PUNCTUATION : COMMA

The Commas

tells the reader to pause

indicate a brief pause; they're not as final as periods.

used inside the sentences.

help us to see the structure and therefore the meaning of the sentence.

TRIVIA:

The beginnings of punctuation lie in classical rhetoric--the art of oratory.

Back in ancient Greece and Rome, when a speech was prepared in writing, marks

were used to indicate where--and for how long--a speaker should pause.

The shortest pause was a comma (literally, "that which is cut off")

COMMA RULE #1 – THE COMMA IN A SERIES: Use commas to separate items in a series.

What is a ”series”?

A “series” is a list of 3 or more items, the last two of which are joined by and, or, or nor. ___________, ___________, and ________

Examples:

Using a comma between all the items in a series, including the last two, avoids this problem.

A PIECE OF TRIVIA: the last comma is called a “serial comma” or the “Oxford comma.” Both the MLA and APA handbooks suggest students use the serial comma when listing three or more items in a sentence

TRIVIA:

Example #1:

The English professor adjusted her glasses shuffled her notes and began her lecture.

Correct answer:

The English professor adjusted her glasses, shuffled her notes , and began her lecture.

Example #2:

Neither rain sleet nor hail shall keep away the U.S. mail.

Correct answer:

Neither rain, sleet , nor hail shall keep away the U.S. mail.

COMMA RULE #2.1:Use the comma to connect two independent clauses connected by a coordinating conjunctions.

The two independent clauses in a compound sentence can be joined by:

A. Semicolons

OR

THE “FANBOYS”COMMA

B.  A comma and one of the seven joining words: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so. (“FANBOYS.”)

I’m not speaking to her, so you’ll have to tell her!

Example #1

I am copying this recipe for I want to make this dish someday.

Correct answer:

I am copying this recipe, for I want to make this dish someday.

Example #2

No students stood in line so Dianne walked straight to the registration table.

Correct answer:

No students stood in line, so Dianne walked straight to the registration table.

COMMA RULE #2.2

Separate “interrupter” words like however, nevertheless, yes, no, of course, from the rest of the sentence.

Examples of introductory words and interrupters: yes, no, well, indeed, nevertheless, however, I believe, in fact , of course, in my opinion, on the other hand, to tell the truth, on the contrary.

“However” is a nonessential word because it interrupts the flow of the sentence, requiring offsetting commas. It is also moved without changing the meaning of the sentence.

COMMA RULE #2.3

Separate a “renamer” (an appositive phrase) from the rest of the sentence with a comma.

I saw Mrs. Chua, the woman in the blue jacket, the last we were here.

Example #1:

The sun rises in the morning and it sets in the evening.

We had an invitation to an elegant party but we cancelled when we both got the flu

,

Example #2:

,

COMMA RULE #3: Use a comma to set off introductory elements

Running toward third base, he suddenly realized how stupid he looked.

Until he got his promotion, he was quite a nice person.

Here's one with a short introduction (and no comma):

During the night he heard many noises.

NOTE:

If the introductory element is brief and the sentence can be read easily without a comma, it can be omitted. Although one can argue that all commas are meant to clarify matters for the reader, only use one if necessary to prevent a misreading.

In 1649 the settlers abandoned their initial outpost. (No comma.)

Because prisoners had tried to escape, a fence was constructed. (Comma used to avoid misreading.)

By noon, time had run out. (Comma used to avoid misreading.)

COMMA RULE #3:The Courtesy Comma

After an introductory clause that answers

when? where? why? how? to what degree?

NOTE: When such a clause comes at the end of a sentence, do NOT use a comma.

Examples:

Example #1:

After many days at the mine the workers were tired and angry.

After many days at the mine, the workers were tired and angry.

Example #2:

When Christian finished the book she gave it to Mary.

When Christian finished the book, she gave it to Mary.

COMMA RULE #4:THE FORMAL TITLE COMMA

*between a city and a state:Manila,Philippines*a date and a year:July 10,2014*a name and a title when the title comes

after the name:Matthew Nepomuceno, Professor of English* in long numbers:1,200,163

NOTE:

*We use a comma or a set of commas to make the year parenthetical when the date of the month is included:

July 4, 1776, is regarded as the birth date of American liberty.

*Without the date itself, however, the comma disappears:

July 1776 was one of the most eventful months in our history.

NOTE:

*In international or military format, no commas are used:

The Declaration of Independence was signed on 4 July 1776.

COMMA RULE #5 –THE COMMA WITH COORDINATE ADJECTIVES: Use commas between coordinate adjectives.

What are “coordinate adjectives”?        “Coordinate adjectives” are adjectives

placed next to each other that are equal in importance.

 Two tests to determine whether adjectives are coordinate are the following:

  1.      See whether “and” can be smoothly placed between them.

  2.      See whether the adjectives’ order can be reversed.

Example:

The airy, inexpensive apartment is in a great part of town.

COMMA RULE #6.1: Use a comma to set off quoted elements

Summing up this argument, Peter Coveney writes, "The purpose and strength of the romantic image of the child had been above all to establish a relation between childhood and adult consciousness."

If an attribution of a quoted element comes in the middle of the quotation, two commas will be required. But be careful not to create a comma splice in so doing.

"The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make words mean so many things."

COMMA RULE #6.2: Use a comma to separate a direct quotation

He replied, ”No, but I waited with them until their bus arrived.”

Dear Joyce,Sincerely,Jamaica

COMMA RULE #6.3: Use a comma in both salutation and the closing of a friendly letter.

COMMA RULE #7: CONTRARY (CONTRAST)COMMA. Use commas to set off phrases that express contrast.

Some say the world will end in ice, not fire.

The puppies were cute, but very messy.

Example #1:

Example #2:

NOTE:

In general, try to develop an awareness of other words that trigger contrary commas, words like instead, rather, and though/although.

Art is not difficult because it wishes to be, rather because it wishes to be art.

COMMA RULE #8: Use a comma to avoid confusion and preserve the meaning of a sentence

For most the year is already finished.

For most, the year is already finished.

Example #1:

Example #2:

Outside the lawn was cluttered with hundreds of broken branches.

Outside, the lawn was cluttered with hundreds of broken branches.

COMMA RULE #8: Use a comma to avoid confusion and preserve the meaning of a sentence

Commas are used to separate names when the name is inverted( as in a biography , catalog or index)

Examples:

Cuba, the culture ofPen, ball point

COMMA RULE #9.1: Never use only one comma between a subject and its verb.

Believing completely and positively in oneself is essential for success.

[Although readers might pause after the word "oneself," there is no reason to put a comma there.]

When a sentence begins with a complete thought followed by an incomplete thought ,a comma is not necessary.

I always eat a hearty breakfast , before any activity.

I always eat hearty breakfast before any activity.

COMMA RULE #9.2:

Incorrect:

Correct:

COMMA RULE #9.3:

When a sentence has one subject ,a comma is not necessary to separate two verbs.

Johnny returned to the polling place and picked up the car keys he had left in the booth.

Johnny returned to the polling place ,and picked up the car keys he had left in the booth.

{Johnny =subject, he did 2 things , that is, he returned and picked up}

Incorrect:

Correct:

COMMA RULE #10: Use a comma to set off parenthetical elements

The Founders Bridge, which spans the Connecticut River, is falling down.

parenthetical element-a part of a sentence that can be removed without changing the essential meaning of that sentence. AKA “added information”

Appositives are almost always treated as parenthetical elements.

When an appositive phrase can be removed from a sentence without changing its meaning or making it unclear:

Robert Frost, perhaps America’s most beloved poet, died when he was 88 years old.

An absolute phrase is treated as a parenthetical element:

Frankly, it doesn’t matter.

An addressed person’s (or people’s) name is always parenthetical:

I am warning you, good citizens of Toronto, this vote is crucial to the future of our city.

An interjection is treated as a parenthetical element:

Excuse me, but there are, of course, many points of view that we must consider before voting.

Example #1:

Mike's ambition, to become a goalie in professional soccer, is within his reach.

Eleanor, his wife of thirty years, suddenly decided to open her own business.

Example #2:

THE LAST RULE:

Don’t overuse commas! When a comma is

needed, use it; otherwise, do without.

SUMMARY OF COMMA RULES:

Rule No. 1: In a simple series, use a comma to separate the elementsRule No. 2: Use a comma to separate two independent clauses connected by a coordinating conjunction.Rule No. 3: Use a comma following an introductory phrase of four words or more.Rule No. 4: Use a comma with complete dates hometowns, ages, names of states and nations used with city names, affiliations, and most large numbers.Rule No. 5: Use commas between coordinate adjectives.

Rule No. 6: Use a comma, carefully, to set off quotes or paraphrases.Rule No. 7: Use commas to set off phrases that express contrast

Rule No. 8: Use a comma to avoid confusion

Rule No. 9: Do not use comma when there is ONLY one subject.

Rule No. 10: Use a comma to set off parenthetical elements

Sources:

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/commas.htm

https://www.humber.ca/liberalarts/sites/default/files/the_comma.pdf

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/words/comma

http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/commas.asp

https://lilt.ilstu.edu/golson/punctuation/comma.html

http://www.towson.edu/ows/modulecomma.htm http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/commas/ Grammar Essentials for DUMMIES