Is a phrase or clause that either modifies nothing in the sentence or that seems to modify a word to which it is not logically related

Do not clearly describe or explain any part of the sentence

Create confusion and sometimes unintentional humor

Before a coordinating conjunction that joins two independent clauses.

To separate a dependent clause from an independent clause

To separate three or more iterms in a series

To separate coordinate adjectives

To separate parenthetical expressions from the clauses the modify

To separate a transition from the clause it modifies

To separate a quotation from the words that introduce or explain it

To separate dates, place name, and long numbers

To separate phrases expressing contrast

To separate introductory words and phrases from the rest of the sentence

the first word following a colon

the first and last words

all other words except, articles, prepositions, conjunction

To introduce items in a series after an independent clause

To signal a list or a statement introduced by an independent clause ending with the following or as follows

To introduce a quotation that follows an introductory independent clause

To introduce an explanation

To separate titles and subtitles of books

some titles before or after people's names

Names of familiar, organizations, corporations, countries

Time references preceded or

Latin terms when used in footnotes, references, or parentheses

Units of measurement

Geographic or other place names when used in sentences

Parts of written works, when used in sentences

Names of days, months, holidays

Names of subject areas

To separate two closely related independent clauses not connected by a coordinating conjunction

To separate 2 independent clauses joined by a conjunction adverb

To separate independent clauses joined with a coordinating conjunction

To separate items in a series if the items are lengthy or contain commas

divide words only when necessary

divide words between syllables

do not divide one-syllable words

no not divide a word so that a single letter is left at the end of a line

do not divide a word so that fewer than three letters begin the new line

divide compound words only between the words

divide words that are already hyphenated only at the hyphen

numbers that are spelled with more than two words

days and years

decimals, percentages, fractions

exact times

pages, chapters, volumes, acts and lines from plays

addresses

exact amounts of money

scores and statistics

numbers that begin sentences the lecture

numbers of one or two words

do not worry about spelling as you write your first draft

keep a list of words you commonly misspell

every time you catch an error or find a misspelled word on a paper returned by your instructor, add it to your list

study your list

develop a spelling awareness

pronounce words you are having difficulty spelling

review basic spelling rules

be sure to have a dictionary readily available when you write

read your final draft through once, checking only for spelling errors