What are the rules for commas? I think I use them too often and I cannot do that, since I’m trying to be a novelist.

What are the rules for commas? I think I use them too often and I cannot do that, since I’m trying to be a novelist.

Following is a summary of the rules for using commas in English sentences, compiled by CoPilot, an AI bot:

Commas are used in English sentences to separate words, phrases, and clauses. Here are some basic rules for using commas:

1. Listing commas: Use commas to separate items in a list of three or more, such as "My estate goes to my husband, son, daughter-in-law, and nephew."

2. Joining commas: Use commas to connect two independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction, such as "He walked down the street, and then he turned the corner."

3. Non-restrictive clauses: Use commas to set off non-restrictive relative clauses, such as "Coniferous trees, such as pine and spruce, do not drop their needles."

4. Nonessential appositives: Use commas to set off nonessential appositives, such as "Jill, my sister, closed the door."

5. Introductory phrases: Use commas after introductory phrases, such as "When Yvonne was ready to iron, her husband tripped on the cord."

6. Interrupters and parenthetical elements: Use commas to set off interrupters and parenthetical elements, such as "I can go now, can't I?"

7. Question tags: Use commas to set off question tags, such as "That is my money, not his."

8. Names in direct address: Use commas to set off names in direct address, such as "To George, Harry had been a sort of idol."

9. Dates, addresses, titles, and numbers: Use commas to separate parts of dates, addresses, titles, and numbers, such as "On December 12, 1890, orders were sent out for the arrest of Sitting Bull."

Source: CoPilot