Overview:
Now that you are familiar with some important grammatical concepts, you can use that knowledge to help you figure out how to use commas and semi-colons correctly. Some of these are rules that you have encountered in your other lessons, but here is a fairly complete list to use as a guideline.
Use a comma before a conjunction (and, or, but) only when joining two Independent Clauses together.
I can run, and I can hit the ball.
Use a semi-colon when you join two Independent Clauses together, and you don’t use a conjunction (and, or, but).
She picked up the package; it was addressed to her mom.
Use a comma after a Dependent Clause when the DC comes first in your sentence.
After I came home, I turned on the radio.
Use a comma after a Phrase (adjective, adverb, -ing, prepositional) when the phrase comes first in your sentence.
Glittering like a gem, the sun sank beneath the horizon.
Use a comma after each action or adjective in a series of at least three or more things.
I ran inside, turned on the tv, and watched Pokemon.
The tall, dark, and handsome stranger stood in the corner.
Use a comma on either side of a “who-clause”
Ralph, who likes to play football, often dances with Lisa.
Use a comma for an “appositive” when the information that’s given is not essential to the meaning of your sentence.
Emma’s husband, Marco, is a lawyer.
Sally’s coworker Marie has four cats.
© kmcelliott 2008