The Comma

•Use a comma when you can separate out an introductory phrase or clause.

•In early August, Victor Viking looks forward to the school year.

•Before the first football game, Victor creates a new dance routine and decides which cheerleader to hit on.

•Shockingly, none of the cheerleaders ever want to date Victor!

•Use a comma between two consecutive modifiers (adverbs or adjectives) that both modify the same thing.

•Here are some examples:

•The boring, long book made for terrible reading.

•I found the main character to be dull, unrealistic.

•I quickly, decisively put the book away forever.

•Use a comma between main clauses to join them together with a coordinate conjunction (FANBOYS)

•Here are some examples:

•The two action film stars decided to have a real MMA (mixed martial arts) fight, but they needed to find a place to hold the bout.

•One of them was a master at tiger-style martial arts, and the other preferred the grappling of Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

•Would you prefer to see a brawl, or would you rather watch a tactical fight?

 

•I love watching tough guys punch each other, yet something about a guillotine choke strangely compels me.

 

•Use a comma between each item in a list of 3 things or more.  Use a coordinate conjunction and a comma with the last item.

•Here are some examples:

•Victor Viking liked to run, jump, and shout during the football games.

•After the game, he would go home, remove his outfit, and wash it for the next weekend.

•When Victor did the triple flip, I was shocked, Joe was amazed, and Karen was terrified.

•Kindness, compassion, trustworthiness, and honesty are my favorite virtues.

•I went to the store for bread and eggs.

•I went to the store and deposited my check.