commas

1. commas

2. Rule #1: • Commas need to accompany conjunctions in compound sentences. • They are used to separate two independent clauses joined by a conjunction. • The market is full of exotic produce, and the prices are being driven up. • I smiled, but I feared she was right. • He forgot to call his girlfriend • yesterday, so he called her today.

3. Where not to put a comma... Do not separate compound subjects and/or compound verbs with a comma: • incorrect - Tom, and Jerry went to the basketball game. • correct - Tom and Jerry went to the basketball game. • incorrect - Sally ran, and jumped down the path. • correct - Sally ran and jumped down the path.

4. REMEMBER . . . A comma alone will result in a comma splice: incorrect - I didn’t believe a word Phil said, I told him so. correct - I didn’t believe a word Phil said, and I told him so.

5. Rule #2:Use a comma to set off an introductory subordinate clause. When the riot started, the police fired tear gas into the crowd.Because the 1993 flood was so devastating, some farmers in the Mid-west decided to relocate.

6. Rule #3:Use a comma to set off a subordinate clause following the main clause if the subordinate clause has no effect on the outcome of the main clause. Some people refused to leave their homes, even though the hurricane winds had started.

7. NOTE that in the following sentences the idea in the main clause will not be realized without the subordinate clause; therefore, we use no comma: • I’ll pack up and leave if you tell me to. • We left the area because we were afraid to stay. **In general, if and because clauses are NOT set off; those introduced by although and even though are. If you are in doubt about the punctuation of the clause in post-sentence position, you can shift it to to the beginning of the sentence; there it will always be set off.

8. Rule #4:Use a comma to set off any introductory phrase that contains a verb form. • After studying all weekend, I felt absolutely prepared for the mid-term exam. • Having worked at McDonald’s for the past four summers, Max felt confident when he applied for the job of assistant manager. • To get in shape for ski season, my roommate has begun working out on the Nordic Track.

9. Rule #5: Use a comma to set off adverbial prepositional phrases of approximately six or more words. • Towards the end of the semester, everyone in my dorm starts to study seriously. • It is perfectly acceptable to set off shorter prepositional phrases, especially if you think the reader should pause. For example, information of specific dates is sometimes set off: • In 1994, Republicans gained strength in the midterm election.

10. In making decisions about such commas, consider the punctuation in the rest of the sentence: Don’t overload the sentence with commas. Also, set off any prepositional phrase that might cause a misreading: During the summer, vacation plans are our main topic of conversation.

11. Rule #6:Set off words and phrases that modify the whole sentence or that have a parenthetical meaning—at both the beginning and the end of the sentence. • Adverbs: • Luckily, we escaped without a scratch. • We escaped without a scratch, luckily. • Meanwhile, there was nothing to do but wait.

12. Yes and No:Yes, he’s the culprit. No, I can’t go out tonight.Prepositional phrasesIn fact, there was nothing I could do about her problem.In the meantime, I listened to her sad tale. Absolute phrasesThe rain having stopped, Doug and Deborah decided to go ahead with the picnic.Eben and Paula relaxed in front of the fire, their feet propped on the coffee table.

13. Rule #7: Use commas to set off “commenting” (nonrestrictive) modifiers in the noun phrase. • My oldest brother, who is a senior history major, spends every night in the library. • If the clause restricts the meaning of the sentence, then do NOT put commas before or after the clause: • The woman who wore the neon pink dress at the party forgot her purse.

14. Rule #8:Use commas to separate two or more coordinate adjectives that describe the same noun. Be sure never to add an extra comma between the final adjective and the noun itself or to use commas with non-coordinate adjectives. Coordinate adjectives are adjectives with equal ("co"-ordinate) status in describing the noun.

15. Coordinate refers to adjectives of the same class—for example, subjective qualities. • a tender, delightful love story • a challenging, educational experience • a tall young man • a huge red ball A good rule of thumb for making a decision about commas between these prenoun modifiers is this: If you could insert and or but, use a comma: • a tender and delightful love story Notice that the two phrases without commas (a tall young man AND a huge red ball) contain adjectives from different classes (height, age, size, color)—so they will not be separated.

16. Rule #9:Use a comma to set off nouns of direct address in both opening and closing position. • Students, your time is up. • Put your pencils down, everyone. • Help me, dear!

17. Rule #10:Use commas to set off direct quotations that fill the direct object slot after verbs such as say and reply. • The waiter said, “Good evening. My name is Pierre.” • Harold replied, “I’m Harold, and this is Joyce.”

18. Rule #11:Use commas to set off the name of a state when it follows the name of a city and to set off the year in a complete date. • I was surprised to learn that Cheyenne, Wyoming, isn’t a larger city. • I remember where I was on November 22, 1963, when I heard the news reports of President Kennedy’s assassination.

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20. Insert commas where needed. Disclaimer: Some sentences may not need commas. • When Agnes appeared unexpectedly at her front door Mrs. Castaneda was delighted to see her again. • When Agnes appeared unexpectedly at her front door, Mrs. Castaneda was delighted to see her again. • Having greedily devoured the cookies the hound began to chew the corner of a rug but still Ms. O’Leary did nothing. • Having greedily devoured the cookies, the hound began to chew the corner of a rug, but still Ms. O’Leary did nothing.

21. Garrett Morgan invented the first traffic signal with red yellow and green lights. • Garrett Morgan invented the first traffic signal with red, yellow, and green lights. • The walls were freshly painted and the windows had been washed to finish the redecorating job. • The walls were freshly painted, and the windows had been washed to finish the redecorating job.

22. The Suez Canal which was completed in 1869 is 107 miles long. • The Suez Canal, which was completed in 1869, is 107 miles long. • In this city, drivers who use their horns unnecessarily are fined. • Correct as is! • Our library weeds out novels that have not circulated during the past five years. • Correct as is!

23. At the beginning of the first paragraph you can find out where James Weldon Johnson was born. • At the beginning of the first paragraph, you can find out where James Weldon Johnson was born. • Working energetically to promote civil rights Johnson became the first African American to be admitted to the Florida bar after Reconstruction. • Working energetically to promote civil rights, Johnson became the first African American to be admitted to the Florida bar after Reconstruction.

24. Mount St. Helens a volcano in southwestern Washington has erupted several times since 1980. • Mount St. Helens, a volcano in southwestern Washington, has erupted several times since 1980. • A whale for example is a mammal, not a fish. • A whale, forexample, is a mammal, not a fish.

25. On Saturday July 4 1998 my little sister hit her first home run. • On Saturday, July 4, 1998, my little sister hit her first home run. • The plot of the book a murder mystery is far too complicated. • The plot of the book, a murder mystery, is far too complicated.

26. Looking for economical transportation Harry who had never bought a car before nervously investigated all of the possibilities at Country Motors. • Looking for economical transportation, Harry, who had never bought a car before, nervously investigated all of the possibilities at Country Motors. • Listening to directions can be too hard to do. • Correct as is!

27. Call Felipe as soon as you can Hope. • Call Felipe as soon as you can, Hope. • Alex Haley, the author of Roots, attributed his interest in writing to stories his grandmother and great-aunts told. • Alex Haley the author of Roots attributed his interest in writing to stories his grandmother and great-aunts told.

28. The Suez Canal extending more than a hundred miles links the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. • The Suez Canal, extending more than a hundred miles, links the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. • Cities that seem alike bear a closer look. • Correct as is! • People who are overly nervous may not make good drivers. • Correct as is!

29. Each August visitors are welcomed to the Old Spanish Days fiesta sponsored by the city of Santa Barbara in California. • Each August visitors are welcomed to the Old Spanish Days fiesta, sponsored by the city of Santa Barbara in California.

30. Remove all unnecessary commas. • Amy, and I put a videocassette and a fashion catalog in the time capsule, but we thought it was a stupid idea altogether. • Amy and I put a videocassette and a fashion catalog in the time capsule, but we thought it was a stupid idea altogether. • I won’t leave now, if you’ll apologize, and admit you’re wrong. • I won’t leave now if you’ll apologize and admit you’re wrong.