On Thu, 26 Oct 1995, The Blue Tigress wrote:

1.  To separate items in a series.

	Like I should put them between my Ranma volumes?

2.  To separate two or more adjectives preceding a nown.

	What's a nown?

3.  Before _and_, _but_, _or_, _nor_, _for_, _yet_, when they join 
    independent clauses, unless very short.

	What's an independant clause?

4.  To set off nonessential clauses and nonessential participial phrases.

	What's   ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ +   ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ this?

5.  After certain introductory elements,
    (a)  After words such as _well_, _yes_, _no_, _why_, etc., when they 
         begin a sentence.
    (b)  After an introductory participial phrase.

		Huh?

    (c)  After a succession of introductory prepositional phrases.

	Huh?

    (d)  After an introductory adverb clause.

	What?

6.  To set off expressions that interrupt the sentence.
    (a)  Appositives

	Nani?

    (b)  Words in direct address
    (c)  Parenthetical expressions
7.  In certain conventional situations.

	Huh?

8.  Wherever it may be needed for emphasis or clarity, whether or not one 
    of the above rules applies.
9.  Do not use unnecessary commas.

	Nope.

Use of semi-colon:

1.  Between two independent clauses not connected by a coordinating 
    conjunction.
2.  Between independent clauses joined by conjuctive adverbs.
3.  Between items of a series if they are already punctuated internally 
    by commas.
4.  To separate independent clauses if there are commas within clauses.

	Didn't get one bit of this.

RR [Geen at Large]