Commas, the little punctuation you can use correctly
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This document outlines 14 rules for using commas in writing. It begins by stating that commas act as screens that allow information to be seen through but not passed. It then provides Sturg's 14 comma rules, which cover using commas before conjunctions in compound sentences, separating introductory clauses, setting off words like "yes" and "no", setting off questions at the end of statements, separating titles and dates, contrasting elements, omitting words, separating items in a series, coordinate adjectives, interrupting clauses, non-essential clauses, direct quotations, affiliations, and similar words. It concludes by noting that people strongly disagree on Oxford commas and coordinate adjectives, and that following grammar rules strictly is
Commas, the little punctuation you can use correctly
- 1. BUILDING BLOCKS DON’T FEAR THE COMMAS
- 2. COMMAS ARE SCREENS You can look through them You can’t get through them
- 3. WHERE DO THE COMMAS GO? General comma rule - use a comma where it makes sense and helps to eliminate ambiguity. Main idea COMMA not important COMMA main idea. Stuff COMMA the sentence.
- 4. STURG’S 14 COMMA RULES 1. Use a comma before a conjunction when they join the clauses of a compound sentence (this is optional - if both clauses are short and the meaning is clear without the comma) • We went to the movie, and we were surprised how violent it was.
- 5. MORE COMMA RULES 2. To separate an introductory clause from the main one • After all, commas are essential to clear writing.
- 6. BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE 3. To set off words like yes and no, words in direct address, “transitional words” No, I don’t want to go swimming today. Thanks, honey, for taking out the garbage. This dinner, not surprisingly, was delicious.
- 7. STILL MORE COMMA RULES 4. To set off a question at the end of a statement • We’re going out to dinner, aren’t we?
- 8. AND MORE 5. To set off titles, addresses and years Amanda Sturgill, professor, said commas are confusing. John Smith of Pittsburgh, Pa., led the cheers. John Smith, 37, died of exhaustion.
- 9. YET MORE 6. To set off contrasted sentence elements. Navy blue, not powder blue, was the color of choice. 7. To indicate omitted words Man, Wife Donate Thousands
- 10. AND MORE 8. To separate words, phrases and clauses in a series (do not use the final serial comma before a conjunction in media writing) • I will be serving cookies, cake, pie and ice cream.
- 11. LOOK! MORE COMMA RULES! 9. To separate coordinate adjectives (test - can you substitute “and” for the comma? If not, it is a compound adjective requiring a hyphen) She sat on the ugly, brown couch.
- 12. LOTS OF PEOPLE MISS THIS ONE 10. To set off a clause or phrase that disrupts the main clause • Jones, though not a graduate student himself, led a protest for the rights of graduate students.
- 13. HEY, ENOUGH WITH THE COMMAS ALREADY! 11. To set off non-essential clauses (hint - look for “Which.” If “that,” it’s essential) • The table, which has a broken leg, sits in the corner. • My husband David teaches computer science (I’m not polyandrous, so this is wrong!)
- 14. CALM DOWN, WE’RE ALMOST DONE 12. To set off one-sentence direct quotations from attributions. • “I hate grammar,” she said. • Smith said, “The sky is falling.”
- 15. HOT, FRESH COMMAS 13. With party affiliations, academic degrees, religious affiliations Amanda Sturgill, Ph.D., loves them there commas. David Duchovny, M.A., left Yale to pursue acting.
- 16. I TOLD YOU THERE WERE 14 14. To separate similar words Learning what good grammar is, is not easy.
- 17. WE HATES THE GRAMMAR PEOPLE Rules, schmules…Your mileage may vary Oxford commas (the series ones) Coordinate adjectives **People fight hard over these. It’s not worth losing your job over.