Items in a series
Use commas to separate items in a series.
Words in a series
All my cousins, aunts, and uncles came to our
family reunion.
Phrases in a series
The children played in the yard, at the
playground, and by the pond.
Items in a series
Use commas to separate items in a series.
Clauses in a series
Those who had flown to the reunion, who had
driven many miles, or who had even taken time off
from their jobs were glad that they had made the
effort to be there.
Items in a series
If all items in a series are joined by
and, or, or nor, do not use commas
to separate them.
I need tacks and nails and a
hammer.
Sam or Carlos or Yolanda will be
able to baby-sit tomorrow.
She never whines nor lies nor
picks on her brother.
Items in a series
Use commas to separate items in a series.
Short independent clauses
The engine roared, the wheels spun, and a cloud
of dust swirled behind the sports car.
Two or more adjectives preceding a noun
Are you going to that hot, crowded, noisy mall?
Items in a series
To find out if a comma goes between
adjectives, insert and between them.
If and fits sensibly, use a comma.
Another trick is to reverse the order
of the adjectives. If they make sense
in reverse, you need a comma.
smooth and
creamy
We had smooth,
creamy
broccoli
broccoli soup.
soup.
We had creamy, smooth broccoli
soup.
Items in a series
Identify each series in the following
sentences, and add commas where necessary.
1. With a quick powerful leap, the stunt person
bounded over the burning balcony.
2. One summer when we were little, I had
mumps you had measles and he had
chickenpox.
3. I took a flashlight a sleeping bag extra tennis
shoes and a parka on our camping trip.
Items in a series
Identify each series in the following
sentences, and add commas where necessary.
1. With a quick ,powerful leap, the stunt person
bounded over the burning balcony.
Items in a series
Identify each series in the following
sentences, and add commas where necessary.
2. One summer when we were little, I had mumps,you
had measles,and he had chickenpox.
Items in a series
Identify each series in the following
sentences, and add commas where necessary.
3. I took a flashlight ,a sleeping bag ,extra tennis shoes,
and a parka on our camping trip.
Items in a series
On Your Own
Add commas where needed in the following
sentences.
1. The loud annoying alarm woke us just before
dawn.
2. Robert Browning says that youth is good that
middle age is better and that old age is best.
3. Dr. Charles Drew worked as a surgeon developed
new ways of storing blood and was the first
director of the Red Cross blood bank program.
[End of Section]
Items in a series
Answers
Add commas where needed in the following
sentences.
1. The loud ,annoying alarm woke us just before
dawn.
2. Robert Browning says that youth is good ,that
middle age is better, and that old age is best.
3. Dr. Charles Drew worked as a surgeon ,developed
new ways of storing blood, and was the first
director of the Red Cross blood bank program.
Conventional uses of commas
Use a comma after each part of a date or
geographical location.
Separate items in dates and geographical
locations
After Friday, November 23, 2012, sent all orders
to Cupertino, California, for fastest shipping.
Conventional uses of commas
Use commas in certain conventional situations,
such as dates, addresses, salutations and closings
in letters, and certain titles and names.
Separate items in dates and addresses
After Friday, November 23, 2012, address all
orders to Emeryville, CA 94608.
Conventional uses of commas
Use commas in certain conventional situations.
After the salutation of a personal letter
Dear Mr. Arpajian,
My dear Anna,
After the closing of any letter
Sincerely,
Yours very truly,
Conventional uses of commas
Use commas in certain conventional situations.
Abbreviations, such as Jr., Sr., or M.D. when
they follow persons’ names.
Please welcome Allen Davis, Sr.
Carol Ferrara, M.D., is our family doctor.
Conventional uses of commas
Identify whether the following items are
missing commas (M) or are correct as is (C). For items
missing commas, add the comma where needed.
1. Marcia traveled to Tyler Texas last month.
2. My brother received a letter that began,
“Dear John, There’s something I need to tell
you.”
3. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was born on
January 15 1929.
Conventional uses of commas
Identify whether the following items are
missing commas (M) or are correct as is (C). For items
missing commas, add the comma where needed.
1. Marcia traveled to Tyler,Texas ,last month.
M
Conventional uses of commas
Identify whether the following items are
missing commas (M) or are correct as is (C). For items
missing commas, add the comma where needed.
2. My brother received a letter that began,
“Dear John, There’s something I need to tell
you.”
C
Conventional uses of commas
Identify whether the following items are
missing commas (M) or are correct as is (C). For items
missing commas, add the comma where needed.
3. Dr. Martin Luther King ,Jr. ,was born on
January 15,1929.
M
Conventional uses of commas
On Your Own
Add commas where needed in the following
sentences.
1. Please address the envelope to Ms. Marybeth
Correio 1255 S.E. 56th Street Bellevue WA 98006.
2. I glanced quickly at the end of the letter, which
read, “Very sincerely yours Alice Ems Ph.D.”
3. On April 6 2014 the company will celebrate its
twentieth anniversary.
[End of Section]
Conventional uses of commas
Answers
Add commas where needed in the following
sentences.
1. Please address the envelope to Ms. Marybeth
Correio,1255 S.E. 56th Street,Bellevue,WA 98006.
2. I glanced quickly at the end of the letter, which
read, “Very sincerely yours,Alice Ems,Ph.D.”
3. On April 6,2014, the company will celebrate its
twentieth anniversary.
Review A
Identify whether the following items are missing commas (M)
or are correct as is (C). For items missing commas, add the
comma where needed.
_____ 1. During the festival, businesses on Main Street will
be open late.
_____ 2. Brittany Adam Christine and Leo are just four of
the graduates who decorated their caps.
_____ 3. Joseph who works as a lifeguard in the summer
has already taken the first-aid class.
[End of Section]
Review A
Identify whether the following items are missing commas (M)
or are correct as is (C). For items missing commas, add the
comma where needed.
C
_____
1. During the festival, businesses on Main Street will
be open late.
_____
M 2. Brittany,Adam,Christine ,and Leo are just four of
the graduates who decorated their caps.
_____
M 3. Joseph,who works as a lifeguard in the summer,
has already taken the first-aid class.
Review B
Add commas where necessary in the following sentences.
1. My twin sister can run faster jump higher and do more
push-ups than I can.
2. Lance Martin was born June 21 2004 in Austin Texas.
3. When Professor Marcus went to China last year he visited
many historic landmarks.
4. She and many of her friends attended Earth Day a
festival devoted to ecology.
5. Biking accidents are common wherever cars and bicycles
use the same road so many communities have provided
bicycle lanes.
[End of Section]
Review B
Add commas where necessary in the following sentences.
1. My twin sister can run faster,jump higher, and do more
push-ups than I can.
2. Lance Martin was born June 21 ,2004,in Austin,Texas.
3. When Professor Marcus went to China last year,he visited
many historic landmarks.
4. She and many of her friends attended Earth Day,a
festival devoted to ecology.
5. Biking accidents are common wherever cars and bicycles
use the same road,so many communities have provided
bicycle lanes.
The End