Here’s Part 2 of the Comma Rules. There’s only a few left, but they can be a bit tricky for some of us. If you missed, COMMA, COMMA, COMMA CHAMELEON: COMMON COMMA RULES, PART 1, please go back and read through it as well.
General Comma Rules, con’t:
* A comma should follow expressions:
namely, for example, that is, for instance, especially.
- Some members of the political party plead guilty; namely, Chester Dester, Lucy Lurker, and Tony Baloney.
- I love European chocolate; especially, dark chocolate.
* A comma is used to introduce a quotation OR to complete a quotation that does not conclude the sentence.
Note: Commas and periods are placed “within” the quotation marks.
- Lucky’s teacher said, “It’s raining out there.”
- “But I really don’t mind the rain,” Lucky replied.
Note #2: Commas should not be used to introduce indirect quotations.
- Lucky answered that he did not mind the rain.
*If you need a mild exclamatory, you can use a comma instead of an exclamation point.
-Well, I don’t mind the rain.
Commas in Addresses:
Addresses in block form:
* Use a comma after a name if it is followed by a title and between titles if there’s more than one.
* Use a comma between a city (or county) and its state.
* Do not place a comma between a state and its zip code.
Mr. John Jacobs, Manager
Jingleheimer Productions
123 Some Street
Hamilton, NY 10167
Note: This format pertains to the United States. If you live outside the US, please comment and share the format for addresses in your country. Thanks!
*Use a comma after each self-contained item of information when writing out an address in a sentence.
- Please send the money to Mr. John Jacobs, Manager, Jingleheimer Productions, 123 Some Street, Hamilton, NY 10167.
Comma Rules for Dates, Numbers, etc.
*Use a comma between the day of the month and the year.
- September 12, 2009
*No comma is needed if the date is omitted.
- Septermber 2009
Note: There are two other acceptable forms.
- 12 September 2009 (no comma)
- the twelfth of September, 2009 (most commonly used for invitations)
*A comma goes between the day of the week and the month.
- We arrived on Saturday, September 12, 2009.
* Use a comma in numbers that contain 4 or more digits.
5,607,159 156,792 3,212
Some writers omit the comma in 4 digit numbers if they are multiples of 50
2500 2250 1050
Commas are omitted in street numbers, page numbers and phone numbers
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. 555-1212 page 1601
That concludes the rules for commas. They can be difficult, but if you read through them periodically they will get easier.
