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Part 1: Comma Use. Grammar and Usage Review. Commas With Conjunctions and Clauses. Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction like “and,” “but,” or “or” that joins independent clauses: I wanted a cheeseburger , but the cafeteria was out of them.
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Part 1: Comma Use Grammar and Usage Review
Commas With Conjunctions and Clauses • Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction like “and,” “but,” or “or” that joins independent clauses: • I wanted a cheeseburger, but the cafeteria was out of them. • Use a comma after an introductory phrase or clause. These introductory phrases often establish setting, either time or location: • Swinging at the fast ball, Bobby heard the satisfying crack of the home run that he had just hit. • In 1988, the shack had been abandoned.
Practice • Commas with coordinating conjunctions • Exercise 4, page 364 • Commas with introductory phrases and clauses • Exercise 9, page 371
Commas In A Series • Use commas between all items in a list or series: • During lunch at the campus cafeteria, Mildred noticed the dirty tables, the overworked cashiers, and the exorbitant price for a watery soda. • Use a comma between two or more adjectives that each modify a noun separately, called coordinate adjectives: • The slimy, smelly lettuce on my burrito made me ask the manager to return my 99 cents.
Workbook Practice • Do NOT write in workbook • Copy sentences correctly onto your paper • Items in a series • Ex A and B, page 222 • Commas with compound sentences • Ex A and B, page 223
Practice • Items in a series • Exercise 2, page 361 • Coordinate adjectives • Exercise 3, page 362
Commas With Phrases • Do not use commas between adjectives that modify a noun when placed together, called cumulative adjectives: • Three large grey shapes moved towards us. NOTThree, large, grey shapes moved towards us. • Use commas to set off phrases if they could be eliminated from the sentence without changing its meaning: • Ellen,by the way, will join us for dinner.
Commas With Transitional and Parenthetical Phrases • Use commas to set off transitional phrases: • As a matter of fact, American football dates back to the Middle Ages. • Use commas around parenthetical phrases: • Evolution,as far as we know, doesn’t work this way.
Practice • Interrupters • Exercise5, page 366 • Nonessential phrases • Exercise 6, page 367
Setting Off Sentence Elements • Use commas to set off other elements of a sentence: • Names when directly addressing a person: Forgive us,Mrs. Smith, for breaking the dish. • The words “yes” and “no”: Yes, I’ll be there at 6:00. • Tag questions: The book was better than the movie,wasn’t it? • Interjections: Well, it’s difficult to say.
Numbers, Addresses, Dates, Titles • Use commas in numbers, addresses, dates, and titles: • Numbers: 20,000 • Addresses: 123 Main St., Marquette, MI 49855 • Dates: On July 4th, 1776, the Declaration was signed. • Titles: Susan Hawkins, M.D., will present her theory at the meeting.
Source • Compiled from Hacker, Diana. Rules for Writers. 5th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2004.