When do you use a comma? We all make mistakes at times, like Senator Grassley did in his correspondence cited in number 3 below.
I just finished reading a set of essays, and I was pleased at the quality of my students’ work. For the most part and with occasional reminders, the students are learning how to use commas in all these ways.
- Direct address. Come here, boys, and get lunch. Tyler, do you have time to do it?
- Set off year in a date. March 29, 2012, was a very good day.
- Set off state or country. My trip to Barcelona, Spain, was a success.
Letter to the Director of the Secret Service by Senator Charles Grassley, April 2012
- Series of three or more. I enjoy eating pizza, carrots, potatoes, and peas.
- After a dependent clause in a complex sentence. As soon as we finish the game, we will eat.
- After other introductory words and phrases at the beginning of a sentence. Having eaten all the cookies, Matilda got sick. At the beginning of the trial, the judge called a meeting. Well, I don’t like that.
- Before one of the FANBOYS conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) in a compound sentence. I will be here for the game, but I will be a few minutes late.
- Between the tag and the quotation. Becca said, “Booggity, booggity, booggity.”
Don’t use a comma:
- No comma between the two verbs in a compound predicate. She gave the girls pizza and washed the dishes after they ate.
- No comma in any list of two things. I like going to the playground on Saturday and the mall on Friday.
