Download Fixing Missing Commas with Nonessential Elements

E IV: Missing Commas with Nonessential Element_______________
Problem 1: Missing commas with nonessential participles, infinitives, and their phrases
José being naturally optimistic was not troubled by the news.
Thoroughly prepared Joseph stepped confidently up to the microphone.
To be well informed Mariko reads the newspaper daily.
Solution: Determine whether the participle (“–ed” or “–ing” form), infinitive (“to” + verb), or
phrase is truly not essential to the meaning of the sentence. It is it not essential, set off the
phrase with commas.
José, being naturally optimistic, was not troubled by the news.
Thoroughly prepared, Joseph stepped confidently up to the microphone.
To be well informed, Mariko reads the newspaper daily.
Problem 2: Missing commas with nonessential adjective clauses
The documentary which must have been difficult to film examines efforts to save the panda’s
habitat.
Always put a comma before the word “which.” Do not put a comma before “that.”
Solution: Determine whether the clause is truly not essential to the meaning of the sentence. If
it is not essential, set off the clause with commas.
The documentary, which must have been difficult to film, examines efforts to save the panda’s
habitat.
Problem 3: Missing commas with nonessential appositives
Ian Ward a Tulane medical student spoke about careers in health care.
Solution: Determine whether the appositive (renames a noun) is truly not essential to the
meaning of the sentence. If it is not essential, set off the appositive with commas.
Ian Ward, a Tulane medical student, spoke about careers in health care.
Problem 4: Missing commas with interjections and parenthetical expressions
Gee it sure is good to see you, Miss Celie!
You have heard certainly that Hailey won the election.
Solution: Set off the interjection or parenthetical expression with commas.
Gee, it sure is good to see you, Miss Celie!
You have heard, certainly, that Hailey won the election.