Using Commas in WritingThe ins and outs of usage

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My favorite colors are red, white, and blue

My favorite months are June, July, and August.

1. To Separate Commas in a Series

What are adjectives? They describe nouns (a person place or thing)

Examples: big, bold, beautiful, boisterous, beautiful

The giant, furry, brown dog ran up and licked my face.

2. To separate two or more adjectives

My cat is a slick sneaky feline.

This summer, I plan to visit Texas South Dakota and Mexico.

My car needs a new battery windshield wipers and tires.

Practice using commas

Use commas to separate numbers in the date and also in addresses.

Examples: My friend was born on December 22, 1996,

in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Last year, I visited my family in New Brunswick, NJ.

3. To set off Dates and Addresses

Use a comma for FANBOYS to separate two INDEPENDENT clauses

What are FANBOYS? FANBOYS – for, and, nor, but, or, yet, soExample:Tonight, I am going to see a movie, but I am not sure where the movie is playing.

4. To Separate Independent Clauses

Spring will be here in less than a month and I cannot wait to get outdoors and breathe in fresh air.

We will keep track of the days until spring arrives and when it does, we will celebrate.

You can either gripe about winter or you can plan things to do when the warm weather arrives.

Now , you add a comma to these Independent Clauses

A participle phrase gives more information about a noun and can be placed before it or after. They end in ED or ING and look like VERBS but are ADJECTIVES.

Examples: Repaired by the mechanic Rolling around the carpet Smiling at her classmate

5. To separate a Participle Phrase

Participle Word it Modifies Sentence

Hearing the bell students Hearing the bell, the students rushed out of their seats and through the door.

Building a sturdy shelf

Alex Building a sturdy shelf, Alex was able to construct one that could hold 1,000 lbs.

Clapping and cheering

fans Clapping and cheering, the Olympic fans were thrilled when the hockey team won gold.

How are Participle Phrases Used?

Use a comma after a person’s name in a sentence or before the name if it comes at the end.

Example:Chris, did you say you liked the song “Sail”?

What is your favorite sport, Austin?

Alexa, where did you go last week?

6. To Set off Names in Direct Address

Appositive phrases give more information about a noun.

Jack, who is now in front of me, cut in line.

Skylar, a cheery 10-th grader, loves listening to country music.

7. To set off Appositive Phrases

Adverbial Clauses provide more information such as how, why or under what condition. If they are at the beginning of a sentence then they need a comma to follow.

Examples include: since, although, because, when, after

8. To separate Adverbial Clauses

Examples:

After the children walked home, they threw down their book bags and got a snack.

Once they ate a snack, they did their homework.

Since they finished their homework, the children then played outside.

Examples with Adverbial Clauses