The English Corner at Richland College
The Six Most Common Uses for Commas
Commas are used to combine two independent clauses with a conjunction, to set off introductory
words or phrases, to set off parenthetical information, to separate an independent clause from a
dependent clause, to make a list , and to separate two or more adjectives.
With FANBOYS
When combining two complete sentences with a coordinating conjunction, use a comma. When
combining a complete sentence with a phrase, fragment, or word using a conjunction, do NOT
use a comma. There are seven coordinating conjunctions in English: for, and, nor, but, or, yet,
so. FANBOYS is an acronym to help you remember.
Example: Mrs. Merckle won first prize for her pie at the county fair but didn’t win for
her cake.
Example: Mrs. Merckle won first prize for her pie at the county fair, but she didn’t win
for her cake.
With Introductory Words/Phrases
Set off introductory words or phrases with a comma. If the subject of the sentence is not first,
you need a comma to set off the words that come before it.
Example: When she first began cooking, Mrs. Merkel was quite young.
Example: However, it was apparent that she was a cooking genius.
With Parenthetical Information
Set off parenthetical information with commas. The rule is that if the interrupting words can be
removed without changing the meaning of the sentence, you need commas to set off the words.
However, if the words are essential for meaning, do not set them off by commas.
Non-essential (separate with commas)
Example: Mrs. Merckle is, as many of her students already know, an example of an
excellent teacher.
Example: Around 1960, give or take a year, Mrs. Merckle began teaching young cooks.
Essential (do not separate)
Example: Cakes with the sugar left out taste terrible.
Example: The student who never completed her homework flunked out of cooking
school.
Handout created by Justine White
www.richlandcollege.edu/englishcorner
With Dependent Clauses
If a dependent clause begins a sentence, set it off by a comma. Dependent clauses begin with a
subordinating conjunction. Common subordinating conjunctions are as, after, although, because,
even though, if, now that, provided, rather than, since, unless, until, when, whereas, whether, and
while.
Example: Although some people thought Mrs. Merckle would fail at teaching, her
husband knew from the beginning that she would succeed.
Example: Because Mrs. Merckle was patient, she was loved by her students.
If a dependent clause follows an independent clause, it is NOT preceded by a comma unless it
begins with although, even though, though, whereas, or other terms that indicate a contrast.
Example: Mrs. Merkle was loved by her students because she was patient.
Example: Mrs. Merckle was patient, although occasionally she got mad.
With Lists (Serial Commas)
Use a comma before the final and or or when listing items in a series. The final comma is called
a serial comma.
Example: To begin their school, Mrs. Merckle and Mrs. Blanchet needed capital, a
building, and students.
However, without the serial comma, meaning can sometimes be confusing. Look at the following
sentence for instance.
Example: Mrs. Merckle met two tall students, George and Pete.
Without the serial comma, it is unclear whether George and Pete are the tall students, or whether
there are two tall people in addition to George and Pete. The meaning changes depending upon
the comma usage. Use a serial comma to indicate four people. Do not use it to indicate that
George and Pete are the tall students.
With Two Adjectives
Use a comma between two or more adjectives that describe the same noun if they could be
joined with a conjunction such as and or or.
Example: Unfortunately, Mrs. Blanchet had a sleepy, indolent grandson. (Unfortunately,
Mrs. Blanchet had a sleepy and indolent grandson.)
Handout created by Justine White
www.richlandcollege.edu/englishcorner