COMMA, RULES? ;)

Today is WT*$*AISTPT Comma Day ;) 

This post is based on a piece of genius I have pinned up over my computer. 

I'm letting Rowland, from from my wip - STARRING - demystify the slippery little tadpoles of punctuation.  

COMMAS

Rowland drew a defensive ward.

One independent clause needs a full stop at the end.

Rowland drew a defensive ward when the forest was pierced by red eyes.

The independent clause is before the dependent clause.

(Punctuation only follows a dependent clause so the full stop is all that is needed.)

When the forest was pierced by red eyes, Rowland drew a defensive ward.

The dependent clause is now at the beginning of the sentence. As punctuation follows a dependent clause, the comma is needed.

Rowland drew a defensive ward; he repelled the danger.

These are two independent clauses; attach them with a semicolon.

or...

Rowland drew a defensive ward, and he repelled the danger. 

There is an alternative form of punctuation, because you can join independent clauses together with a comma and a conjunction. 

DO YOU FIND COMMAS SLITHER INTO YOUR WORK WHEN YOU ARE NOT LOOKING?