COMMAS

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COMMAS
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Rule 1 Commas in a Series
Use a comma to set off the elements of a series
(three or more things), including the last two.
The recipe calls for two eggs, one cup flour, and
three cups sugar.
You may have learned that this comma is not
necessary however, new grammatical rules have
deemed it necessary.
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Rule 2 Commas and Coordinating Conjunctions
Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction (for,
and, nor, but, or, yet, so) to separate two
independent clauses.
The house was wrecked from the tornado, yet the
barn was untouched.
Remember that an independent clause has both a
subject and a verb, and can stand on its own as a
full sentence.
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Rule 3 Commas and Introductory Elements
Use a comma to separate phrases or words at the
beginning of the sentence. The important thing
to remember about this comma rule is that if the
introductory element can be taken completely out
of the sentence, and the sentence still makes
sense, a comma can go there.
Anxious about her upcoming test, Paula had a
panic attack.
In 1954, my mother was born.
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Rule 4 Commas and Coordinate Adjectives
Use a comma to separate coordinate adjectives.
The spicy, cheesy nachos were very yummy.
The drafty, dreary, dilapidated house was cheap.
In order to put a comma between coordinate
adjectives, they must pass two tests. TEST
1 place and between the adjectives TEST
2 switch the placement of the adjectives
The spicy and cheesy nachos were very yummy.
The cheesy, spicy nachos were very yummy.
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Rule 5 Commas with Contrasts
Use a comma to set off elements that express a
contrast or turn in the sentence. Generally,
this is shown by the words not, but, or
yet. Please note that these are NOT the same
as Rule 2, as these do not contain independent
clauses.
The house was cute, but too expensive.
Maria was ready for the test, yet didnt do well.
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Rule 6 Commas with Places and Titles
Use a comma to set off states and countries,
dates, titles, etc.
We vacationed in San Diego, California.
Their anniversary is March 16, 1952.
Junya Bhandeet, President of the Gnome
organization, was not present at the UN meeting
on gnome awareness.
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Rule 7 Commas with Quotes
Use a comma to set off quoted language.
In Shakespeares Sonnet XVIII, he asks, shall
I compare thee to a summers day?
Myrup said, Hurry up with my Hot Pocket!
Sweden is the best place, he said, to listen
to Gunther cds.
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Rule 8 Commas with Parenthetical Elements
Use a comma to set off parenthetical elements.
This is the most difficult rule in comma usage. A
parenthetical element is added information,
something that can be removed from a sentence
without changing the essential meaning of that
sentence. Deciding what is added information
and what is essential is sometimes difficult. See
the next slide.
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Rule 8 Commas with Parenthetical Elements
Robert Frost, perhaps Americas most beloved
poet, died when he was 88.
Frank, your absence means nothing to me.
Note that this example also qualifies as another
comma rule -- 3 Commas and Introductory
Elements.
I am warning you, Hermit family, leave town now
before the crickets are thrown at you.
An addressed person (or group of people) is
always parenthetical.
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Rule 9 Commas with Numbers
Use commas with numbers. A comma will be placed
every three numbers from the right. Follow these
examples.
There were 18,028 men killed in the war.
That painting is 1,203 years old.
The world record for camel jumping is 157 feet.
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Now You Try! Figure out where the commas go, and
which rule is being applied.
Excuse me but there are of course many courses of
action here.
Otto said Ron pass the cookies.
Yuma head of the William Shatner fan club threw a
party for the newcomers.
Quails are the most beautiful graceful creatures
ever.
Fletcher my eldest son was born on June 12 1985
in Atlanta Georgia.
My little red car has 180000 miles on it.