What you need to know about commas:

Commas separate or join words or thoughts within a sentence, usually to clarify the meaning of the sentence. 

• Convention #1: Use commas to join ideas and words into a longer sentence.

  • Joining independent clauses

  • Joining a dependent and independent clause

  • After introductory phrases

  • Setting off appositives

• Convention #2: Lists and series of three or more words

• Convention #3: Addresses

• Convention #4: Dates

When in doubt, ask yourself if your reader will misunderstand the meaning of your sentence without the comma or if their brain will be overwhelmed, and remember that less is more.