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Using Commas

Using Commas. To separate items in a series To separate complete sentences After introductory word groups Around appositives and interrupters Around adjective clauses. To Separate Items in a Series.

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Using Commas

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  1. Using Commas To separate items in a series To separate complete sentences After introductory word groups Around appositives and interrupters Around adjective clauses

  2. To Separate Items in a Series Commas are required if you plan to separate items that are listed in a sentence or that are items in a series. This includes: Nouns Adjectives Verb phrases Prepositional phrases

  3. Nouns in a Series He carried with him his shoes, his textbooks, and his umbrella. To take the exam, you will need to bring paper, a writing instrument, and a calculator. Cars, boats, trains, and airplanes are all modes of transportation. Alexandria Hall houses the Humanities Department, the Education Department, and the History Department.

  4. Commas and Adjectives Coordinate adjectives Cumulative adjectives adjectives that independently describe the noun must be separated by commas when there are 3 or more adjectives they need commas if the adjectives could be separated by “and” or “or” adjectives that work together to describe the noun cannot be separated by commas it sounds ridiculous to separate the adjectives by “and” or “or”

  5. Coordinate Adjectives in a Series The singer wore a short, sequined, silver dress when she performed. The parade was held despite the cloudy, cold, rainy conditions. After he ran into the parked car, he had a mangled, dented, crushed bumper. It is my opinion that babies are noisy, smelly, and time-consuming.

  6. For example: The singer wore a short AND sequined AND silver dress when she performed. The parade was held despite the cloudy AND cold AND rainy conditions. After he ran into the parked car, he had a mangled AND dented AND crushed bumper. It is my opinion that babies are noisy AND smelly, and time-consuming.

  7. Cumulative Adjectives in a Series NEVER USE COMMAS WITH CUMULATIVE ADJECTIVES If you cannot put the word “and” or “or” in between the adjectives, you cannot use commas The latestemergencyweather bulletin announced that the storm closed major highways. The shortestSuperbowlcommercial break was thirty seconds. Your recentfailingexam grade is not helping your grade point average.

  8. For example: The latest AND emergency AND weather bulletin announced that the storm closed major highways. (that sounds ridiculous) The shortest AND Superbowl AND commercial break was thirty seconds. (also sounds ridiculous) Your recent AND failing AND exam grade is not helping your grade point average. (still ridiculous)

  9. Verb Phrases in a Series My father drove me to campus, unloaded my luggage, and helped me move in. I opened the trunk, picked up the grocery bags, and packed them in the car. After the cat came in the house, it visited the litter box, drank some water, and ate some food. When you write an essay, you must research, prewrite, and edit.

  10. For example: My father drove me to campus AND unloaded my luggage, and helped me move in. I opened the trunk AND picked up the grocery bags, and packed them in the car. After the cat came in the house, it visited the litter box AND drank some water, and ate some food. When you write an essay, you must research AND prewrite, and edit.

  11. Prepositional Phrases in a Series I couldn’t find the keys on the table, in my pocket, on the floor, or on the hook. The bird sat on the branch, on the statue, on the fountain, and on the railings. I had to drive over the bridge, across the highway, and under the overpass.

  12. For example: I couldn’t find the keys on the table OR in my pocket OR on the floor, or on the hook. The bird sat on the branch AND on the statue AND on the fountain, and on the railings. I had to drive over the bridge AND across the highway, and under the overpass.

  13. To Separate Complete Sentences As we have discussed in class, if there are two or more complete sentences in one sentence (called a compound sentence), they must be properly separated. If you use a comma, it must be followed by a coordinating conjunction: For And Nor But Or Yet So

  14. For example: The coffee maker blew up when the power surged, and now it won’t make coffee properly. My car ran out of gas, so I was late for work. The rain was pouring down, but they did not cancel the concert.

  15. After Introductory Word Groups Introductory word groups are individual words, phrases, or clauses that are separated from the main part of the sentence with a comma. Remember that IF THE WORD, PHRASE, OR CLAUSE CAN BE MOVED TO THE END OF THE SENTENCE, IT SHOULD BE SEPARATED BY A COMMA. Yesterday, I graded eight essays. Introductory word By the way, the Turnitin assignment closes when class begins. Introductory phrase After I finished teaching class, eight students asked for appointments. Introductory clause

  16. For example: I graded eight essays yesterday. Introductory word TheTurnitinassignment closes when class begins, by the way. Introductory phrase Eight students asked for appointmentsafter I finished teaching class. Introductory clause

  17. Around Appositives and Interrupters An appositive: occurs after a noun or pronoun renames the noun or pronoun Is not essential to the noun’s/pronoun’s meaning An interrupter: interrupts the flow of the sentence can be removed without changing the sentence’s meaning Setting these words and phrases off with commas means that they are not essential to the meaning of the sentence.

  18. For example: Appositives: LSU, a state school, is located in Baton Rouge. My mother, a registered nurse, is currently living in a nursing home. Our television, a Samsung, is sitting in a corner of the living room. Interrupters: In fact, you cannot walk from the school to the mall. By the way, you are the last student to submit his essay. Your car, incidentally, is blocking the handicapped ramp.

  19. Around Adjective Clauses An adjective clause: Begins with who, which, or that Has a subject and a verb Describes a noun that comes right before it in a sentence If the adjective clause can be taken out of the sentence without significantly changing the meaning, it must be set off with commas.

  20. For example: My daughter, who is a junior, is taking the ACT a week from Tuesday. Tamp & Grind, which is the local coffee shop, is in downtown Alexandria. If you need to change your schedule, you should talk to Dr. Clark, who is the head of department.

  21. If the Clause Is Essential, You Can’t Use Commas: My daughter who works for the Dallas Stars got us season tickets. Students who study daily often make high grades. The only restaurant that serves Italian food caught on fire.

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