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Commas!!!
Items in a Series
Compound Sentences
Introductory Phrases
Sentence Interrupters
“Extra Information”
(nonessential elements)
Items in a Series
• Separate three or more items.
–We fished, hiked, and biked.
–I want mushrooms, peppers, and
sausage on the pizza.
Two or More Adjectives
• If you can insert “and” between the
adjectives, add a comma.
–The tall, majestic mountain appeared in
the distance.
• (The tall AND majestic mountain)
• If you cannot insert “and” between the
adjectives, do NOT add a comma.
–The bright red car is in the driveway.
• (The bright AND red car? NO! No commas)
Compound Sentences
• If a sentence is comprised of
two complete thoughts, join
those complete thoughts with a
comma AND a conjunction.
–The children wanted to stay at
the beach, but the sun had set.
Compound Sentences
• If a sentence contains a
conjunction but does NOT
contain two complete thoughts,
do NOT use a comma.
–The party started at 7 PM and
ended by midnight.
• (“ended by midnight” is NOT a
complete thought).
Introductory Phrases
• Offset an introductory phrase (a
phrase that sets up the main
idea of a sentence; the
sentence would make sense
without it) with a comma.
–Alerted, the firefighters raced to
the cineplex.
Introductory Phrases
• To relax, Clarke does
needlepoint.
• When you give a speech, look
at your audience.
• By four o’clock on Thursday, I’ll
be at the beach.
Sentence Interrupters &
Nonessential Elements
• Directly addressing a person:
–Audrey, please read this sentence.
• “Extra information” that is not
essential to the meaning of the
sentence.
–Glory, a Civil War movie, features
an African American regiment.
Sentence Interrupters &
Nonessential Elements
Essential
(NO commas)
The singer who
was voted off
“American Idol”
was Pia
Toscano.
Non-essential
(commas)
Jennifer Lopez,
who is a movie
star and singer,
is a judge on
“American Idol.”
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Expressions to Offset with
Commas:
As a result
By the way
For example
For instance
Furthermore
However
Unfortunately
•
•
•
•
•
•
Incidentally
In fact
Moreover
Nevertheless
Of course
On the other
hand
Expressions to Offset with
Commas:
• However, there are some upsides
to a four-day school week.
• There are some upsides,
however, to a four-day school
week.
• There are some upsides to a
four-day school week, however.
Correcting Run-Ons:
• 1. Add a period and a capital
letter.
• 2. Add a comma and a
conjunction.
• 3. Insert a semicolon.