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Comma Usage Quick Guide Non-­‐Essential Commas Compound Sentence Commas Commas should be placed around information that interrupts the sentence. This is also called parenthetical information because it could be placed in parentheses. Compound Sentence is two or more independent clauses (each containing a subject/verb relationship) combined with a conjunction or semicolon. 1.
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Examples: Skim your paper for the seven coordinating conjunctions. (For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So-­‐ FANBOYS) Stop at each of these words and see if there is an independent clause on either side of the conjunction. If so, you need to place a comma before the Conjunction. Penguins’ wings, which are short and thick, are not designed for flight. King Arthur, according to legend, will return some day to rule Britain. His basketball coach, it is rumored, is about to be fired. •
Example: Tyler Junior College was founded in 1926, and it is one of the most respected two year colleges in the nation. Series Commas Introductory Commas Any time you have written a list of three or more things, you should use commas between them. For introductory commas after dependent clauses, try this strategy: 1.
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Examples: Skim your paper, looking only at the first two or three words of each sentence. Stop if one of these words is a dependent clause marker word (after, although, as, as if, as long as, as soon as, because, before, if, in order, that, since, so that, than, though, until, when, whenever, wherever, while) If you see one of the above words, you have found an introductory clause. Place a comma between the last word of the dependent clause and the first word of the independent clause. TJC students can earn degree in nursing, horticulture, and engineering technology. (list of nouns) I love running, swimming, and climbing trees. (list of verbs) English, math, science, and art are just some of the subjects I am interested in studying. (list of nouns) Example: When students at TJC reach the end of their sophomore year, they are ready to transfer to a four year college. Tim is known as an intelligent, hard-­‐working, and thoughtful man. (list of adjectives) Other introductory examples: Attending a TJC football game, one can see a bond among the students. To encourage the team, fans in the stands cheer loudly. Yes, both students and alumni join together to support the team. All of the above examples contain information between commas which could be removed from the sentence-­‐ it just tells us something extra. •
Adapted from A&M Writing Lab website and English Essentials