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UWF WRITING LAB RULES OF THUMB FOR COMMA USAGE. from Real Good Grammar, Too by Mamie Webb Hixon. NOTE: Comp I students are responsible for only the rules covered on the first two slides. USE A COMMA:. with a coordinating conjunction to connect two independent clauses.
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UWF WRITING LAB RULES OF THUMB FOR COMMA USAGE from Real Good Grammar, Too by Mamie Webb Hixon NOTE: Comp I students are responsible for only the rules covered on the first two slides. Created by April Turner
USE A COMMA: • with a coordinating conjunction to connect two independent clauses. • Betty is the homecoming queen, and Bill is the king. • to separate introductory phrases, words, or clauses from the main part of the sentence. • After the Vietnam War ended, a number of veterans were hospitalized.
USE A COMMA: • to separate nonrestrictive clauses, phrases, and appositives from the rest of the sentence. • The scout leader, overweight and out of shape, trudged up the hill. • DO NOT set off restrictive information with commas . • Twain’s novel Huckleberry Finn is on the censored list.
USE A COMMA: • to separate direct quotations from the phrase identifying the speaker. • John said, "The fishing is great in Bear Lake.“ • to separate the names of smaller geographic units from the names of larger units. • Denver, Colorado, is called the Mile High City.
USE A COMMA: • to separate items in a date. Omit the comma when just the month and year or month and day are given. • Kennedy was assassinated November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas. • to separate names of titles or degrees that follow the name. • Harold Johnson, Ph.D., will speak in the Commons on Tuesday.
USE A COMMA: • to separate short, tightly, interrelated clauses in a series. • John phoned, Mary stopped by, and Phil left a message. • to mark allowable omissions of repeated words, especially verbs. • Your analysis is superb; your execution, appalling.
USE A COMMA: • to provide clarity and prevent misreading, even if none of the other rules apply. • We left him, assured that he would fail. • (We were sure that he would fail.) • We left him assured that he would fail. • (He was sure that he would fail.) • to separate three or more items or phrases in a series. • Golfing, swimming, and bowling are my favorite activities.
USE A COMMA: • to separate a series of two or more adjectives not connected by a conjunction if the order of the adjectives can be reversed and still retain the same meaning. • Your friend is a clever, sensitive person. • to separate interrupters or parenthetical and transitional words from the rest of the sentence. • Most of them, however, do try to act friendly and courteous.
USE A COMMA: • to separate contradictory phrases from the rest of the sentence. • It was Betty, not Joan, who was elected queen of the prom. • to separate names used in direct address or other isolates such as yes, no, and thank you from the rest of the sentence. • Tell me, John, did you vote for Joan? • No, I am not voting for myself.
USE A COMMA: • to separate tag questions from the rest of the sentence. • You did that on purpose, didn't you? • to separate words and abbreviations that introduce an example or an illustration, including namely, that is, towit, i.e., e.g., for example, and for instance. • Many of my friends, for example, Fred, Dean, and Pete, like to golf.
Questions and Answers • Does anyone have a question about the rules of comma usage? • PLEASE ASK!!!
LET’S PRACTICE!!! • I have told one million lies in my life and that is the Gospel truth. • …life, and that… • As a child I was the kind of kid my mother told me not to play with. • As a child, I was… • Denver which is the capital of Colorado has an altitude of one mile. • Denver, which is the capital of Colorado, has… • The city which is the capital of Colorado has an altitude of one mile. • No commas (restrictive)
LET’S PRACTICE A LITTLE MORE!!! • Linda asked “Do you think she’ll ever speak to him again?” • Linda asked, “Do you… • Paxton Florida is the home of the mighty Bobcats. • Paxton, Florida, is the… • The No Child Left Behind Act was signed in on January 2 2002. • …January 2, 2002. • July 1990 is the date for the Progress “90” celebration. • No comma (2 items in the date)
LET’S KEEP GOING!!! • The commencement speaker was Juliet Brown Ph.D. • …Juliet Brown, Ph.D. • He shot pool he drank Anchor Steam beer and he rarely went home. • He shot pool, he drank Anchor Steam beer, and he rarely went home. • To the winners we give prizes; to the losers consolation; and to the spectators a good show. • …to the loser, consolation; and to the spectators, a good show.
ALMOST THERE!!! • The morning after a policeman came to the door. • The morning after, a policeman… • Jeff collected a change of clothing shoes and golf gear before he set off for the day. • …a change of clothing, shoes, and golf gear… • A large green bug settled on the torn autumn leaf. • A large, green bug…
WE’RE IN THE HOME STRETCH!!! • The order however was not filled that day. • The order, however, was not… • Pneumonia begins with a p not an n. • …with a p, not an n. • Thank you Susan. • Thank you, Susan.
LAST ONES!!! • You’re going aren’t you? • You’re going, aren’t you? • Many of my friends for example Rachel, Jennifer, and Allen, enjoy going to the movies. • Many of my friends, for example, Rachel,…
