Comma Sense

1
Comma Sense

• A Quick Guide

2
Independent Clauses

• Subject, verb, and maybe modifiers
• Joe sang.
• Mary ran.
• Sing.
• Run.
• Joe sang beautifully.
• Mary ran quickly.
• Run fast.

3
Coordinating Conjunctions

• FOR
• AND
• NOR
• BUT
• OR
• YET
• SO

• F
• A
• N
• B
• O
• Y
• S

4
Coordinating Conjunctions (cont.)

• Yogurt is nutritious, and it makes a good snack.
• Yogurt is naturally rather tart, but fruit or jam
  is often added to sweeten it.
• Yogurt is naturally rather tart, yet many people
  like the taste.
• We can have yogurt and fruit, or we can go out
  for breakfast.

5
Independent Clauses (cont.)

• These can be punctuated as sentences. But that is
  not the only way to punctuate independent
  clauses.
• Two independent clauses that are closely related,
  especially if they have parallel structure, can
  be punctuated with a semicolon.
• Contrasts between two statements can also be
  highlighted by using a semicolon.

6
Variation is the Spice of Writing

• Independent clauses can be punctuated or combined
  
• in various ways
• The sky darkened, but it did not rain.
• The sky darkened, yet it did not rain.
• The sky darkened, and it rained.
• The sky darkened it rained.
• The sky darkened, the wind howled, and it rained.
• The sky darkened, so we knew it would rain.
• The sky darkened, for it was going to rain.
• All last week, it either rained, or it snowed.
• All last week, it rained or snowed.

7
Examples of Semicolon Use

• Yogurt is a nutritious dairy product it often
  has added fruit or flavoring.
• Yogurt is a nutritious dairy product it is a
  good, light snack.
• Yogurt is nutritious however, ice cream tastes
  better.
• Yogurt is a dairy product thus, it must be kept
  refrigerated.

8
Subordinating Conjunctions

• The following words make the clause dependent it
  thus has to have an independent clause to lean
  on.
• After, although, as, as if, as long as, as
  though, because, before, even though, if, if
  only, in order that, now that, once, provided,
  rather than, since, so that than, that, though,
  unless, until, when, whenever, where, whereas,
  wherever, whether, while.

9
Dependent Clauses

• Although a dependent clause may look like a
  complete sentence, it is not one.
• Because a dependent clause starts with particular
  words, it needs an independent clause to lean on.
• If a dependent clause were a person, it could be
  used as a tax exemption by an independent clause
  because dependent clauses need to be supported.

10
Why Use Commas?

• To separate main clauses linked by a coordinating
  conjunction
• To set off most introductory elements
• To set off nonessential elements
• To separate items in a series
• To separate coordinate adjectives
• Other uses
• To set off absolute phrases
• To set off phrases expressing contrast
• To separate parts of dates, addresses, long
  numbers
• To separate quotations and signal phrases
• To prevent misreading

11
Simple Rule

• For phrases, clauses, groups of words in a
  sentence
• DO NOT USE COMMAS, if it is an essential part of
  the meaning of the sentence.
• USE COMMAS, if you can take a phrase, clause, or
  words out of a sentence without changing the
  basic meaning.
• In other words, commas often mark off added
  information.

12
If you can leave part of a sentence out.

• The man, who is a teacher, wore a long black
  cloak.
• The movie, which got rave reviews, is still
  playing at the mall.
• My sons high school principal, James Smith,
  lives next door.
• Mary, my oldest sister, is a pediatrician.
• The SUV, which is at least twenty years old, was
  parked illegally.

13
If part of a sentence is necessary.

• The man wearing a long black cloak is a teacher.
• The man wearing a long black cloak is a teacher,
  not a vampire.
• The woman standing by the door is my aunt.
• The movie playing at the mall is the one I want
  to see.
• The SUV with the Missouri license plates is
  parked illegally.
• My sister Mary is a pediatrician.

14
Some uses for commas.

• As I walked into the room, I saw the vase of
  roses on the table.
• Because it was my birthday, I thought the flowers
  were for me.
• I picked up the card, thinking I knew who had
  sent them.
• Surprised and pleased, I smiled at my mother and
  handed her the card.

15
Other Examples

• We went to the grocery and bought apples,
  oranges, bananas, and plums.
• Many years ago, I started teaching English in
  Louisville, Kentucky, across the river from
  Indiana.
• Michael Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana, on
  August 29, 1958.
• Casually, the young man strolled into the room.
• BUT -- The young man strolled casually into the
  room.

16
Punctuation Matters
17
The Panda Story

• A panda walks into a café. He orders a sandwich,
  eats it, then draws a gun and fires two shots in
  the air.
• Why? asks the confused waiter, as the panda
  makes towards the exit. The panda produces a
  badly punctuated wildlife manual and tosses it
  over his shoulder.
• Im a panda, he says, at the door. Look it
  up.

18
Punch Line

• The waiter turns to the relevant entry and, sure
  enough, finds an explanation.
• Panda Large black-and-white bear-like mammal,
  native to China. Eats, shoots and leaves.
• What kind of words was the Panda saying these
  (the ones in yellow) were?
• What were they meant to convey?

19
Punctuation Matters

• A woman without her man is nothing.
• A woman, without her man, is nothing.
• A woman without her, man is nothing.
• Be sure to distinguish between the semicolon and
  the colon--
• Semicolon smile and a wink
• Colon eyes for a smiley face

20
Colons and Semicolons

• Use colons when what is on either side is
  balanced, as on a scale. The main clause below
  has a term (groceries) which is general and
  matches up with the specifics that follow the
  colon (apples, oranges, etc.)
• Example
• This morning, I bought a lot of groceries
  apples, oranges, bananas, plums, and a pineapple.

21
General Specifics
22
Colons and Semicolons

• For sentences with a series of items and internal
  punctuation, use semicolons between units.
• Example
• The new contract will provide improvements for
  all hourly workers recognition of seniority in
  scheduling, as well as a flex time option a
  better physical environment on the work floor,
  even in break rooms and restrooms and better
  health insurance.

23
Punctuation Matters

• Dear Jack,
• I want a man who knows what love is all
  about. You are generous, kind, thoughtful.
  People who are not like you admit to being
  useless and inferior. You have ruined me for
  other men. I yearn for you. I have no feelings
  whatsoever when were apart. I can be forever
  happywill you let me be yours?
• Jill

24
Punctuation Matters

• Dear Jack,
• I want a man who knows what love is. All
  about you are generous, kind, thoughtful people
  who are not like you. Admit to being useless and
  inferior. You have ruined me. For other men I
  yearn! For you I have no feelings whatsoever.
  When were apart I can be forever happy. Will
  you let me be? Yours, Jill