Comma Sense

1
Comma Sense

• Twelve Basic Suggestions
• ,

2
Commas Demystified

• Commas can be tricky to use. Students often have
  a difficult time deciding when to put them in, or
  when to leave them out. The following
  suggestions will make this decision simpler,
  reducing the mystery to a matter of common sense.

3
(1) Use a comma to separate words (or groups of
words) in a series

• I went to Lances to buy bread, butter, and
  milk.
• James unlatched the window, looked around
  stealthily, then made good his escape.

LISTS
4
(2) Use commas to separate adjectives modifying
the same noun

• It was a fine, sunny day.
• The large, loping hound started to bark
  furiously.

ADJECTIVES
5
(3) Use a comma before the conjunction in a
compound sentence
CONJUNCTIONS

• I couldnt see him, but I knew he was there.
• He dropped his fork on the floor, so he decided
  to use a clean one.

6
(4) Use one or two commas, as needed, to set off
words which interrupt the thought of the
sentence
INTERRUPTIONS

• Simon, however, will not be going.
• You are, consequently, the prize-winner.
• My mother, who lives out-of-state, still
  considers herself a Hoosier.

7
(5) In direct quotations, commas are used to
separate speech from commentary

• She said, I am glad to be at IPFW.
• I am, she said, so glad to be at IPFW.
• I am glad to be at IPFW, she said.

QUOTATIONS
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(6) Use a comma after a mild interjection, or
after introductory words and phrases

• Oh dear, I just missed my bus.
• Well, look who the cat dragged in!
• In all, four houses have been sold.

INTRODUCTIONS
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(7) Use commas to set off nouns of direct
address

• Pete, where are you?
• Come in, Nancy.
• Hey, Bonehead! Whaddup?

NAMES
10
(8) Use a comma after a persons last name when
it precedes the first name (in an alphabetical
listing, for example)
REVERSALS

• Dickinson, Emily
• Frost, Robert
• Shakespeare, William

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(9) Commas separate days, months, and years
DATES

• Day and Year November 11th, 1936
• Month and Year July, 1875
• Day, Month,Year Sunday, 13th March, 1960
• She was born on November 11, 1875, in Frankfurt,
  Germany.

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(10) A comma is customarily used after the
salutation or the complimentary close of a
letter
LETTERS

• Dear Mr. Jones,
• Yours sincerely,

13
(11) The names of towns and states are
separated with a comma

• North Manchester, Indiana
• Hamburg, Germany
• I drove to Brussels, Belgium, last week.

COUNTRIES
14
(12) Use a comma to separate peoples
names from their qualifications, degrees,
or titles

• Alec Coyle, DDS.
• Jane Ball, RN.
• Dagny Boebel, PhD.
• Martin Luther King Jr.
• Joseph Smith, Sr.

TITLES
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Short Name for Each Rule

1. Lists
2. Adjectives
3. Conjunctions
4. Interruptions
5. Quotations
6. Introductions
7. Names
8. Reversals
9. Dates
10. Letters
11. Countries
12. Titles

When you are tempted to use a comma, ask yourself
which of the Twelve Suggestions applies. If you
cannot justify the use of the comma, leave it out.
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Brief Quiz
ListsAdjectivesConjunctionsInterruptionsQuotat
ionsIntroductionsNamesReversalsDatesLettersC
ountriesTitles

• 1. Well I really wish she hadnt been late.
• 2. My sister who works at Biaggis is a chef.
• 3. I own a shotgun but I have never used it.
• 4. Jonathan have you seen my keys?
• 5. He said Paris is one of my favorite cities.
• 6. I was born in Paris France but I grew up in
  Brussels.
• 7. I saw a long low building in the distance.
• 8. She ironed her blouse shone her shoes and then
  drove quickly to work.
• 9. Dr. Jonathan Watson Ph.D. will be todays
  guest lecturer.
• 10. William Shakespeare was reputedly born on
  April 23rd 1564.

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Brief QuizGrading Key
ListsAdjectivesConjunctionsInterruptionsQuotat
ionsIntroductionsNamesReversalsDatesLettersC
ountriesTitles

• 1. Well, I really wish she hadnt been
  late. Introductions
• 2. My sister, who works at Biaggis, is a
  chef. Interruptions
• 3. I own a shotgun, but I have never used
  it. Conjunctions
• 4. Jonathan, have you seen my keys? Names/Introd
  uctions
• 5. He said, Paris is one of my favorite
  cities. Quotations
• 6. I was born in Paris, France, but I grew up in
  Brussels. Countries/Interruptions
• 7. I saw a long, low building in the
  distance. Adjectives
• 8. She ironed her blouse, shone her shoes, and
  then drove quickly to work. Lists
• 9. Dr. Jonathan Watson, PhD, will be todays
  guest lecturer. Titles/Interruptions
• 10. William Shakespeare was reputedly born on
  April 23, 1564. Dates

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The End
PowerPoint Presentation by Mark A. Spalding, BA,
MEd, MA, 2007.