8 times when you should use a comma

One thing I see often while editing client documents is that people don’t seem to know when to use a comma. I thought I’d take today’s post to quickly outline when you should use the comma.

Here are 8 instances when you should use commas and a couple of examples for each. If you stick to these 8 circumstances, you may very well become an expert comma user.

1. Separating successive list items

• I have a son, a daughter, two sisters, and a brother.
• My Pinterest boards include pins on food, fashion, and fun.

2. Separating adjectives that modify the same noun

• The quick, brown, sly fox jumped over the lazy dog.
• My favourite piece of furniture is a a green, overstuffed, soft armchair in my living room.

3. Before conjunctions linking independent clauses

• I need to buy some ice cream, but I don’t have enough money.
• I am afraid of heights, so I avoid jumping off tall cliffs.

4. After introductory words or phrases

• After supper, let’s eat dessert.
• Before you enter the house, please remove your shoes.

5. Around nonrestrictive phrases

• New York City, one of the largest cities in the world, is busy.
• The dog I found, which was brown and had only three legs, was reunited with its owner tonight.

6. With dates and addresses

• His birthday is April 1, 1954. (Note: this is an American date format.)
• Lethbridge, Alberta is one of the five cheapest cities to live in Canada.

7. When directly addressing someone

• Mary, do you still love me?
• I’d like you, Jack and Jill, to take care of this presentation.

8. At the salutation and close of a letter

• Dear  John,
• Sincerely, Jane

Are you aware of any other legitimate time when you can use a comma? Share them in the comments below.