Whether you're in college, high school or even graduated from both, you can never have too many reminders on grammar. If you're questioning whether or not you should put a comma here or whether you shouldn't, I promise this will answer all of your questions.
1. Following introductory words
Words such as yes, no, why, well, oh.
Ex. Yes, I heard you.
2. Following introductory clauses and phrases.
Ex. Hoping for a lucky break, Nichole applied for a job.
Ex. While the baby is napping, Michelle irons.
3. Sets off appositives and appositive phrases
Ex: Moms boss, Dr. Doyle, owns the car.
Dr. Doyle, moms boss, owns the car.
4. Sets off parenthetical expressions
Words used to explain or qualify a statement, are set off by commas.
Some common parenthetical expressions are: of course, I hope, in fact, for example.
Ex: Michelle is, I hope, prepared for class.
5. Set off dates from the rest of the sentence
Ex: This year graduation is on Friday, June 10, 2016, at Trenton High School.
*Only a comma after the year if it is in the middle of the sentence.*
6. Separates addresses
Sets off every part after the first from the rest of the sentence.
Ex: Mrs. Gray lives at 555 Happy Ave., Trenton, Michigan 48183, during the winter.
*NOTE: No comma between zip code and state.
7. Sets off nonrestrictive phrases and clauses.
Ex: Bob, who looks somewhat confused, copied the notes.
*In this case, the ADJ clause provides additional information about the word being modified. You already clearly know the identity of the person.*
*RESTRICTIVE ELEMENTS ARE NOT SET OFF BY COMMAS*
8. Before conjunctions in a compound sentence
Place a comma before the coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) that joins the two main clauses in a compound sentence.
Ex: The students arrived early, but they still had too much work to do.
9. Separates items (words, phrases, or clauses) in a series
Ex: For Valentine's day, I will receive diamonds, chocolate, and flowers.
Ex: Mr. Gray promised to take me out to dinner, to buy me a convertible, and to clean the house for our special day.
10. Separates successive adjectives
Use a comma to separate three or more adjectives preceding a noun.
Ex. Heather is a bright, charming, talented, young lady.
11. After an informal letter
Use a comma after greeting and closing an informal letter.
Ex. Dear Kelsi,
Yours truly,
12. Between numbers
Ex. I hope I win $10,000,000 in the Mega Million lottery.
13. Between name and attribution (formal title)
Ex. Last night, I saw George W. Bush, former president of the United States, at the movies.
14. Use a comma to shift between the main discourse and a quotation
Ex. “I was able,” she said, “to complete the notes.” she said.
