Comma Rules
Use a comma between a coordinating conjunction joining independent clauses
Correlating conjunctions can be remembered by the
acronym "FANBOYS:" for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so.
independent Clauses are clauses that could be stated by themselves as standalone sentences.
Example:
"Nearly everyone has heard of love at first sight, but I fell in love at first dance."
"Nearly everyone has heard of live at first sight" and "I fell in love at first dance" could be sentences on their own, but since they are joined here by the correlating conjunction "And," a comma is necessary.
Use a comma between coordinate adjectives not joined by and.
When two or more adjectives each modify a noun separately, they are coordinate.
Example:
"Roberto is a warm, gentle, affectionate father."
These adjectives coordinate because warm, gentle, and affectionate could be joined with and.
Do not use a comma between cumulative adjectives
When two or more adjectives modify their object independently, they are cumulative.
Example:
"Eleven fat brown cows grazed peacefully."
Eleven, fat, and brown can not be joined by and, and so they are cumulative.
Use commas to set off nonessential expressions
A nonessential expression is a word or phrase that could be removed without affecting the structure of the sentence. Many times sentences can be reordered without adding or removing any words to change whether any words are nonessential.
Essential: David and Emily would prefer, therefore, to limit the term of the agreement to six months.
Nonessential: David and Emily would therefore prefer to limit the term of the agreement to six months.
Another way to tell a nonessential expression is to see if it would work in parentheses.
Example:
"My brother (who was very tired) went straight to bed when he arrived."
"My brother, who was very tired, went straight to bed when he arrived."
Sources:
Hacker, Diana. A Writer's Reference. 6th ed. New York: Bedford / St. Martin's, 2007.
Sabin, William A. The Gregg Reference Manual: A Manual of Style, Grammar, Usage, and Formatting. 10th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill 2005.
Strunk, Jr., William, and E. B. White. The Elements of Style. 4th ed. New York: Penguin, 2005.
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