Quotation marks (' . . . '  "... ") can also be called 'inverted commas'.

1)    We can use quotation marks when we say what name something has.
. . . can be called 'inverted commas'. And quotation marks are often used when we mention titles.

• His next book was 'Heart of Darkness'.

2)    We can use quotation marks when we mention a word, or when we use it in an unusual way.

• The word 'disinterested' does not mean 'uninterested'.
  
• A textbook can be a 'wall' between a teacher and a class.

3)    We use quotation marks (single ' ... 'or double "... ") when we quote direct speech.

• 'Hello,' she said. OR "Hello," she said.

Commas set off the elements of an address except for zip codes.

• Write to Bureau of the Census, Washington, DC 20233.
  
• In Needles, California, their luck ran out.
  

When a city name and state (province, country, etc.) name are used together to modify a noun that follows, the second comma may be omitted but is more often retained.

• We visited their Enid, Oklahoma plant.

but more commonly

• We visited their Enid, Oklahoma, plant.
  

Commas set off the year in a full date.

• On July 26, 1992, the court issued its opinion.
  
• Construction for the project began on April 30, 1995.
  

When only the month and year are given, the first comma is usually omitted.

• In December 1903, the Wright brothers finally succeeded in keeping an airplane aloft for a few seconds.
  
• October 1929 brought an end to all that.
  

A comma usually separates a direct quotation from a phrase identifying its source or speaker. If the quotation is a question or an exclamation and the identifying phrase follows the quotation, the
comma is replaced by a question mark or an exclamation point.

• She answered, "I'm afraid it's all we've got."
• "The comedy is over," he muttered.
• "How about another round?" Elaine piped up.
• "I suspect," said Mrs. Horowitz, "we haven't seen the last of her."
• "You can sink the lousy thing for all I care!" Trumbull shouted back.
• "And yet . . . [,]" she mused.
• "We can't get the door op—" Captain Hunt is heard shouting before the tape goes dead.

In some cases, a colon can replace a comma preceding a quotation.

A comma is generally used to separate two or more adjectives, adverbs, or phrases that modify the same word or phrase.

• She spoke in a calm, reflective manner.
• They set to their work again grimly, intently.
  

The comma is often omitted when the adjectives are short. one long thin strand

• a small white stone
• little nervous giggles
• skinny young waiters
• in this harsh new light

The comma is generally omitted where it is ambiguous whether the last modifier and the noun—or two of the modifiers—constitute a unit.

• the story's stark dramatic power
• a pink stucco nightclub
  

In some writing, especially works of fiction, commas may be omitted from most series of coordinate modifiers as a matter of style.

Words, phrases, and clauses joined in a series are separated by commas.

• Men, women, and children crowded aboard the train.
  
• Her job required her to pack quickly, to travel often, and to have no personal life.
  
• He responded patiently while reporters shouted questions, flashbulbs popped, and the crowd pushed closer.
  

When the last two items in a series are joined by a conjunction, the final comma is often omitted, especially where this would not result in ambiguity. In individual publications, the final comma is usually consistently used, consistently omitted, or used only where a given sentence would otherwise be ambiguous or hard to read. It is consistently used in most nonfiction books; elsewhere it tends to be used or generally omitted equally often.

• We are looking for a house with a big yard, a view of the harbor[,] and beach and docking privileges.

A comma is not generally used to separate items in a series all of which are joined with conjunctions.

• I don't understand what this policy covers or doesn't cover or only partially covers.
• They left behind the fogs and the wood storks and the lonesome soughing of the wind.
  

When the elements in a series are long or complex or consist of clauses that themselves contain commas, the elements are usually separated by semicolons, not commas.

A comma is sometimes used to set off contrasting expressions within a sentence.

• This project will take six months, not six weeks.

When two or more contrasting modifiers or prepositions, one of which is introduced by a conjunction or adverb, apply to a noun that follows immediately, the second is set off by two commas or a single comma, or not set off at all.

A solid, if overly wordy, assessment

• or a solid, if overly wordy assessment
• or a solid if overly wordy assessment

Commas set off transitional words and phrases.

• Indeed, close coordination will be essential.
• Defeat may be inevitable; however, disgrace is not.
• The second report, on the other hand, shows a strong bias.

When such words and phrases fall in the middle of a clause, commas are sometimes unnecessary.

• They thus have no chips left to bargain with.
• The materials had indeed arrived.
• She would in fact see them that afternoon.

Commas set off parenthetical elements, such as authorial asides.

• All of us, to tell the truth, were completely amazed.
  
• It was, I should add, not the first time I'd seen him in this condition.

Commas set off a word, phrase, or clause that is in apposition to (that is, equivalent to) a preceding or following noun and that is nonrestrictive.

• It sat nursing its front paw, the injured one.
  
• Aleister Crowley, Britain's most infamous satanist, is the subject of a remarkable new biography.
  
• A cherished landmark in the city, the Hotel Sandburg has managed once again to escape the wrecking ball.
  
• The committee cochairs were a lawyer, John Larson, and an educator, Mary Conway.
  

Restrictive appositives are not set off by commas.

• He next had a walk-on role in the movie The Firm.
  
• Longfellow's poem Evangeline was a favorite of my grandmother's.
  
• The committee cochairs were the lawyer John Larson and the educator Mary Conway.
  
• Lord Castlereagh was that strange anomaly[,] a Labor-voting peer.

Previous part: Comma - Part 3 - With Subordinate Clauses and Phrases

Adverbial clauses and phrases that begin a sentence are usually set off with commas.

• Having made that decision, we turned our attention to other matters.
• In order to receive a high school diploma, a student must earn 16 credits from public or private secondary schools.
  
• In addition, staff members respond to queries, take new orders, and initiate billing.

If the sentence can be easily read without a comma, the comma may be omitted. The phrase will usually be short—four words or less—but even after a longer phrase the comma is often omitted.

• As cars age, they depreciate.
  

or

• As cars age they depreciate.
  

• In January the firm will introduce a new line of investigative services.
  
• On the map the town appeared as a small dot in the midst of vast emptiness.
  
• If nobody comes forward by Friday I will have to take further steps.
  

Commas are not normally used to separate the parts of a compound predicate.

• The firefighter tried to enter the burning building but was turned back by the thick smoke.

However, they are often used if the predicate is long and complicated, if one part is being stressed, or if the absence of a comma could cause a momentary misreading.

• The board helps to develop the financing and marketing strategies for new corporate divisions, and issues periodic reports on expenditures, revenues, and personnel appointments.
• This is an unworkable plan, and has been from the start.
  
• I try to explain to him what I want him to do, and get nowhere.