Most Common Comma Omissions

1. Most Common Comma Omissions Tips for Using Commas Correctly

2. Between two sentences joined by a conjunction (e.g., and, but, or, so, because), you need a comma. Incorrect: The road was snowy but we let our daughter drive anyway. Toby threw the ball endlessly and Rosie caught it every time.

3. Between two sentences joined by a conjunction (e.g., and, but, or, so, because), you need a comma. Correct: The road was snowy, but we let our daughter drive anyway. Toby threw the ball endlessly, and Rosie caught it every time.

4. Words that follow a conjunction and are not a complete sentence will not need a comma! Correct: Annie has strep throat and can’t perform in the play. …can’t perform in the play is not a sentence that can stand alone; therefore, it does not need a comma before the conjunction.

5. After a phrase or clause that starts a sentence, you need a comma. Incorrect: By the time I got to it the shrimp were gone. When everyone was finally ready we piled into my sister’s van. While my brother showered I made breakfast.

6. After a phrase or clause that starts a sentence, you need a comma. Correct: By the time I got to it, the shrimp were gone. When everyone was finally ready, we piled into my sister’s van. While my brother showered, I made breakfast.

7. In a series of three or more elements/items with one conjunction at the end, you need a comma before the conjunction. Incorrect: We read poems by Collins Oliver Nye and Hughes. We read for a while listened to a booktalk and enjoyed a read-aloud.

8. In a series of three or more elements/items with one conjunction at the end, you need a comma before the conjunction. Correct: We read poems by Collins, Oliver, Nye, and Hughes. We read for a while, listened to a booktalk, and enjoyed a read-aloud.

9. You need a comma after a vocative: a name spoken in a direct address. Incorrect: Dad have you seen my Wii controllers? If I were you James I’d read this series by Dave Eggers. O.K. Sarah let’s go.

10. You need a comma after a vocative: a name spoken in a direct address. Correct: Dad, have you seen my Wii controllers? If I were you, James, I’d read this series by Dave Eggers. O.K., Sarah, let’s go.

11. You need a comma after an interjection or weak exclamation. Incorrect: O.K. I’ll take two. Hi Rachael. Sure that’s fine with me.

12. You need a comma after an interjection or weak exclamation. Correct: O.K., I’ll take two. Hi, Rachael. Sure, that’s fine with me.