1.

Use a comma to separate independent clauses

Rule: Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction (and, but, yet, so, or nor,
for) when it joins two complete ideas (independent clauses).
Ex:
He walked down the street, and then he turned the corner.
You can go shopping with me, or you can go to a movie alone
2. Use a comma after an introductory clause or phrase
Rule: Use a comma after an introductory clause or phrase. A comma tells
readers that the introductory clause or phrase has come to a close and that the
main part of the sentence is about to begin.
Ex:
When Evan was ready to iron, his cat tripped on the cord.
Near a small stream at the bottom of the canyon, park rangers discovered a
gold mine.
3. Use a comma between all items in a series
Rule: Use a comma to separate each item in a series; a series is a group of three
or more items having the same function and form in a sentence.
Ex:
We bought apples, peaches, and bananas today. (series of words)
Mary promised that she would be a good girl, that she would not bite her
brother, and that she would not climb onto the television. (series of clauses)
The instructor looked through his briefcase, through his desk, and around the
office for the lost grade book. (series of phrases)
4. Use commas to set off nonrestrictive clauses
Rule: Use commas to enclose clauses not essential to the meaning of a sentence.
These nonessential clauses are called nonrestrictive. Clauses which are essential
are called restrictive. Both restrictive and nonrestrictive clauses may begin with
a relative pronoun (such as who, whom, whose, that, which). A relative pronoun
refers to the noun or pronoun that precedes it.
Ex:
Steven Strom, whose show you like, will host a party next week.
(nonrestrictive)
John, who spent the last three days fishing, is back on the job again.
(nonrestrictive)
The gentleman who is standing by the fireplace is a well-known composer.
(restrictive)
5. Use a comma to set off appositives
Rule: An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that renames a nearby noun.
Appositives offer nonessential information. Nonrestrictive appositives are set off
with commas; restrictive appositives are not.
Ex:
Alexander Pope, the Restoration poet, is famous for his monologues.
(appositive)
The poet Pope is famous for his monologues. (no appositive)
The New York Jets, the underdogs, surprised everyone by winning the Super
Bowl. (appositive)
6. Use a comma to indicate direct address
Rule: When a speaker in a sentence names the person to whom he is speaking,
this addressing of his audience is called direct address. Direct address is
indicated by the use of a comma or commas, depending upon its placement
within the sentence.
Ex
I think, John, you’re wrong.
John, I think you’re wrong.
I think you’re wrong, John.
7. Use commas to set off direct quotations
Rule: A dialogue is a conversation between two or more people. If the speaker
(not the listener) in the conversation is identified, his name, (or the noun or
pronoun used to refer to the speaker), and the verb that refers to his speaking
are enclosed within commas.

Mary said, “I dislike concerts because the music is too loud.”

“I dislike concerts because the music is too loud,” she said.
“I dislike concerts,” proclaimed Mary, “because the music is too loud.”
*Worth Noting
Comma Between Two Nouns in a Compound Subject or Object
Don’t separate two nouns that appear together as a compound subject or
compound object.
Ex:
Wrong: Cleo, and her band will be playing at Dockside Diner next Friday.
Correct: Cleo and her band will be playing at Dockside Diner next Friday.
Wrong: Cleo will wear a sparkly red blazer, and high heels.
Correct: Cleo will wear a sparkly red blazer and high heels.
Comma Between Two Verbs in a Compound Predicate
You get a compound predicate when the subject of a sentence is doing more
than one thing. In a compound predicate that contains two verbs, don’t separate
them with a comma.
Ex:
I meant to buy tickets for Cleo’s show, but ran out of time. => Wrong
I meant to buy tickets for Cleo’s show but ran out of time. => Correct
Don’t use a comma in compound predicates unless there is a chance of
misreading:
Ex:
Cleo spotted the man who entered the diner, and waved.
In the sentence above, you need the comma to make clear that it was Cleo who
waved, not the man.
Comma Splices
When you want to join two independent clauses, you need a conjunction or a
semicolon. A comma alone isn’t strong enough to join them. This kind of
mistake is called a comma splice.
Ex:
We were out of milk, I went to the store. => Wrong
You can fix a comma splice by adding a conjunction or changing the comma to
a semicolon.
We were out of milk, so I went to the store. => Nice
We were out of milk; I went to the store. => Nice
Or, you can simply write the two independent clauses as separate sentences.
Ex:
We were out of milk. I went to the store.
Comma After Introductory Phrase
When an adverbial phrase begins a sentence, it’s often followed by a comma but
it doesn’t have to be, especially if it’s short. As a rule of thumb, if the phrase is
longer than about four words, use the comma. You can also use a comma with a
shorter phrase when you want to emphasize it or add a pause for literary effect.
Ex:
After the show, Cleo will be signing autographs. Behind the building there is
enough space to park two limousines. Without knowing why, I crossed the room
and looked out the window. In 1816 life was very different. Suddenly, an angry
black cat sprang from the shadows.
But, if there is a chance of misreading the sentence, use the comma:
Ex:
Before eating the family said grace.
Before eating, the family said grace.
Commas with Interrupters or Parenthetical Elements
Interrupters are little thoughts that pop up in the middle of a sentence to show
emotion, tone, or emphasis. A parenthetical element is a phrase that adds extra
information to the sentence but could be removed without changing the meaning
of the sentence. Both interrupters and parenthetical elements should be set off
with commas.
Ex:
The weather I was happy to see was beginning to clear.
The weather, I was happy to see, was beginning to clear. => Nice
Geoff’s cooking skills if you can call them skills left something to be desired.
Geoff’s cooking skills, if you can call them skills, left something to be desired.
=> Nice
It was sadly the last day of camp.
It was, sadly, the last day of camp. => Nice
Mary unlike Anne is very organized.
Mary, unlike Anne, is very organized. =Nice
Comma with an Appositive
An appositive is a word or phrase that refers to the same thing as another noun
in the same sentence. Often, the appositive provides additional information
about the noun or helps to distinguish it in some way. If you could remove the
appositive without changing the meaning of the sentence, it is said to be
nonessential and should be set off with commas. If the appositive is necessary,
it’s said to be essential and it should not be set off with commas.
Nonessential appositives:
Ex:
My sister, Angela, is a wonderful cook. The painter, one of the city’s most
promising young artists, began showing his work in galleries before he was
sixteen. Chocolate, my favorite treat, always makes me feel better after a bad
day.
Essential appositives:
Ex:
Edgar Allan Poe’s poem The Raven is a classic. Alec Baldwin’s brother
Stephen is the most underrated Baldwin. The detective Sherlock Holmes is one
of literature’s greatest sleuths.
Comma Between Coordinate Adjectives
When multiple adjectives modify a noun to an equal degree, they are said to be
coordinate and should be separated by commas. One way to tell whether the
adjectives are coordinate is to try switching the order of them. If the sentence
still sounds natural, the adjectives are coordinate.
Ex:
That man is a pompous, self-righteous, annoying idiot. That man is a self-
righteous, annoying, pompous idiot. The sweet, scintillating aroma of
cinnamon buns filled the kitchen. The scintillating, sweet aroma of cinnamon
buns filled the kitchen.
If the adjectives are not coordinate, don’t separate them with a comma.
Ex
The adorable, little boy was eating ice cream.
The adorable little boy was eating ice cream. => Nice
Comma Before But
Use a comma before the word but if it is joining two independent clauses:
Ex:
Cleo is a good singer but she’s an even better dancer.
Cleo is a good singer, but she’s an even better dancer.
If but is not joining two independent clauses, leave the comma out.
Ex:
My teacher is tough, but fair.
My teacher is tough but fair. => Nice
Life is, but a dream.
Life is but a dream. => Nice
Comma Before And
When you have a list that contains only two items, don’t use a comma before the
and.
Ex:
My dog Charlie is cute, and smart.
My dog Charlie is cute and smart.
Cleo’s favorite activities are singing on stage, and relaxing in the sunshine.
Cleo’s favorite activities are singing on stage and relaxing in the sunshine.
When correcting a comma splice, that is when joining two independent clauses
with a coordinating conjunction, put the comma before and.
Comma Between Correlative Conjunctions
Correlative conjunctions are conjunctions that come in pairs (such as either/or,
neither/nor, and not only/but also) and connect words or phrases in a sentence to
form a complete thought. Typically, commas are unnecessary with correlative
conjunctions.
Ex:
Either the blue shirt, or the red sweater will look good with your jeans.
Either the blue shirt or the red sweater will look good with your jeans.
You can wear a pashmina not only for warmth, but also for fashion.
You can wear a pashmina not only for warmth but also for fashion.
Comma Before Parenthesis
Parentheses are used to give additional information to the reader—information
that would disrupt the flow of the sentence if written as a nonrestrictive clause.
Commas may be placed after the closing parenthesis but not before either the
opening or the closing parenthesis. If the sentence would not require any
commas if the parenthetical statement were removed, the sentence should not
have any commas when the parentheses are added.
Ex:
After opening the new cookie tin, Chester had a hard time replacing the lid.
After opening the new cookie tin (and eating several of the cookies), Chester
had a hard time replacing the lid.
Comma with Such As
The phrase “such as” requires commas if it introduces a nonrestrictive clause.
Ex:
Coniferous trees, such as pine and spruce, do not drop their needles in the
winter.
If “such as” introduces a restrictive clause, omit the commas.
Ex
Trees such as pine and spruce do not drop their needles in the winter.
Dấu phẩy
Dấu phẩy có thể dùng để chỉ ranh giới giữa phần đề và phần thuyết trong những
trường hợp sau đây:
Khi phần đề làm thành một đoạn khá dài.
Ví dụ:
Một trong những công việc cần phải thực hiện cấp tốc lúc này, là nâng cao
dân trí.
(Hồ Chí Minh)
Đáng chú ý là:
– Khi thành phần tình huống đặt ở đầu câu, dấu phẩy có thể được lược bớt, nếu
thành phần đó là một danh ngữ có cấu tạo đơn giản dùng để chỉ thời gian, nơi
chốn.
Ví dụ:
Lúc ấy Mai cũng về tới bản Đảy.
-Giữa các yếu tố của một liên hợp song song có tính chất ổn định hoá, dấu phẩy
cũng thường được lược bớt.
Ví dụ:
Hầm chông hố chông trong ruộng lúa tựa như được nước lụt che, thằng giặc
chẳng biết đâu mà mò.
-Khi có dùng kết từ trong câu ghép song song hay qua lại thì có thể lược bớt dấu
phẩy giữa các vế.
Ví dụ:
Chú Hai đã đi làm phu cao su ở Hớn Quản, lại ra làm thợ mỏ ở Đông Dương và
chú còn đi những chân trời góc bể đâu khác.