Two Independent Clauses in a Compound Sentence with a Coordinating Conjunction
Series
If you are listing more than two people, places, or things, you must use commas to break up the series.
Examples
- Correct: I want a dog, a cat, and two turtles for Christmas.
- Incorrect: Bobby hit me with a rock, and a rubber band!
- Why: You do not need this comma because you only have two in your list.
Coordinate Adjectives
Introductory Phrase or Element
Sentence Interrupters
Contribute to the sentence but you can take them out and the sentence would mean basically the same thing. It interrupts the flow of the sentence.
Examples
- Correct: I made, in my opinion, an excellent point.
- Incorrect: I will as long as you’re willing drive you to Alaska.
- Why: Commas have to go around the italicized phrase because it interrupts the flow of the sentence.
People in Dialogue
When you quote someone or address someone, you need to set it of by a comma.
Examples
- Correct: She said, “Mary, I love you!” or “I told her,” Susan said, “that I loved her.”
- Incorrect:I asked “who are you?”
- Why: You need the comma to set off the quote to connect the two parts of the sentence.
