Commas: Mastering the Art of the Paws

1. Commas: Mastering the Art of the �Paws�

2. Why do we need commas? When we speak, we naturally pause between words and phrases to let our listener know what we mean. But in writing, the reader needs to know where the pauses are. This is why we use commas.

3. To master the art of the pause, we turn to the masters of the paws: Karate Cats!

4. The Nine Simple Comma Rules

5. Rule #1: When listing 3 or more items, use commas between them. Examples: Jane went to Sam�s SuperSaver to buy turkey cranberries potatoes stuffing mix and a pumpkin pie. Tim loves animals and owns two dogs three cats and one ferret that thinks it�s a bunny.

6. Sensei Says: Amanda deserves this award because she is a kind, patient, warm and loyal person. Troy keeps blankets, water, energy bars and a first aid kit in the trunk of his car.

7. Sensei Says: Tom drove to SpeedyStop to pick up milk and donuts for breakfast. Rachel watched CSI Miami and CNN News last night. Rafael�s favorite sports are soccer and windsurfing.

8. Rule #2: Use a comma before coordinating conjunctions (and, but, nor, for, yet, and so) when each half of the sentence can stand alone as an independent sentence. Examples: Karate cats train in Japan and they spend ten years working their way from white belt to black belt. These cats looks cute and cuddly but their paws are fierce weapons of destruction.

9. How do you know if each half the sentence can stand alone and therefore needs a comma? Karate cats train in Japan, and they spend ten years working their way from white belt to black belt. Karate cats train in Japan They spend ten years working their way from white belt to black belt These cats look cute and cuddly, but their paws are fierce weapons of destruction. These cats look cute and cuddly Their paws are fierce weapons of destruction

10. If one half of the sentence can stand alone, but the other half can�t, then you DON�T need a comma before the coordinating conjunction. For Example: Karate cats are able to leap from rooftop to rooftop and can scale even the highest tree. Karate cats are able to leap from rooftop to rooftop. can scale even the highest tree.

11. Rule #3: When each half of the sentence can stand alone, use a comma, a semicolon and a transition word to connect them. In addition to coordinating conjunctions, there are longer connectors as well called �transition words.� These require a comma and a semi-colon. The following are longer connectors: However Therefore Nevertheless Instead Indeed Also Moreover Otherwise Meanwhile Consequently As a result In addition

12. Sensei Says: Olivia promised to go on the big rollercoaster with me; however, she chickened out at the last minute.

13. Examples: Karate cats love going on dangerous adventures; however, they usually would rather take a nap. They nap quite frequently; nevertheless, they wake up refreshed and itching for combat.

14. Rule #4: When using an introductory group of words to lead into the main part of your sentence, use a comma after the lead-in. Sometimes before we get to the meat of our sentence, we have a lead-in phrase. The lead in phrase is like the appetizer before the main course. It whets the readers appetite for what is to come. The comma goes into between the appetizer and the meat.

15. Examples: With a wave of his magic wand the Great Galen made a rabbit appear from inside his hat. However carefully we watched we could not guess the secrets of his tricks.

16. Clues to find a lead in: Oftentimes, although not always, a lead-in phrase begins with these words: While When Although If After Because Since

17. More Examples: Although many people think squirrels are cute, they will fight to the death to protect their stash of acorns. When they see karate cats coming, they prepare for battle.

18. Rule #5: Use commas with interrupters. What is an interrupter? Here is an example: Knock Knock? Who�s there? Interrupting cow. Interrupting cow w--

19. Interrupters Similar to lead-ins, interrupters also add information that is often non-essential to the meaning of the sentence. Interrupters, however, often serve as transitions that clarify the relationship between ideas and make the piece of writing read more smoothly.

20. Examples of Interrupters

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22. Examples: Many karate cats, in fact, know how to drive a car. Most karate cats are excellent drivers, but there are exceptions. Some karate cats, for example, have terrible road rage.

23. Rule #6: Use commas before and after appositive phrases. What is an appositive phrase? An appositive is a noun or pronoun set beside another noun or pronoun to explain or identify it. A comma is placed at the beginning and at the end of the appositive. Examples: One of the country�s greatest presidents Abraham Lincoln suffered from depression. My first car a beat up Chevy truck will always hold a special place in my memory.

24. More Appositives Flying kicks, every Karate Cat�s favorite move, are something they practice every day. Troublesome dogs, Karate Cats� arch enemies, live in fear of being on the receiving end of this fearsome kick.

25. Rule #7: Use a comma before and after relative clauses. Relative clause: a group of words beginning with who, whom, whose, which, or that. There are two types of relative clauses: essential and non-essential.

26. Examples of Essential Relative Clauses The Karate Cat that is wearing the red headband is the meanest cat at the dojo. All cats who value their fur avoid him at all costs. What would happen if we removed these appositives? The Karate Cat is the meanest cat at the dojo. All cats avoid him at all costs.

27. Examples of Non-Essential Relative Clauses The Karate Kid, who has been friends with the Karate Cats for many years, often comes to visit the dojo. His training style, which is rather unorthodox, involves making the cats paint his fence and wax his car. What would happen if we removed the relative clauses? The Karate Kid often comes to visit the dojo. His training style involves making the cats paint his fence and wax his car.

28. More Non-Essential Relative Clauses The �crane kick� which the Karate Kid made famous is practiced by the Karate Kats. Mister Miyagi who trained the Karate Kid thinks the Karate Cats need a lot of work.

29. Rule # 8: Use Commas with Quotations When you are quoting what someone said or wrote, you need a comma to separate the quote from the other words in your sentence. Examples: �Snowflake has gone missing � cried Patches. �He was probably out late partying � suggested Baxter. Patches said �You are likely right. I found him lying in an alley last week passed out.� Baxter declared �We really need to talk to him about his behavior.�

30. Sensei Says: Dr. Peterson argues that Emily�s character in the story symbolizes �the unfulfilled dreams of suburban women.� Emily seeks satisfaction in motherhood but �cannot suppress her desire to be a famous author.� Whenever the baby is asleep, she �writes like a woman possessed.�

31.  Rule #9: Use a comma in-between two co-equal adjectives. When you have two adjectives in a row, you must place a comma in-between them if both adjectives are equally important. How do you know if they are equally important? Ask yourself these two questions: Does the sentence make sense if the adjectives are written in reverse order? Does the sentence make sense if the adjectives are written with and between them? If the answer is yes, then the adjectives are co-equal and you must put a comma between them.

32. Examples: The white puffy clouds drifted in the sky. Does the sentence make sense if the adjectives are written in reverse order? The puffy white clouds drifted in the sky. Does the sentence make sense if the adjectives are written with and between them? The puffy and white clouds drifted in the sky.

33. Another Example: The gray wool sweater kept me very warm. Does the sentence make sense if the adjectives are written in reverse order? The wool gray sweater kept me very warm. Does the sentence make sense if the adjectives are written with and between them? The wool and gray sweater kept me very warm.

34. Practice and Review You are almost ready to become an official Master of the Paws. Now that you know all nine comma rules, it is time to review and practice them.

35. Rule #1: When listing 3 or more items, use commas between them. Where should you put the commas in the following sentences: At the zoo we saw monkeys bears flamingos and lions. Patricia�s favorite books are Little Women and Pride and Prejudice. During his magic show, the Great Gandini cuts a woman in half makes a bathtub disappear and pulls a rabbit out of his hat.

36. Rule #2: Use a comma before coordinating conjunctions (and, but, nor, for, yet, and so) when each half of the sentence can stand alone as an independent sentence. Where should you put the commas in the following sentences: David wanted to punch something after his team lost the game but he remembered not to be a sore loser. The fireworks were spectacular to us but they made Fido cower with fear in the corner. Rebecca got an A on the final but still complained about a question she missed.

37. Rule #3: When each half of the sentence can stand alone, use a comma, a semicolon and a transition word to connect them. Where should you put the commas in the following sentences: Teresa wanted to join the Army; however she couldn't pass the physical fitness test. David has several years of experience working with the Hispanic population; furthermore he speaks Spanish fluently.

38. Rule #4: When using an introductory group of words to lead into the main part of your sentence, use a comma after the lead-in. Where should you put the commas in the following sentences: If you are going to the store please pick me up some bananas. When the tide rose our carefully constructed sand castles were washed away. To get to the new library you turn right on Main Street.

39. Rule #5: Use commas with interrupters. Where should you put the commas in the following sentences: A five year old however is too young to play with fireworks. Your uncle for example worked as a salesman and a waiter before opening his own business.

40. Rule #6: Use commas before and after appositive phrases. Where should you put the commas in the following sentences: The Seminole the mascot for Florida State University is considered controversial. Dorothy Allen a huge Red Sox fan has attended every home game since 1992. The timber rattlesnake the only poisonous snake found in the Northeast can be seen on the �Don�t Tread on Me� flag.

41. Rule #7: Use a comma before and after relative clauses. Where should you put the commas in the following sentences: Becoming an astronaut which has been my dream since I was ten is beginning to look unattainable. Derek who was the captain last year got kicked off the team for breaking the rules.

42. Rule # 8: Use Commas with Quotations Where should you put the commas in the following sentences: Patrick Henry said �Give me liberty of give me death!� �I�ll never get out of this boring town� murmured Josephine. The jagged mountain peaks �stood starkly against the pure blue sky.�

43. Rule #9: Use a comma in-between two co-equal adjectives. Where should you put the commas in the following sentences: The red squawking parrot did an entertaining impression of its owner. The spicy Chinese food gave me indigestion. The bloody violent film is not appropriate for children.

44. Congratulations! You have now become a Master of the Paws!