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Step 1
Use commas to separate cities and states and dates and years: Phoenix, Arizona or May 8, 2008.
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Step 2
Use commas to separate three or more items in a list: I went to the store and bought milk, eggs, cheese and butter.
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Step 3
Use a comma before a conjunction that joins two independent clauses together. Independent clauses are groups of words that can stand on their own as complete sentences. To put two of them together in one sentence, you need to use a conjunction (i.e., "and" "so" "or"): I was hungry, so I went to the store to buy food. (Notice that "so" is the conjunction joining the two independent clauses together).
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Step 4
Use a comma after an introductory element that precedes an independent clause. These introductory elements usually start with a conjunction or preposition: Because I was hungry, I went to the store and bought food. In my hunger, I dreamed about eating a steak.
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Step 5
Use a comma on either side of nonessential information that is embedded in the sentence. In this case, the commas perform a function similar to parentheses, setting off additional information. Notice how you can remove the words between the commas and still have a complete sentence: I went to the store, which was located two miles away, to buy food.
