CC
Correct: He ate eggs, milk and cereal.
He ate eggs, milk, and cereal. (3 items)
Correct: Since he is a student he must do homework.
Since he is a student, he must do homework. (AC before MC)
Correct: Through the officer's quick action the woman in the house was saved.
Through the officer's quick action, the woman in the house was saved. (Prepositional opener is 5 words)
Correct: I did not know that you were so smart.
No correction needed.
Correct: He doesn't know who you are John but I do.
He doesn't know who you are, John, but I do. (NDA)
Correct: He went through the woods, over the bridge, and out of the park.
No correction needed. (The 3 items are prepositional phrases)
Correct: They did not go to the party because they were not invited.
No correction needed. (AC after MC).
Correct: In the woods, you might get eaten by bears.
In the woods you might get eaten by bears. (Prepositional opener is only 3 words)
Correct: The man, who backed his car into me, drove away without stopping to give me his insurance information.
The man who backed his car into me drove away without stopping to give me his insurance information. (Who/which clause is essential)
Correct: "You aren't being very nice." he said.
"You aren't being very nice," he said.
Correct: I walked to the gym, and joined a game of pickup basketball.
I walked to the gym and joined a game of pickup basketball. (MC cc 2nd verb).
Correct: He did not read the book, although he was assigned to.
He did not read the book although he was assigned to. (AC after MC)
Correct: Swiftly, he ran down the street.
Swiftly he ran down the street. (Adverb modifies only the verb. Test: It was swift that he ran down the street.)
What is "never use a comma because they are always essential"?
Correct: Sarah could you pass the salt?
Sarah, could you pass the salt? (NDA)
Correct: Although he was not guilty, the man was convicted and he served five years in prison.
Although he was not guilty, the man was convicted and he served five years in prison. (MC cc MC)
Correct: If I were a rich man I would buy a Ferrari.
If I were a rich man, I would buy a Ferrari. (AC before MC)
The comma rule for prepositional phrase openers.
What is "if it is five or more words or tow prepositional phrases, use a comma. Otherwise do not"?
Correct: The dog who I thought was ugly drooled all over the couch.
The dog, who I thought was ugly, drooled all over the couch. (Who/which clause is bonus)
Correct: He said: "I'm the best Jeopardy player around."
He said, "I'm the best Jeopardy player around."
The comma rule with coordinating conjunctions.
What is "if three or more items, use commas. If two items, do not use commas unless both items are main clauses"?
The comma rule with adverb clauses.
What is "if the AC is before the main clause, use a comma. If it is after, do not use a comma"?
The comma rule for -ly adverb openers.
What is "if the adverb modifies the whole sentence, use a comma. If it modifies only the verb, do not use a comma"?
The comma rule with 'who/which' clauses.
What is "if it is essential, do not use a comma. If it is bonus, use a comma"?
The comma rule for Nouns of Direct Address.
What is "always separate nouns of direct address with commas"?