Basic Rules for Using Commas

Basic Rules for Using Commas

1. Use a comma ________ the conjunction (___________________________) that joins the two __________________ __________________ in a compound sentence.

· ______________________________________________________________

· He got out of school early, so he took a nap.

2. Use a comma after relatively lengthy _______________ _______________ or __________________ (__________________) clauses.

· ___________________________________________________________

· After she learned the rules for using commas, her grades improved.

***It is important to note that a comma _________________ be used when the clause or

phrase comes at the ___________ of the sentence.

· ___________________________________________________________

3. Use commas to _____________ ____________ _____ ___ _____________. Be sure to insert a comma ______________ the conjunction that precedes the last item.

· ____________________________________________________________

4. Use commas _______________ or ________________ non-essential elements (parts of a sentence _______________ _________________ that is not important in order to understand its meaning).

· ______________________________________________________________

5. Use commas between _____________________ _____________________ that modify the same noun. Do not _________________ adjectives of unequal importance.

· _____________________________________________________________

*** A good way to determine if adjectives are of equal importance is to _____________ them in the sentence. If the sentence does not read well after the reversal, do not use a comma between them.

· ______________________________________________________________

6. Use commas to ____________________ the elements of ___________ and _____________.

· ____________________________________________________________

· He was born in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

7. Use a comma before a ___________________.

· _____________________________________________________________

***Reminder: Commas (and periods as well) go INSIDE the quotation marks.

8. Use commas before and after words and phrases like ______________ and ______________________ that serve as ____________________.

· _____________________________________________________________

Semi-Colon Rules

1. Use a semi-colon in place of a comma and conjunction to _________________ the two ____________________ ________________ in a compound sentence.

· __________________________________________________________________

2. Use a semi-colon before the _________________ _______________ (such as _____________ and ________________) that joins two independent clauses. Be sure to put a comma ______________ the conjunctive adverb.

· _________________________________________________________________

3. Use semi-colons to separate _______________ _______ ___ _____________ if they contain _________________ _______________.

· On his fishing trip, Jeff caught rainbow, brook, and lake trout; largemouth, small mouth, and white bass; and a few northern pike.