street from me, won a scholarship to UCLA.

  4. Rule #4 Introductory Elements: use a comma after certain introductory elements Ex. Calling for a timeout, the referee blew his whistle. Ex. No, I haven’t taken the exam yet. Ex. By the moon’s light, I saw the secret entrance.

  5. Rule #5 Interrupters: Use commas to set off elements that interrupt Ex. Sarah Palin, a politician from Alaska, was John McCain’s running mate. Ex. You are, I hope, planning to be on time.

  6. Rule #6 Conventional Settings • Use commas to separate items in dates and addresses (On Saturday, June 21, ) • After the salutation/closing of a letter (Ex. (1) Dear Megan, (2) Sincerely,) • Use commas to set off a name that has an abbreviation (Ex. Dr., Jr., M.D.,) E.g. Ken Griffey, Jr., could have broken Maris’ record.

  7. Rule #7 Unnecessary Commas Do not use unnecessary commas! This can be just as confusing as not having enough commas: On Friday, after school, my friend, Rita, and I played badminton at the house until her dog, Ruffles, a frisky, golden retriever got hit by a moving truck.

  8. Rule #8 • Use commas in between adjectives that describe the same word. Example: It was a beautiful, sunny, warm day. OR It was a beautiful, sunny, and warm day.

  9. Rule #9 • AVOID comma splices • A comma splice is a sentence in which two independent clauses are joined by a comma with no conjunction. • Use one of the following four techniques to correct a comma splice: • Change the comma to a semicolon. • Write the two clauses as separate sentences. • Insert a coordinating conjunction following the comma. • Make one clause dependent on the other.

  10. Rule #9, cont’d • Comma Splice: • Kristy forgot to set her alarm, she woke up forty minutes late. Let’s fix the comma splice! • Change the comma to a semicolon: • Write the two clauses as separate sentences: • Insert a coordinating conjunction following the comma: • Make one clause dependent on the other:

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