PROPER COMMA USE

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PROPER COMMA USE
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Commas

• There are several uses for the comma
• List items in a series
• Set off introductory material
• Set off interrupting phrases
• Set off non-essential material
• Use with certain sentence structures
• IC , cc IC
• DC, IC
• Direct quotations

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Comma in a Series

• Use commas to separate individual parts in a
  list.
• Use the comma when there are three or more parts.
• The writing process includes exploration, a rough
  draft, revising , editing, proofreading and a
  final draft.
• The writing process includes exploration, a rough
  draft, revising , editing, proofreading, and a
  final draft.
• There is some debate about using a comma before
  the conjunction.
• Use the comma if you believe the reader may be
  confused.

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Comma with Introductory Material

• Remember, you must use a comma after transitions
  that begin a sentence or independent clause.
• Also, use a comma after interjections
• yes / no
• No, I have not had time to send Mr. Smith the
  fax.
• oh / well
• Well, if you have time, I would appreciate the
  help.
• Oh, I dont mind.
• names in a direct address
• In that case, please send the fax on my behalf,
  Ms. Jones.

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Comma with Interrupting Phrases

• Set off any word or phrase used to interrupt a
  sentence, like transitions or interjections.
• The length of my break, however, will not permit
  me to leave the building and go to Kinkos.
• I can run upstairs quickly and use another
  departments machine, on the other hand.

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Comma with Non-Essential Material

• You must use commas to set off non-essential
  material
• Relative clauses
• Appositives
• Explanatory phrases

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Relative Clauses

• Relative clauses are dependent clauses
• that begin with a relative pronoun (who,
  whichetc).
• that describe the subject.
• if the relative clause is non-essential to the
  sentences meaning, the clause must be set off or
  enclosed by commas.
• I need you to send the report, which is urgent
  and classified information, as quickly as you
  can.
• I need you to send the report, which is urgent
  and classified information.
• I need you to send the report that is urgent and
  classified information.

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Appositives

• Appositives are explanatory phrases that describe
  a noun/pronoun in the sentence.
• These are non-essential phrases that should be
  set off or enclosed by commas.
• A number of department stores, such as Sears and
  JC Penney, now have their paper catalogues
  online.

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Explanatory Phrases

• Are non-essential phrases
• that give further explanation or,
• provide additional information to the sentence
• they generally come at the end of the sentence
  and require a comma before the phrase.
• A number of department stores now have their
  paper catalogues online, Sears and JC Penney just
  to name a few.

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Comma with Certain Sentence Structures

• Remember, you must use a comma before the
  coordinating conjunction when combining two ICs.
• IC, cc IC.
• Remember also that you must use a comma after a
  dependent clause that precedes or comes before
  the independent clause.
• DC, IC.

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• Certain DCs require a comma when they come
  before the IC.
• Subordinating clauses
• Regardless of a students own views, the research
  paper on environmental sustainability is a course
  requirement.
• Prepositional phrases
• Some students may not agree with environmental
  sustainability practices however, for the
  purposes of the research paper, students need to
  set their own views aside.
• Infinitive phrases
• To write an informative paper on the issue and
  receive a passing grade, now that should be the
  students main concern.

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• Present/Past participle phrases
• Writing from an objective perspective, students
  should understand that a purely informative paper
  does not necessarily signify that they condone
  environmental sustainability practices.
• Written from an objective perspective, a paper
  does not necessarily signify the authors own
  beliefs.

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Comma in Direction Quotation

• Use a comma to set off the quotation from the
  rest of the sentence.
• We will discuss punctuating quotations thoroughly
  in future presentations.
• Amos says of writing, Sometimes I have to write
  so much just to get so little.
• Originality is the sum total of a man's thinking
  or his writing, wrote Isaac B. Singer.

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Do Not

• Separate your subject and verb with a comma!
• Unless there is a justifiable reason
• interrupting phrase or clause, which should be
  set off or enclosed by commas.