WHERE TO PUT THEM, AND WHERE NOT TO PUT THEM

USE COMMAS TO SEPARATE INDIVIDUAL WORDS, PHRASES, OR CLAUSES IN A SERIES.

EX 1: I was a member of the Key Club, SCA, and the Creative Writing club.

USE A COMMA TO SEPARATE INDEPENDENT CLAUSES IN A COMPOUND SENTENCE WHEN THEY ARE SEPARATED BY A CONJUNCTION.

USE COMMAS BEFORE NONESSENTIAL WORDS, PHRASES, AND CLAUSES WITHOUT REMOVING THEIR ESSENTIAL MEANING.

(WELL, YES, NO)

EX 5) YES, SMITHFIELD HIGH SCHOOL CAN BE RAMBUNCTIOUS, BUT ALSO VERY DOLDRUM.

USE COMMAS TO SEPARATE INTRODUCTORY PARTICIPIAL PHRASES

TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE WINTER DANCE, THE STUDENT COUNCIL ASSOCIATION HELD A BAKESALE ON SATURDAY.

USE COMMA AFTER SUCCESSION OF INTRODUCTORY PARTICIPIAL PHRASES

DURING THE FIRST HOUR OF THR BAKE SALE, THE STUDENT COUNCIL ASSOCIATION SOLD 100 BAKED GOODS.

USE COMMA AFTER THE INTRODUCTORY ADVERB CLAUSE

BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER, THE HOMECOMING PARADE HAS BEEN POSTPONED.

NOTE: AN APPOSITIVE IS A NOUN OR NOUN PHRASE THAT RENAMES A NEARBY NOUN. CONFUSING? WATCH THIS!

ALGEBRA I, WITH EXTRA PRACTICE AND PATIENCE, CAN BE FEASIBLE.

NOT JUST THE "EYES" TO EMOTICONS :)

NOT TO BE MISTAKEN FOR THE COMMA