Comma Rules

I felt so proud of this explanation I write out for someone so much that I have to post it:

Before a start, in case you don’t know, an independent clause is a group of words with a subject, a predicate, and it’s a complete thought. And the FANBOYS are: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.

So, you use a comma if there is two independent clauses connected by a FANBOYS or a coordinating conjunction. You put the comma before the FANBOYS.

If there are two dependent clauses connected by a coordinating conjunction (it’s exactly the same thing as a FANBOYS) then you DO NOT use a comma.

If you have more then three fragments or items in a series, then the comma is necessary in between them. And there is a comma needed at the end of the series. Like so:

“We ate chicken, mashed potatoes, and green beans.”

The comma before the “and” is necessary.

Next rule is that you do not use a comma when there are only two fragments in a sentence, like so:

“James and Kathy…”

NO COMMA!!! I don’t think I’ve seen this in your writing, but I could have over-looked it.

Another rule is that you use a comma when you’re directing to someone or asking a back up question, like these:

“Mom, you know I’m telling you the truth.” (directing your sentence)

“You know, Margaret, I’m just helping you with your  homework.” (directing your sentence)

“I need some help with this project, James.” (directing your sentence)

“We aren’t going to that stupid party, are we?” (back-up questions)

Okay, now this one’s really bad. Like, my HLA teacher kills a person everytime she sees these. They are called comma splices, and they are the worst type of run-on.

Now, run-on’s are bad things, so, even if you don’t have any idea what the hell a comma splice is, you know it’s bad.

A comma splice is when two independent clauses are connected by a comma but no FANBOYS.

I know, it’s scary.

So, if you have:

“I slipped on the wet floor, she laughed when I fell.”

YOU HAVE A COMMA SPLICE!!!

There are three ways to fix this. Here:

1. Add a FANBOYS after the comma
2. Change the comma to a semi-colon. The comma is too weak not to have something to enforce it.
3. Change the comma to a period and capitalize the first word of the second independent clause.

And that ends my speech on Commas.

Yep, I loved it!