Commas

Uses for Commas

After introductory words before the main clause

Yes, I was going to eat that pizza. However, you ate it before me. Well, I guess I will be angry at you for the next ten days.

FANBOYS
Use commas before fanboy words.

To separate clauses that are not essential

The girls, who both wore pink dresses, walked down the hallway as they laughed with each other. The computers, which were slowing decaying in the background, all beeped when they received the same email.

You can test it by removing the clause from the sentence. If the sentence still makes sense, the commas can go there.

To separate things in series

comma, comma, comma, comma, and comma.

For dates, addresses, and titles in names

January 17, 2014 5715 South 1300 East Salt Lake City, UT 84121 Name Lastname, PhD

Mis-Uses of Commas

Dont use a comma when a dependent clause follows the main clause
I lost the book, that he gave me. They bought the car, I picked out last week. Instead, I lost the book he gave me. They bought the car I found for them.

Dont use a comma to separate a noun and its verb

Sam, watches t. v. The girl, is reading a book. The children, play. Sam watches t. v. The girl is reading a book. The children play.

Oxford Comma
The oxford comma is the comma you put before the and in a series of commas.