Commas: To Connect Independent Clauses Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction to connect independent clauses.

When readers see a comma at the end of an independent clause, they probably expect another independent clause to follow. To add another independent clause, you also need to use one of the seven coordinating conjunctions: and, but, or, nor, so, for, or yet.

Example

Energetic, efficient, and polite salespeople are much in demand.

No comma is necessary to separate adjectives that provide information about size, shape, age, color, national origin, religion, or material.
Example Entering the little old stone house brought back memories of her childhood.

Commas: In a Series Use commas to separate three or more items in a series. The reader sees the commas and understands: "This is a list." If you say the sentence aloud, you separate the parts with pauses; in writing, you separate them with commas.
Example Searching through the drawer, the detective found a key, a stamp, three coins, and a photograph.

The managers are efficient, but personnel turnover still remains high. The juggler juggled seven plates, and he received deafening applause.

If your two independent clauses are short, you may omit the comma before the conjunction: He offered to help and he meant it.

Commas: With a Direct Quotation

Commas: With Coordinate Adjectives

Use a comma to separate a direct quotation from a preceding verb. Use a comma whether the verb comes before or after the quotation.
Examples When asked what she wanted to be later in life, she replied, "Rich and famous." "I want to be rich and famous," she announced casually. [The comma is inside the quotation marks.]

Use commas to separate coordinate adjectives. Coordinate adjectives can be identified by the fact that their order can be reversed and the word and can be inserted between them. They do not give information about size, shape, age, color, nationality,religion, or material. Separate coordinate adjectives with commas.
Example He hires people who are energetic, efficient, and polite.

Do not, however, put a comma between a final adjective and the noun it modifies.

Commas: Special Uses

Example

Alice Walker was born in Eatonton, Georgia, in 1944.

Do not use a comma before a zip code: Newton, MA 02168. Use a comma to set off a phrase that modifies the whole sentence (an absolute phrase).
Example The audience looking on in amusement, the valedictorian blew kisses to all her favorite instructors. [absolute phrase = The audience looking on in amusement]

Commas: After Phrase Before the Subject

Use a comma after a phrase or clause that comes before the subject. The comma signals to readers that the phrase or clause has introduced the sentence and that the introductory part has now ended - "Now wait for the independent clause." Example If you blow out all the candles, your wishes will come true.

Use a comma to separate a year from a date.

Example On August 13, 1994, the new Woodstock concert was held in Saugerties, New York. [The second comma separates the introductory element from the rest of the sentence. No comma is used before the year when the day precedes the month: 13 August 1994.]

Often a comma is essential to prevent misreading. Faulty After they had eaten their mother arrived with cartons of ice cream for dessert.

Use a comma to divide long numbers into thousands.

Examples 515,000 34,000,000

Reading aloud will help you hear where you pause and change your intonation: that's the place for a comma. Revised After they had eaten, their mother arrived with cartons of ice cream for dessert.

No commas are necessary in years (1999), numbers in addresses (3501 East 10th Street), or page numbers (page 1002). Use commas around a person's title or degree.
Example Stephen L. Carter, Ph.D., gave the commencement speech.

Commas: Parenthetical or Nonrestrictive Clauses Use commas to set off parenthetical or nonrestrictive phrases and clauses. Place commas around any information inserted in a sentence that could

Use a comma to separate the parts of an address.

be removed without changing the basic message. Common types of insertions are appositive phrases, nonrestrictive prepositional or participle phrases, and relative clauses. If the insertion comes in midsentence, it needs to be surrounded by a pair of commas. Reading the sentence aloud will help you determine where you pause, and a pause signals the place to insert a comma. Commas: With Appositive Phrases Use commas to set off an appositive phrase (a phrase that gives additional information about a prior noun). If the phrase were omitted, the reader might lose some interesting details but would still be able to understand the message of the sentence.
Examples His dog, a big Labrador retriever, is afraid of mice. [appositive phrase = a big Labrador retriever] Janet, the oldest of five children, learned responsibility at an early age. [appositive phrase = the oldest of five children]

Commas: With Nonrestrictive Phrases Nonrestrictive phrases add descriptive information. They are set off by commas. The sentence would be understandable, though maybe not so interesting or colorful, if the information were omitted.
Example My boss, wearing a red tie and a green shirt, radiated the holiday spirit.