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:

*

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:

* 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.

Some writers omit the comma in 4 digit numbers if they are multiples of 50

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.