Commas, Dates, Addresses, Series

• To separate independent clauses

  • ​He walked down the street, and then he turned the corner.

    You can go shopping with me, or you can go to a movie alone​

• Use a comma after an introductory clause or phrase

  • ​When Evan was ready to iron, his cat tripped on the cord.

• ​Use a comma between all items in a series

  • ​We bought apples, peaches, and bananas today. (series of words)

    Mary promised that she would be a good girl, that she would not bite her brother, and that she would not climb onto the television. (series of clauses)

    The instructor looked through his briefcase, through his desk, and around the office for the lost grade book. (series of phrases)

• ​Use commas to set off nonrestrictive clauses

  • ​John, who spent the last three days fishing, is back on the job again. (nonrestrictive)

    The gentleman who is standing by the fireplace is a well-known composer. (restrictive)

• ​Use a comma to set off appositives

  • ​Alexander Pope, the Restoration poet, is famous for his monologues. (appositive)

  • The poet Pope is famous for his monologues. (no appositive)

• ​Use a comma to indicate direct address

  • ​I think, John, you’re wrong.

  • John, I think you’re wrong.

  • I think you’re wrong, John.

• ​Use commas to set off direct quotations

  • Mary said, “I dislike concerts because the music is too loud.”

    • “I dislike concerts because the music is too loud,” she said.

    • “I dislike concerts,” proclaimed Mary, “because the music is too loud.”

Rules for dates: In dates, the year is set off from the rest of the sentence with a pair of commas.

• Example: On December 12, 1890, orders were sent out for the arrest of Sitting Bull.

Rules for addresses: The elements of an address or place name are separated by commas. A zip code, however, is not preceded by a comma.

• John Lennon was born in Liverpool, England, in 1940.

• Please send the letter to Greg Carvin at 708 Spring Street, Washington, IL 61571.

Rules for titles: If a title follows a name, separate the title from the rest of the sentence with a pair of commas.

• Sandra Belinsky, MD, has been appointed to the board.

Rules for numbers: In numbers more than four digits long, use commas to separate the numbers into groups of three, starting from the right. In numbers four digits long, a comma is optional.

• 3,500 [or 3500]

• 100,000

• 6,000,000​