hello and welcome to this guide on comma rules to make the content in this video more accessible click the close captions button or adjust the playback speed many people think of the comma as a breath or a pause in a sentence but it's more than that clear communication is essential and proper comma use helps you avoid confusion in this video we will go over common comma conventions common errors in these conventions and examples of the rules in action comma rule one use commas to separate items in a series or a list here's an example that uses this rule the author thanked his parents Stephen King and God the comma before the conjunction and in this sentence is called an Oxford comma and it's considered optional how however look what happens when we don't use it the author's parents become Stephen King and God comma rule two use a comma to divide a compound sentence as in my mother enjoys sewing but she doesn't do it often a common error is to use the comma without a connecting word like and or but this is called a commas splice and without the connecting word or conjunction a period or semicolon is more appropriate comma rule three use a comma to set off introductory elements as in until you speak to him don't jump to conclusions comma rule four use commas to set off parenthetical or non-essential elements note where the commas appear in this sentence the Memorial Bridge which stands on the north end of town was finished last year the commas in this sentence surround a non-essential phrase and while it provides detail the sentence would be grammatically complete without it comma rule five use commas to separate coordinate adjectives as in the tall distinguished handsome man waited in the airport coordinate adjectives can be separated with an and before their noun some phrases pair adjectives in English in such a way that they are not coordinate as in the little old lady comma rule number six use commas to set off quoted elements notice where the comma is placed in dialogue I don't know said Lou do you you can also use a comma after a signal phrase in a quote that you're blending into your own phrase as in the author insists we have a moral responsibility to each other comma rule number seven use commas to separate dates cities and states and names and titles in the sentence I visited my doctor Sarah Williams MD in Detroit Michigan on July 19th 2023 shows you where the comma separates a name from a title a city from a state and a date from a year in this video we have covered seven common comma rules including separating items in a list dividing a compound sentence setting off introductory elements and non-essential elements separating adjectives that coordinate with each other setting off quotes and separating names and titles dates cities and states for more academic support resources read this video's description thank you for watching we hope to work with you soon