Five Comma Rules Name ______________________
Some of the most common comma problems are caused by violations of five rules. Below is a
review of those guidelines identified by correction abbreviations:
CmIntr Use commas after introductory clauses. Such clauses often begin with
although, since, if, when, as, and because. Also use commas after long
introductory phrases (five or more words) or those that include verbs. For
example, To apply for a job, submit an application.
Add commas to the following sentences. For each comma, identify the appropriate correction
abbreviation. If no comma is needed, write C.
1. If you are looking for a job a good place to find general information is the Web.
2. Job candidates should arrive a little early for an interview and they should be prepared with
information about the target company.
7. One determined young high school student commuted 90 minutes each day to work at
Disneyland and later was hired as a full-time employee when he finished college.
8. Student candidates flock to the Anaheim California theme park which is expected to hire 300
part-time workers for the summer months.
12. Early in your academic training begin monitoring want ads and Web sites of companies in
your career area.
13. Inquire about needed skills required courses financial rewards job benefits working
conditions future trends and entry requirements.
Key
1. If you are looking for a job, [CmIntr] a good place to find general information is the Web.
Use a comma after an introductory clause.
5. Jessica’s interview was scheduled for 2 p.m. on Tuesday, May 5, [CmDate] in Athens, Ohio,
[CmDate] where she went to college.
Be sure students completely set off the second unit in dates and geographical
expressions.
6. If possible, [CmIntr] Jessica should call in advance to inquire about what to wear and how to
prepare.
Use a comma to separate an introductory clause. We assume the clause to mean, “If it is
possible.” Do not insert a comma before the conjunction “and” because it does not
separate a series or independent clauses.
9 Although you may be changing jobs in the future, [CmIntr] you still need to train for a specific
career area now.
Use a comma to separate an introductory dependent clause from the following
independent clause.
10. Searching for a job electronically has become a common approach, [CmConj] but it is not
always fruitful.
Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction that separates independent clauses.
13. Inquire about needed skills, [CmSer] required courses, [CmSer] financial rewards, [CmSer]
job benefits, [CmSer] working conditions, [CmSer]future trends, [CmSer] and entry
requirements.
Use commas to separate items in a series.