| A | B |
|---|
| Jane has been a correspondent for the wire service in London, Paris, Rome, and Madrid. | correct (items in a series) |
| There were books on the desk, posters on the wall, and clothing on the floor. | correct (items in a series) |
| The students in the auto mechanics class learned, to replace the spark plugs, adjust the points, and change the oil, in three different makes of automobiles. | incorrect (Do not place a comma before the first item or after the last item in a series.) |
| For supper they served a tossed salad, spaghetti and meatballs, garlic bread, milk, and fruit. | correct (Words customarily used in pairs are set off as one item in a series.) |
| We can go under or over or around it. | correct (If all items in a series are joined by "and" or "or," do not use commas to separate them. |
| We walked, we talked, we laughed, and we sang. | correct (Short independent clauses may be separated by commas.) |
| She is a creative, intelligent, executive. | incorrect (Do not put a comma between the adjective and the noun it modifies.) |
| How can you watch that boring, silly, worthless, program? | incorrect (Do not put a comma between the adjective and the noun it modifies.) |
| It was a crisp, clear, invigorating, fall day. | incorrect (Do not use a comma before the final adjective in a series if the adjective is thought of as part of the noun.) |
| She hung small, round, delicate Chinese lanterns. | correct ("Chinese" is thought of as part of "lanterns.") |
| Why did he wear a bright red cap? | correct (If one of the words in the series modifies another word in the series, do not separate them by a comma.) |
| Monday's meeting had gone smoothly, yet I felt a controversy brewing. | correct (compound sentence) |
| Geraldo gave me some good advice, and got some from me in return. | incorrect (This is a simple sentence with a compound verb.) |
| He searched everywhere, but there were no fingerprints. | incorrect (For compound sentences with short independent clauses, no comma is needed before the conjunction.) |
| Margo likes tennis and golf, but does not like archery. | incorrect (This is a simple sentence with a compound verb.) |
| Shining in the morning light, a spider web is an impressive example of engineering. | correct (Set off a beginning participial phrase wth a comma.) |
| Exhausted from their tumble, Jack and Jill watched television all afternoon. | correct (Set off a beginning participial phrase wth a comma.) |
| Believing that the New World held vast riches, the king and queen of Spain sent explorers across the seas. | correct (Set off a beginning participial phrase wth a comma.) |
| Excited by the upcoming family trip to Disney World Paul could not concentrate in school. | incorrect (Set off a beginning participial phrase wth a comma.) |
| Well, what do you think? | correct (Use a comma after certain introductory elements.) |
| Yes, you are welcome to join us. | correct (Use a comma after certain introductory elements.) |
| Why the whole story sounds suspicious! | incorrect (Use a comma after certain introductory elements.) |
| At the end of the block next to the old railroad station in Mill Heights, you will find my grandparents' house. | correct (Use a comma after a sequence of introductory prepositional phrases.) |
| In the evening I like to visit friends. | correct (A single introductory prepositional phrase need not be followed by a comma unless it is necessary to prevent confusion.) |
| Under the apple tree a little dog lay curled in a ball. | correct (A single introductory prepositional phrase need not be followed by a comma unless it is necessary to prevent confusion.) |
| While Sal put on his tuxedo, the flute player checked the sheet music. | correct (Use a comma after an introductory subordinate/dependent clause.) |
| We heard the phone ring as soon as we left the house. | correct (You don't need a comma if the dependent clause is at the end of the sentence.) |
| Giggling like a child, he wrapped the late present. | correct (Use a comma after an introductory participial phrase.) |
| Cleaning and painting my room I ran across a favorite ring of mine. | incorrect (Put a comma after an introductory participial phrase.) |
| Shining in the sunlight, the spider's web was a treat to see. | correct (Put a comma after an introductory prarticipial phrase.) |
| Well, what do you think? | correct (Use a comma after certain introductory elements.) |
| Yes, you are welcome to join us. | correct (Put a comma after certain introductory elements.) |
| Why, the whole story sounds suspicious! | correct (Put a comma after certain introductory elements.) |
| Do you know, Meghan, where your brother is? | correct (Words used in direct address are set off by commas.) |
| Jerry, please see about this. | correct (Words used in direct address are set off by commas.) |
| You seem upset my friend. | incorrect ( Words used in direct address are set off by commas.) |
| The train, I am sure, will be on time. | correct (Parenthetical expressions are set off by commas.) |
| On the contrary, exercise is relaxing. | correct (Parenthetical expressions are set off by commas.) |
| She in fact wanted to go alone. | incorrect (Parenthetical expressions are set off by commas.) |
| This drill should end soon, in my opinion. | correct (Parenthetical expressions are set off by commas.) |
| Hawaii achieved statehood on August 21, 1959, becoming the fiftieth state. | corrrect (Use a comma to separate dates and addresses and when the participial phrase is at the end of the sentence and is not next to the noun it modifies, then set it off with a comma.) |
| Write to me at 144 Seney Drive, Bernardsville, NJ, after September 4, 2008. | correct (Use a comma to separate dates and addresses.) |
| "Oh, Taran!," cried Eilonwy, "what just flew overhead?" | incorrect (The exclamation mark takes the place of the comma.) |
| Any student wishing to sing or act or perform on Class Day should sign up before tomorrow which is the deadline. | incorrect (Use a comma to set off an adjective clause beginning with "which.") |
| The plot of that book a murder mystery is, in my opinion, far too complicated. | incorrect (Use commas to enclose appositives.) |
| Looking for economical transportation, Harry nervously scouted the possibilities at the local car dealership. | correct (Participial phrases that begin a sentence should be set off by a comma.) |
| "Ohio is known as the Buckeye State" explained Mark. | incorrect (place a comma between the last word in a direct quotation and the quotation mark. |
| "Call me at three," growled Dad "and I'll give you my answer then." | incorrect - Place a comma after "Dad" because that's the rule. |
| "Which boots are yours?," asked Raven. | incorrect - The question mark (and exclamation point) take the place of a comma when using quotation marks. |
| "You will have to take the A-train to Queens," instructed Clem, "and get off at the first Astoria stop." | correct |
| Some, girls walked off with the pizza. | incorrect - "Some" and "girls" are not coordinate adjectives. |
| That's a pretty, pink, party dress. | incorrect - These adjectives are not coordinate. |
| He was a nasty, man that had not a friend on Earth. | Incorrect - Never place a comma between the noun and its modifier. |
