Commas
v Use a comma to separate three or more items listed in a series. Items can be words, phrases, and clauses.
Ø The leaves change brilliantly into reds, yellows, oranges, and browns.
Ø I plan to travel New England to see autumn’s arrival, eat at local spots, and visit quaint bookstores.
Ø I have no idea how long it will take, when I will be leaving, or when I will be back.
v Use a comma to separate two or more adjective preceding a noun.
Ø I want to see the sun rise through the misty, gray dawn.
Ø This wonderful, adventurous trip can be blamed on the picture in the opening credits of Gilmore Girls.
v Use a comma to show a pause after an introductory word and to set off names used in a direct address.
Ø First, I must purchase road maps.
Ø Tonya, are you planning on traveling with me?
v Use a comma after two or more introductory prepositional phrases, when the prepositional phrase is very long, or when the commas is needed to make the meaning clear. You do not have to use a comma after a short prepositional phrase.
Ø In the fall of 2014, I plan to spend a week photographing New England’s autumn foliage.
v Use a comma after an introductory participle and an introductory participial phrase.
Ø Frequented by many overnight visitors, small towns in New England are famous for their bed-and-breakfast style inns.
v Use a comma after conjunctive adverbs such as however, moreover, furthermore, nevertheless, and therefore.
Ø I only plan to take three suitcases; however, I will leave one empty for my souvenirs and shopping.
v Use a comma to set off an appositive if it is not essential to the meaning of the sentence. If the appositive phrase is needed, you do not use a comma.
Ø Gilmore Girls, a television series, was set in Stars Hollow.
Ø Loreli’s friend Sookie St. James was one of my favorite characters.
v Use a comma before and, or, or but when it joins main clauses.
Ø Luke Danes is one of the best known characters, but Emily Gilmore is my favorite.
Ø I would love to see the cast do a reunion show, or maybe they could do a movie.
v Use a comma after an introductory adverb clause. Adverb clauses begin with subordinating conjunctions, such as after, although, as, because, before, considering (that), if, in order that, since, so that, though, unless, until, when, whenever, where, wherever, whether, or while. Do not use a comma with an adverb that comes at the end of a sentence.
Ø When I visited Lewiston, New York, I was excited to see so much about the Underground Railroad.
Ø Because I forgot my camera, I left New York without any photographs of Old Fort Niagara.
v Use commas to set off an adjective clause that is not essential to the meaning of a sentence. An adjective clause is essential when it is necessary to the meaning of the sentence because it gives some extra information. They often begin with who, whom, whose, which, or that. Do not use a comma to separate an essential clause from the sentence. Adjective clauses that help determine meaning are essential.
Ø Star’s Hollow, which is not far from Hartford, is a fictional New England town.
Ø Star’s Hollow is a fictional New England town that is not far from Hartford.
v Use commas to set off parenthetical expressions. A parenthetical expression is a comment or phrase that gives information about an idea or shows a relationship between ideas.
Ø Small towns, generally speaking, have eclectic characters.
Ø In my opinion, eclectic people make for great adventures.
v Use commas before and after the year when it is used with both the month and the day. If only the month and the year are given, do not use a comma.
Ø The show first aired on October 5, 2000, and lasted for seven years.
Ø The show ended in May 2007 and is now in syndication.
v Use commas before and after the name of a state or a country when it is used with the name of a city, but not when it is used with the ZIP code.
Ø Star’s Hollow is based on the city of Washington Depot, Connecticut.
Ø The address for the Mayflower Inn and Spa is as follows: 118 Woodbury Road, Route 47, Washington, CT 06793.
v Use a comma or pair of commas to set off an abbreviated title or degree following a person’s name.
Ø Mr. Richard Gilmore is Loreli’s father.
Ø Paris wants to graduate Harvard Medical School as Dr. Paris Geller, M.D.
v Use a comma or commas to emphasize too in the middle of a sentence when it means “also.”
Ø I, too, would love to work at the Dragonfly Inn.
v Use commas when there is a break in direct quotations.
Ø “Excuse me Edgar Bergen,” said Jess, “I think I’d like Charlie McCarthy to answer now.”
v Use a comma after the salutation and closing of a friendly letter, and after the closing of a business letter.
Ø Dear Christopher,
Ø Your friend,
Ø Sincerely,
