Download Commas - eng101winter2010

Commas
Pages 259-272
By Seth Murray and Garrett
Thelen
Where Commas Should Be Used
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Before coordinating conjunctions joining
independent clauses.
After introductory word groups.
Between all items in a series.
Between coordinate adjectives not joined by and.
To set off nonrestrictive elements.
To set off nouns of direct address, yes and no,
interrogative tags, and mild interjections.
With expressions to set off direct quotations.
With dates, addresses, titles, and numbers.
To set off transitional and parenthetical
expressions, absolute phrases, and contrasted
elements.
To avoid confusion.
Before Coordinating Conjunctions
Joining Independent Clauses
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Seven Coordinating Conjunctions: and,
but, or, nor, for, so, and yet.
EXAMPLE: I hate to waste a single drop of
squid eyeball stew, for it is expensive and
time-consuming to make.
After Introductory Word Groups
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Introductory Word Groups – Word
groups that usually tell when, where,
how, why, or under what conditions
the main action of the sentence
occurred.
EXAMPLE: Since Tiger was going
through a 24 hour period of erectile
dysfunction, he decided not to join
Amy to teach her how too golf in a
secluded hotel room.
Between All Items in a Series
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Series- A group with three or more
items.
EXAMPLE: This morning I woke up,
felt like P-Diddy, got dressed,
brushed my teeth with a bottle of
jack, and turned on Katy Perry.
Between coordinate adjectives not
joined by and
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Coordinate Adjectives- When two or
more adjectives each modify a noun
separately.
EXAMPLE: The poster depicted a
brown-haired, blue-eyed child
wearing a Canadian tuxedo.
To Set Off Nonrestrictive Elements
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Nonrestrictive Elements- Word
groups describing nouns or pronouns
are restrictive or nonrestrictive. A
nonrestrictive element describes a
noun or a pronoun that has already
been clearly defined.
EXAMPLE: Mr. Smith, who is a wellrespected lawyer, has just retired
from active practice.
To Set Off Nouns of Direct Address,
Interrogative Tags, and Mild
Interjections
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Nouns of Direct Address- the name
of the person (normally) who is
being directly spoken to. Also applies
to words like Sir, Ma’am, and Son.
EXAMPLE: Karen, you are looking
mighty fine tonight.
Interrogative Tags- A phrase in the
form of a question that is a spin off
from the original statement.
To Set Off Nouns of Direct Address,
Interrogative Tags, and Mild
Interjections Continued
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EXAMPLE: Honey, that was great,
wasn’t it?
Mild Interjections- Usually treated as
parenthetical elements. (Words like
oh and well)
EXAMPLE: Well, at least you enjoyed
it.
With Expressions To Set Off Direct
Quotations
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Direct Quotations- Something that is
word for word the same as the
source.
EXAMPLE: Former President Bill
Clinton remarked, “I did not have
sexual relations with that woman,
Ms. Lewinsky.”
With Dates, Addresses, Titles, and
Numbers
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DATE EXAMPLE: On June 5, 1989, a
little boy started his journey through
life.
ADDRESS EXAMPLE: Garrett Thelen
was born in St. Johns, Michigan, in
1989
TITLE EXAMPLE: Seth Murray, Ph.D,
is being sued for malpractice.
NUMBERS EXAMPLE: 1,000,000
To Set Off Transitional and Parenthetical
Expressions, Absolute Phrases, and
Contrasted Elements
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Transitional Expressions- Serve as bridges
between sentences or parts of sentences.
EXAMPLE: They are real as a matter of
fact, I have had them since I was in
Middle School.
Parenthetical Expressions- A phrase that
provides supplemental information but
interrupts the flow of a sentence or is at
the end of a sentence as an after thought.
EXAMPLE: Bill, as far as we know, enjoys
the touch of a man on his skin.
To Set Off Transitional and Parenthetical
Expressions, Absolute Phrases, and
Contrasted Elements Continued
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Absolute Phrases- Modifies the independent
clause as a whole.
EXAMPLE: Their slender bodies sleek and black
against the orange sky, the storks pooped above
us.
Contrasted Elements- Sharp contrasts with words
like not, never, and unlike.
EXAMPLE: Unlike Darth Vader, Bill is from the
planet Earth.
To Avoid Confusion
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EXAMPLE: Everything that would
thought might happen, happened.
EXAMPLE: Patients, who can walk up
and down the halls, walk several
times a day.
Where Commas Should NOT Be Used
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Between compound elements that are not
independent clauses.
To separate a verb from its subject or
object.
Before the first or after the last item in a
series.
Between cumulative adjectives, between
an adjective and a noun, or between an
adverb and an adjective.
To set off restrictive elements.
To set off a concluding adverb clause that
is essential to the meaning of the
sentence.
Between Compound Elements that
are not Independent Clauses.
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Independent Clause- A sentence that
can stand by itself containing a
subject and a predicate.
EXAMPLE: John Smith discovered the
meaning of life, and later jumped off
a cliff.
To Separate a Verb from its Subject
or Object
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EXAMPLE: Julie explained to him,
that she was tired and he would have
to wait until a different night.
Before the First or After the Last
Item in a Series
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Series- A group with three or more
items.
EXAMPLE: Bode Miller’s medals at
the Olympics are, gold, silver, and
bronze, but he is hoping for iron.
Between Cumulative Adjectives, Between an
Adjective and a Noun, or Between an
Adverb and an Adjective.
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Cumulative Adjectives- Two or more
adjectives that do not modify the noun
separately.
EXAMPLE: The former, overweight woman
told us how she lost fifty-five pounds.
ADJECTIVE AND NOUN EXAMPLE: It was a
scary, pointless, game.
ADVERB AND ADJECTIVE EXAMPLE: The
old High School is not suitable for teaching
our severely, deprived children.
To Set Off Restrictive Elements
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Restrictive Elements- Word groups
describing nouns or pronouns are
restrictive or nonrestrictive. A
restrictive element defines or limits
the meaning of the word it modifies
making it essential to the meaning of
the sentence.
EXAMPLE: William Faulkner's novel,
Light in August, is my favorite book.
To Set off a Concluding Adverb Clause
that is Essential to the Meaning of the
Sentence.
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Adverb Clause- Adverb clauses show
relationships such as time, cause and
effect, contrast, and condition.
EXAMPLE: Don’t visit Mexico right
now, unless you know some powerful
drug lords.
TRY AND EDIT THE
FOLLOWING SENTENCES
(HINT: Pay attention to comma use.)
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I hate going to that pointless class
yet I end up going everyday.
CORRECT: I hate going to that
pointless class, yet I end up going
everyday.
WHY: Because it’s a coordinating
conjunctions joining independent
clauses!
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Harry Bottom’s new novel, Monkey
Love, is so amazing.
CORRECT: Bottom’s new novel
Monkey Love is so amazing.
WHY: Because Monkey Love is a
restrictive element!
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Antonio’s siblings back home in
Mexico are named Maria, Jose, and
George Lopez but he is hoping for a
Paco.
CORRECT: It is already CORRECT!
WHY: You don’t need a comma
before the First or After the Last
Item in a Series.
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Garrett Thelen also known as White
Lightening used to be the lead singer
of White Snake.
Incorrect: This is a Nonrestrictive
Element.
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The correct way is: Garrett Thelen, also
known as White Lightening, used to
be the lead singer of White Snake.