This is a big category...just focus on one error at a time. Also, remember not to over-correct!
Used to:
Signal a pause in a sentence (but do not overuse)
Separate groups of words
Cities
Use a comma to separate a city from a state or nation.
Example: We are in Brooklyn, New York.
Example: London, England is where the Queen of England lives.
Dates
Use a comma to separate the day of the month and the year in a date.
use a comma after the year when other words follow the year in a sentence.
Example: Finally, on September 3, 1783, the colonists and the British signed the Treaty of Paris.
Introductory Words
Use a comma after an introductory word, such as:
yes,
no,
sure,
well,
Example: Yes, it is important to read your independent reading book every night.
Introductory Phrases
Use a comma after an introductory phrase that begins a sentence
Example: Because we were in a rush,we had to take our lunches to go and eat on the bus.
Nonessential Information (The sentence makes sense without it)
Use commas to separate nonessential information in a sentence.
Nonessential information adds information to a sentence, but doesn't change the meaning of a sentence.
Example: The dogs outside my window, a puppy and a large bulldog, are fighting over the treat.
Example: Our weather, which is very cold at times, can change suddenly.
Commas in a Series/List
Use commas to separate items in a list of words or phrases.
Commas are only used between whole items, not before the list begins.
Example: My favorite activities after school are playing with my siblings, running in the park, and eating a snack.
I like to eat ice cream, broccoli, and pizza.
Commas are also used to separate items in a series that modify/describe a noun (adjectives).
Example: We stayed close together in the dark, mysterious rainforest.
Compound Sentences with Conjunctions
Use a comma before a conjunction (and, but, for, so, nor, or, yet) that joins two independent clauses (parts of a sentence that could be separate sentences on their own).
Example: Antonio jumped over the fence to chase a rabbit, and then he saw the bull.
Direct Quotations
Use a comma to set off a quotation.
Example: "There is no try," Yoda told Luke, "only do or do not."
Example: "My favorite singer was Elvis Presley," my mother answered.
Questions
A tag question is a question, such as don't you, that is added at the end of a sentece.
Use a comma before the start of the tag question.
Example: It's extremely hot today, isn't it?
Example: President Lincoln was a great man, wasn't he?
Commas
This is a big category...just focus on one error at a time. Also, remember not to over-correct!Used to:
Cities
Dates
- Use a comma to separate the day of the month and the year in a date.
- use a comma after the year when other words follow the year in a sentence.
- Example: Finally, on September 3, 1783, the colonists and the British signed the Treaty of Paris.
Introductory Words- Use a comma after an introductory word, such as:
- yes,
- no,
- sure,
- well,
- Example: Yes, it is important to read your independent reading book every night.
Introductory Phrases- Use a comma after an introductory phrase that begins a sentence
- Example: Because we were in a rush,we had to take our lunches to go and eat on the bus.
Nonessential Information (The sentence makes sense without it)- Use commas to separate nonessential information in a sentence.
- Nonessential information adds information to a sentence, but doesn't change the meaning of a sentence.
- Example: The dogs outside my window, a puppy and a large bulldog, are fighting over the treat.
- Example: Our weather, which is very cold at times, can change suddenly.
Commas in a Series/List- Use commas to separate items in a list of words or phrases.
- Commas are only used between whole items, not before the list begins.
- Example: My favorite activities after school are playing with my siblings, running in the park, and eating a snack.
- I like to eat ice cream, broccoli, and pizza.
- Commas are also used to separate items in a series that modify/describe a noun (adjectives).
- Example: We stayed close together in the dark, mysterious rainforest.
Compound Sentences with Conjunctions- Use a comma before a conjunction (and, but, for, so, nor, or, yet) that joins two independent clauses (parts of a sentence that could be separate sentences on their own).
- Example: Antonio jumped over the fence to chase a rabbit, and then he saw the bull.
Direct Quotations- Use a comma to set off a quotation.
- Example: "There is no try," Yoda told Luke, "only do or do not."
- Example: "My favorite singer was Elvis Presley," my mother answered.
Questions