· Separate items in a series that are not joined by conjunctions, e.g., “The sandwich
is made of ham, cheese and lettuce." Omit the comma before the conjunction.
· Separate adverbs or adjectives modifying a single item, e.g., “Use the red, white,
and blue tablecloth.”
· Separate independent clauses with different subjects, e.g., “The light went out, and someone screamed.”
· Set off nonessential information and clauses, e.g., “My best friend, Annabelle, is
going to Europe this summer.”
· Set off contrasting expressions, e.g., “You should use a pie chart, not a bar chart.”
