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Commas are usually placed in a sentence to serve as a "pause." Commas should not be inserted just anywhere. There are nine basic situations during which commas are used:
Before the couple attended Les Miserables, they went to a fancy dinner at Ocean City.
In spite of the fact that the actor was very ill, he still made an appearance at the Oscars.
Being a sore loser, Bruce refused to rejoin the game after he'd been "benched" for one inning.
The new employee was required to keep the books, manage the office staff, order office supplies, and cover the telephones during the lunch period.
The specialty shop sold "natural rock formation" croissants, tree breads, leaf pastries, wind chime cookies, and cinnamon rolls--all along the theme of environmentalism.
Demi Moore, one of the most famous actresses of our time, manages a family stable life with a thriving career.
The police, frantic to catch the bank robber, set up a sting operation.
The major stores are selling garden supplies at big discounts, up to 40% off.
I said, "Please return my book right away!"
The vice principal said to the instructor, "I really like the way you handled that student's question."
"How can Marise dedicate her free time to the Puget Sound Blood Center like that?" asked Hiroshi.
"Please pass the ketchup," said Morris.
"My most challenging type of swimming is the butterfly stroke," said the junior state champion swimmer.
Commas are used between dependent and independent clauses joined with a coordinating conjunction (and, or, but, for, nor, so, yet). In the latter case when independent clauses are joined by a coordinate conjunction with a comma before it, you have a compound sentence.
The defendant showed no emotion when he heard the jury's verdict, so the press pegged her as a cold-blooded criminal.
I will bake the cookies for the bake sale, and I'll help with the clean up afterwards!
The race car driver had driven around a similar track many times during practice, but he'd never raced it before in a competitive situation.
Commas come before a person's name when that person is being addressed.
"Colin, I want you to come to the front of the room," the trainer said.
Ladies and gentlemen, look at the fine display in front of you!
I've made a great improvement in health, doctor
Commas separate the city and the state both in writing and in addresses.
We live in Yelm, Washington.
Send it to us via P.O. Box 33654, Seattle, Washington 98133.
Commas are used after the day in a date.
My friend's mother was born on January 1, 1933.
Our taxes are due by April 15, 1996!
June 14, 1996, will be the last day of this Spring Quarter 1996.
Sincerely yours, Yours truly,
Wishing you the best, Yours,
Sincerely, Until later,
In health, Respectfully,
Students should memorize the above rules. In editing their papers, they should make sure that every comma use is justified, AND they should make sure that there are no commas missing.
(Revised 2007)