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How to Use a Comma

How to Use a Comma. Help Your Sentences Find Their Rhythm http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/commas.htm. 1: Separate Elements in a Series. Use a comma  to separate the elements in a series  (three or more things), including the last two.

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How to Use a Comma

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  1. How to Use a Comma Help Your Sentences Find Their Rhythm http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/commas.htm

  2. 1: Separate Elements in a Series • Use a comma to separate the elements in a series (three or more things), including the last two. • "He hit the ball, dropped the bat, and ran to first base.“ • Note: the ACT believes in the Serial Comma (comma before “and”), so use it!

  3. 2: Connect Independent Clauses • Use a comma + a little conjunction (and, but, for, nor, yet, or, so) to connect two independent clauses • "He hit the ball well, but he ran toward third base.“ • Do NOT put the comma AFTER the conjunction

  4. 3: Separate Introductory Elements • Use a comma to set off introductory elements. • Introductory Element- Dependent clause that comes at the beginning of a sentence • "Running toward third base, he suddenly realized how stupid he looked.” • This comma is occasionally not necessary if removing it does not cause confusion.

  5. 4: Separate Parenthetical Elements • Parenthetical Element- a part of a sentence that can be removed without changing the essential meaning of that sentence • The Founders Bridge, which spans the Connecticut River, is falling down. (added information) • Calhoun's ambition, to become a goalie in professional soccer, is within his reach. (appositive) • Their years of training now forgotten, the soldiers broke ranks. (absolute)

  6. 5: Separate Coordinate Adjectives • He was a tall, distinguished fellow. • Use the AND Rule- He was a tall AND distinguished fellow. (YES) • She was a little old lady. • She was a little AND old lady. (NO)

  7. 6: Separate Quotations • The first comma should go before the quotation marks begin and the last one should go before the quotation marks end. • 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.“ • "The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make words mean so many things.“ • "I should like to buy an egg, please," she said timidly. "How do you sell them?"

  8. 7: Typographical Reasons • Between a city and state • He grew up in Hartford, Connecticut, where his father work for an insurance company. • After a day and year • July 4, 1776, is regarded as the birth date of American liberty.

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