FAQs | Contact Us | Search

Home About Eastfield Future Students Current Students Continuing Education Business/Community Employees Español   Schedules  |  Admissions & Registration  |  Library  |  Academics  |  Athletics  |  eConnect  |  eCampus  |  Catalog |  Pleasant Grove Campus Administration  |  Human Resources  |  Institutional Research  |  Mission  |  Resource and Community Dev. Campus Tour  |  Admissions & Registration  |  Orientation  |  Paying for College  |  Student Services  |  Academics   |  Student Life Registration Dates  |  Paying for College  |  Schedules  |  Student Services  |  Student Life  |  Library |  Academic Calendar  |  Transcripts Business & Industry Corporate Training  |  Computers & Business  |  Criminal Justice  |  ESL  |  GED Information Employer Services  |  Hire a Student  |  Business & Industry Corporate Training  |  Community Information  |  Library Computer Support | Employee Intranet  |  Groupwise Email  |  eConnect Employee Menu  |  Human Resources  |  Media & Production

Summary Use of the Comma

Use commas to separate items in a series—words, groups of words, phrases, and short independent clauses—unless the items are separated by conjunctions.

• We picked up apples, bananas, and coconuts for drinks.
• Harry and Sally watched a movie and ate popcorn.  [two items do not make a series]
• Harry and Sally watched a movie, ate popcorn, and lounged on the couch.

Use a comma to separate two or more adjectives that come before a noun.

• The tall, thin boy lined up before the race.

Use a comma after certain introductory elements.    

(1) Use a comma after an introductory participial phrase.

• Living in Dallas, most residents will experience road rage.

(2) Use a comma after two or more introductory prepositional phrases.

• After the final on Tuesday, we can relax for a week.

(3) Use a comma after an introductory adverb clause.

• If it rains today, the baseball game will be cancelled

Use commas to set off expressions that interrupt the sentence.

(1) Appositives and appositive phrases are usually set off by commas.

• Tina’s father, Jerry Smith, works at the planetarium.

(2) Words used in direct address are set off by commas.

• I hope, Lisa, that you’re going to show up for class today.

(3) Parenthetical expressions are set off by commas.

• The teacher was, of course, serious about the test scores.

(4) Words such as well, yes, no, and why are followed by a comma when they begin a sentence or remark.

• Yes, copies are in the office.
• Well, he did say he’d be here

Use commas to set off nonessential clauses and nonessential participial phrases.

• The dress she wore, which she bought a year ago, looked great on her at her graduation.

Use a comma before and, but, or, for, so, nor, and yet when they join independent clauses in a compound sentence.

• Sue and Bill went for a walk, and they watched the most amazing sunset.

Use a comma in certain conventional situations.

(1) Use commas to separate items in dates and addresses.

• January 14, 2005
• 12345 South Second Street, Anyplace, Texas

(2) Use a comma after the salutation of a friendly letter and after the closing of any letter.

• Dear Bob,
• Sincerely,

(3) Use a comma with direct quotations.

• One teacher told me, “You should always attend class.