Comma Usage!

1. Comma Usage! By: Farland, Stephanie, Paul, Steven, Mike, Sarah, DeVaughn

2. What Are Commas You Ask?! A punctuation mark (,) indicating a pause between parts of a sentence. It is also used to separate items in a list and to mark the place (www.google.com) Buzz Lightyear is right.. They ARE EVERYWHERE.. So pay attention while we explain how to use them.

3. Use commas to separate independent clauses when they are joined by any of these seven coordinating conjunctions: and, but, for, or, no, so, yet. Examples: 1. The game was over, but the crowd refused to leave. 2. The student explained her question, yet the instructor still didn’t seem to understand. 3. Yesterday was her brother’s birthday, so she took him out to dinner. 4. The coordinating conjunctions but, yet, and so are used to separate the two independent clauses.

4. Use commas after introductory clauses, phrases, or words that come before the main clause. Common starter words for introductory clauses to be followed by commas include: after, although, as, because, if, since, when, while. Examples: Incorrect: She was late for class, because her alarm clock was broken. Correct: Because her alarm clock was broken, she was late for class. *However, don’t put a comma after the main clause when a dependant clause follows it.* Incorrect: The cat scratched at the door, while I was eating. Correct: While I was eating, the cat scratched at the door.

5. “Pratice Safe Text, Use Commas!” While trying to separate a clauses, phrases, or adjectives which are not essential to the meaning of the sentence then you should use a comma. Use two commas, one at the beginning and another at the end to indicate a pause. When you come across a nonessential phrase, clause or word in your sentence then a comma should be used. If you do not use a comma then the sentence structure and grammar is incorrect. Examples: Using a comma in a clause: That Tuesday, which happens to be my birthday, is the only day when I am available to meet. Using a comma in a phrase: This restaurant has an exciting atmosphere. The food, on the other hand, is rather bland. Using a comma in a word: I appreciate your hard work. In this case, however, you seem to have over-exerted yourself.

6. You can insert a ‘nonessential’ phrase into the middle of a sentence (clause). Simba sleeps tonight. Simba, who lives in the jungle, sleeps tonight. -In this instance, the sentence works completely fine independently. The nonessential phrase ‘who lives in the jungle’ is inserted just to clarify. It is done so with a comma before the nonessential phrase and after the nonessential phrase. Do not use commas to set off essential elements of the sentence, such as clauses beginning with ‘that’. The lion, that lives in the jungle, sleep tonight. The lion that lives in the jungle sleeps tonight. -In this instance, the subject ‘the lion’ needs the essential element ‘that lives in the jungle’. ‘The lion’ is different from ‘The lion that lives in the jungle’. This is why the element ‘that lives in the jungle’ is essential.

7. Comma Usage in a Series Use to separate the elements in a series (three or more) Examples: 1) Series of single words:  -Cups, jars, and plates -Running, jumping, diving, or swimming (four items)  2) Series of phrase/clause (groups of words) -Cups of sugar, jars of honey, and plates of spaghetti -Running around the track, jumping over hurdles, diving off the board, or swimming across the pool *Important to remember about using commas in series:* 1. include 3 or more items (words or groups of words) 2. connected by and, or, or nor before last item 3. comma separates items in series, including final item preceded by and, or, or nor.  Proper usage: The forecast calls for light showers, some clearing, and morning fog.  Improper usage: The forecast, calls for light showers some clearing, and morning fog.

8. Comma Usage for Dates When dealing with actual dates, there are a few simple rules you must remember. • You must use a comma when the date format is: Month Day, Year. (Example: June 28, 1992) • You must use a comma when words follow a year when given the month and year. (Example: He holds the record as of May 1995, but it has recently been broken by me) You do not need to use commas when: • Only the month & year are present (June 2001) • When only the month is present (May) • When only the year is present (2005) • When only the month & date is present (June 21) 5) When using the inverted date form ( 4 July 2006)

9. Remember All the Rules for Comma Usage Because…..!

10. QUIZ TIME! 1) Choose the best comma usage: A. The Sharks lost last night but they are still first in their division. B. The Sharks, lost last night but they are still first in their division. C. The Sharks, lost last night, but they are still first in their division. D. The Sharks lost last night, but they are still first in their division. 2)  Choose the correct comma usage: A. Because the restaurant has a bad reputation Frank will not eat there. B. Because the restaurant has a bad reputation frank, will not eat there C. Because, the restaurant has a bad reputation frank will not eat there. D. Because the restaurant has a bad reputation, Frank will not eat there. 3) Short Answer: A. If you were to leave out a clause, phrase, or a word, would the sentence make any sense? B. If elements are moved around within a sentence, does the sentence make any sense?  C. If a clause, phrase, or word interrupts the flow of the sentence, then does that make the sentence original? 4) Which is the correct usage? A. Apples, which are my favorite fruit, grow on trees. B. Apples which are my favorite fruit, grow on trees. C. Apples, which are my favorite fruit grow on trees. • Apples which are my favorite fruit grow on trees. 5) Organize this series into a list using commas: “The chef put the peppers carrots and bushels of parsley on the shelf.” • The chef put the peppers carrots and bushels of parsley on the shelf. • The chef put the peppers, carrots, and bushels, of parsley on the shelf. • The chef put the peppers, carrots and bushels of parsley on the shelf. • The chef put the peppers, carrots, and bushels of parsley on the shelf. 6) When is the only time involving dates that a comma is needed? • When only the month and year are present. • When only the month, date, and year are present. • When only the year is present • When only the month is present.