Commas Galore

I. Commas SHOULD be Used in the Following Situations

1) USE COMMAS to Separate Three or More Items in a Series

We had soft-boiled eggs, tomato juice, and dry wheat toast for breakfast.

DO NOT use a comma to separate only two items in a series.

2) USE COMMAS to Offset Introductory Phrases, Transitional Expressions, and Parentheticals

Examples

By the end of the day, everyone was exhausted.

The test, it seems, was too difficult.

3) USE COMMAS to Offset Appositives

Examples

Ralph, my best friend, eloped with my fiancé.

Note: An "appositive" simply renames something. In the above examples "my best friend" and "Ralph" are exactly the same thing, so you would use commas to offset your "renaming" of the subject.

4) USE COMMAS to Offset Nonrestrictive Clauses

Examples

Our doctor, whom we visit often, is on vacation.
English 101, which is required for most students, is a challenging course.
Note: A "nonrestrictive clause" gives additional information that is not vital to the meaning of a sentence. In both examples above, the information between the commas could be removed, and the main points of the sentences would not change.

5) USE A COMMA Between Two Independent Clauses Separated by One of the "Fan Boys" (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)

Examples

She joined the health club, but she was not satisfied with the results.

In other words, when you have two complete sentences separated by "for," "and," "nor," "but," "or," "yet," or "so," you should place a comma in front of the word that links the two sentences.

Note: DO NOT use a comma if there is not a new subject after the word (one of the "fan boys") that links the two parts of your sentence.

Examples
She joined the health club but was not satisfied with the results.

6) USE COMMAS to Separate Independent Clauses from Dependent Clauses

Examples

If the rain continues, we will have to cancel the picnic.