Notes

Comma rules
Rule 1 FANBOYS + independent clause (coordinating conjunction)

When you have a FANBOYS word, you used a comma when you have TWO independent clauses.

My dog was very muddy, and I took him back home.
Rule 2 List – 3 or more items in a list

I went to the store to pick up cheese, milk, and bread.
At the beginning of my day, I set up the classroom, arranged the projector, and sharpened the pencils.


Rule 3 Introductory expression
Use a comma after an introductory expression like a dependent phrase, a prepositional phrase or an introductory expression.

Although I was sick, I had to work. <- dependent introductory phrase.
By the time we got there, he had already left. <- dependent introductory phrase.

In the morning, I did the dishes. <- prepositional introductory phrase
By the pond, I fed the ducks. <- prepositional introductory phrase

Right, I heard you. <- introductory expression
Furthermore, I had to go to work. <- introductory expression.
Sometimes, he goes to school. <- introductory expression.

EXTRA: USE comma with end expression.
You want me to call at the end of the day, right?

Rule 4 Person spoken too.
Use a comma around the name of a person being spoken too.

Catherine, did you mark my test?
Did you, Catherine, mark my test?
Did you mark my test, Catherine?

Catherine marked my test recently. (No commas in this example BECAUSE you are not talking to me. You are talking ABOUT me).
Rule 5 Interrupter or connector (Therefore, however, moreover, furthermore, etc.)
1. Interrupter – USE commas around a word that is interrupting ONE sentence.
He is not, however, the character we had in mind.
He is not = not a full sentence
The character we had in mind = not a full sentence.
WHEN PUT TOGETHER – He is not the character you had in mind = 1 FULL SENTENCE.
Therefore, the word ‘however’ is interrupting ONE sentence.

2. Connector – use a semi-colon/period and a comma around the word that is CONNECTING TWO sentences

He is not the actor you had in mind; however, he did the role justice.
He is not the actor you had in mind. However, he did the role justice.

He is no the actor you had in mind. = full sentence
He did the role justice. = full sentence

Rule 6 Non-essential clause
Use commas around a non-essential phrase. Put commas around a phrase that you can remove and it still works.
Often starts who, whom, that, which.

The test, which is on blue paper, was easy to do.

Can often be REPEATED Information or extra detail.

Sarah Lind, a Swedish singer, travelled the world in 1882.
You have to send in your test results to the admission officer, John Smith.


The most popular movie in China is The Greatest Showman, which appeared on Netflix on January 10, 2017.

Brad Pitt, who starred in Moneyball, won an Oscar in 2015.



Punctuation and capitalization
Colon Use a colon in place of a period when adding a list.

I have two favourite foods: pizza and ice cream.

Use a colon when you have certain words like the following.

I have eaten at many restaurants including the following: McDonalds, Harvey’s, and Wendy’s.
Semi-colon Use a semi-colon in place of period when you want to connect the ideas of two sentences. ; = . CANNOT USE semi-colon UNLESS you could put a period there.

I was late to work; I got reprimanded.
It was snowing; I took the bus home.

Capitalization Proper nouns are capitalized – NAMES of things.
University of Waterloo = name of the place.

I went to university. VS. I went to the University of Waterloo.

Languages are capitalized
I wanted to study history and Spanish in school.
Titles Short titles like songs or poem are put in quotation marks.
“We Will Rock You”, by Queen is featured in many movies.
“The Bell Jar”, a poem by Louis Carrol, won many awards.

Long titles like books are italicized.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is really long.

Things to be watching for:
- Run-together sentences
- Quotations! – use comma to split the quotation and the rest of the sentence. Use quotation marks around the quote.