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Comma Sense

The Center for Academic Excellence presents. Comma Sense. ,. Twelve Basic Suggestions. Commas Demystified.

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Comma Sense

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  1. The Center for Academic Excellence presents . . . Comma Sense , Twelve Basic Suggestions

  2. Commas Demystified Commas can be tricky to use. Students often have a difficult time deciding when to put them in, or when to leave them out. The following suggestions will make this decision simpler, reducing the mystery to a matter of common sense.

  3. (1) Use a comma to separate words (or groups of words) in a series: LISTS I went to Lance’s to buy bread, butter, and milk. James unlatched the window, looked around stealthily, then made good his escape.

  4. (2) Use commas to separate adjectives modifying the same noun: ADJECTIVES It was a fine, sunny day. The large, loping hound started to bark furiously.

  5. (3) Use a comma before the conjunction in a compound sentence: CONJUNCTIONS I couldn’t see him, but I knew he was there. He dropped his fork on the floor, so he decided to use a clean one.

  6. (4) Use one or two commas, as needed, to set off words which interrupt the thought of the sentence: INTERRUPTIONS Simon, however, will not be going. You are, consequently, the prize-winner. My mother, who lives out-of-state, still considers herself a Hoosier.

  7. (5) In direct quotations, commas are used to separate speech from commentary: QUOTATIONS She said, “I am glad to be in Indiana.” “I am,” she said, “so glad to be in Indiana.” “I am glad to be in Indiana,” she said.

  8. (6) Use a comma after a mild interjection, or after introductory words and phrases: INTRODUCTIONS Oh dear, I just missed my bus. Well, look who the cat dragged in! In all, four houses have been sold.

  9. (7) Use commas to set off nouns of direct address: NAMES Pete, where are you? Come in, Nancy. Hey, Bonehead! Whaddup?

  10. (8) Use a comma after a person’s last name when it precedes the first name (in an alphabetical listing, for example): REVERSALS Dickinson, Emily Frost, Robert Shakespeare, William

  11. (9) Commas separate days, months, and years: DATES Day and Year: November 11th, 1936 Month and Year: July, 1875 Day, Month,Year: Sunday, 13th March, 1960 She was born on November 11, 1875, in Frankfurt, Germany.

  12. (10) A comma is customarily used after the salutation or the complimentary close of a letter: LETTERS Dear Mr. Jones, Yours sincerely,

  13. (11) The names of towns and states are separated with a comma: COUNTRIES North Manchester, Indiana Hamburg, Germany I drove to Brussels, Belgium, last week.

  14. (12) Use a comma to separate people’s names from their qualifications, degrees, or titles: TITLES Alec Coyle, DDS. Jane Ball, RN. DagnyBoebel, PhD. Martin Luther King Jr. Joseph Smith, Sr.

  15. Lists • Adjectives • Conjunctions • Interruptions • Quotations • Introductions • Names • Reversals • Dates • Letters • Countries • Titles Short Name for Each “Rule”: When you are tempted to use a comma, ask yourself which of the Twelve Suggestions applies. If you cannot justify the use of the comma, leave it out.

  16. Lists—Adjectives—Conjunctions—Interruptions—Quotations—Introductions—Names—Reversals—Dates—Letters—Countries—TitlesLists—Adjectives—Conjunctions—Interruptions—Quotations—Introductions—Names—Reversals—Dates—Letters—Countries—Titles Brief Quiz 1. Well I really wish she hadn’t been late. 2. My sister who works at Biaggi’s is a chef. 3. I own a shotgun but I have never used it. 4. Jonathan have you seen my keys? 5. He said “Paris is one of my favorite cities.” 6. I was born in Paris France but I grew up in Brussels. 7. I saw a long low building in the distance. 8. She ironed her blouse shone her shoes and then drove quickly to work. 9. Dr. Jonathan Watson Ph.D. will be today’s guest lecturer. 10. William Shakespeare was reputedly born on April 23rd 1564.

  17. Lists—Adjectives—Conjunctions—Interruptions—Quotations—Introductions—Names—Reversals—Dates—Letters—Countries—TitlesLists—Adjectives—Conjunctions—Interruptions—Quotations—Introductions—Names—Reversals—Dates—Letters—Countries—Titles Brief Quiz—Grading Key 1. Well, I really wish she hadn’t been late. Introductions 2. My sister, who works at Biaggi’s, is a chef. Interruptions 3. I own a shotgun, but I have never used it. Conjunctions 4. Jonathan, have you seen my keys? Names/Introductions 5. He said, “Paris is one of my favorite cities.” Quotations 6. I was born in Paris, France, but I grew up in Brussels. Countries/Interruptions 7. I saw a long, low building in the distance. Adjectives 8. She ironed her blouse, shone her shoes, and then drove quickly to work. Lists 9. Dr. Jonathan Watson, PhD, will be today’s guest lecturer. Titles/Interruptions 10. William Shakespeare was reputedly born on April 23, 1564.Dates

  18. The End PowerPoint Presentation by Mark A. Spalding, BA, MEd, MA, 2007.

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