Punctuation : COMMA

The Commas
 tells the reader to pause
 indicate a brief pause; they're
not as final as periods.
 used inside the sentences.
 help us to see the structure and
therefore the meaning of the
sentence.

TRIVIA:
The beginnings of punctuation lie in
classical rhetoric--the art of oratory.
Back in ancient Greece and Rome,
when a speech was prepared in
writing, marks were used to indicate
where--and for how long--a speaker
should pause.
The shortest pause was a comma
(literally, "that which is cut off")

COMMA RULE #1 – THE COMMA IN A SERIES:
Use commas to separate items in a series.
 What is a ”series”?
A “series” is a list of 3 or more items, the last two of which
are joined by and, or, or nor. ___________, ___________,
and ________
Examples:

Using a comma between all the items in a
series, including the last two, avoids this
problem.
A PIECE OF TRIVIA: the last comma is called a
“serial comma” or the “Oxford comma.” Both
the MLA and APA handbooks suggest
students use the serial comma when listing
three or more items in a sentence

Example #1:
The English professor adjusted her
glasses shuffled her notes and
began her lecture.
Correct answer:
The English professor adjusted her
glasses, shuffled her notes , and
began her lecture.

Example #2:
Neither rain sleet nor hail shall
keep away the U.S. mail.
Correct answer:
Neither rain, sleet , nor hail shall
keep away the U.S. mail.

COMMA RULE #2.1:Use the comma to connect two
independent clauses connected by a coordinating
conjunctions.
The two independent clauses in a compound
sentence can be joined by:
A. Semicolons
OR

THE “FANBOYS”COMMA
B. A comma and one of the seven joining words:
for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so.
(“FANBOYS.”)
I’m not speaking to her, so you’ll have to tell her

Example #1
I am copying this recipe for I want
to make this dish someday.
Correct answer:
I am copying this recipe, for I want
to make this dish someday.

Example #2
No students stood in line so Dianne
walked straight to the registration
table.
Correct answer:
No students stood in line, so Dianne
walked straight to the registration
table.

COMMA RULE #2.2
 Separate “interrupter” words like however,
nevertheless, yes, no, of course, from the rest of
the sentence.
Examples of introductory words and interrupters: yes,
no, well, indeed, nevertheless, however, I believe, in
fact , of course, in my opinion, on the other hand, to tell
the truth, on the contrary.
“However” is a nonessential word because it interrupts
the flow of the sentence, requiring offsetting commas. It
is also moved without changing the meaning of the
sentence.

COMMA RULE #2.3
 Separate a “renamer” (an appositive phrase)
from the rest of the sentence with a comma.
I saw Mrs. Chua, the woman in the
blue jacket, the last we were here.

Example #1:
The sun rises in the morning and it
sets in the evening.
We had an invitation to an elegant
party but we cancelled when we
both got the flu
,
Example #2:
,

COMMA RULE #3: Use a comma to
set off introductory elements
Running toward third base, he
suddenly realized how stupid he
looked.
Until he got his promotion, he was
quite a nice person.
Here's one with a short introduction (and no comma):
During the night he heard many

NOTE:
If the introductory element is brief and the sentence can
be read easily without a comma, it can be omitted.
Although one can argue that all commas are meant to
clarify matters for the reader, only use one if
necessary to prevent a misreading.
In 1649 the settlers abandoned their initial
outpost. (No comma.)
Because prisoners had tried to escape, a
fence was constructed. (Comma used to avoid
misreading.)
By noon, time had run out. (Comma used to avoid
misreading.)

COMMA RULE #3:The Courtesy
Comma
 After an introductory clause that answers
when? where? why? how? to what
degree?
NOTE: When such a
clause comes at the
end of a sentence, do
NOT use a comma.
Examples:

Example #1:
After many days at the mine the
workers were tired and angry.
After many days at the mine,
the workers were tired and
angry.

Example #2:
When Christian finished the
book she gave it to Mary.
When Christian finished the
book, she gave it to Mary.

COMMA RULE #4:THE FORMAL
TITLE COMMA
*between a city and a state:
Manila,Philippines
*a date and a year:
July 10,2014
*a name and a title when the title comes after
the name:
Matthew Nepomuceno, Professor of English
* in long numbers:
1,200,163

NOTE:
*We use a comma or a set of commas to make the
year parenthetical when the date of the month is
included:
July 4, 1776, is regarded as the
birth date of American liberty.
*Without the date itself, however, the comma
disappears:
July 1776 was one of the most
eventful months in our history.

NOTE:
*In international or military format, no commas
are used:
The Declaration of Independence
was signed on 4 July 1776.

COMMA RULE #5 –THE COMMA WITH
COORDINATE ADJECTIVES: Use commas
between coordinate adjectives.
 What are “coordinate adjectives”?
“Coordinate adjectives” are adjectives
placed next to each other that are equal in
importance.
 Two tests to determine whether adjectives are
coordinate are the following:
1. See whether “and” can be smoothly
placed between them.
2. See whether the adjectives’ order
can be reversed.

Example:
The airy, inexpensive apartment is
in a great part of town.

COMMA RULE #6.1: Use a comma
to set off quoted elements
Summing up this argument, Peter
Coveney writes, "The purpose
and strength of the romantic
image of the child had been
above all to establish a relation
between childhood and adult
consciousness."

If an attribution of a quoted element comes in
the middle of the quotation, two commas will
be required. But be careful not to create a
comma splice in so doing.
"The question is," said Alice,
"whether you can make words
mean so many things."

COMMA RULE #6.2: Use a comma to
separate a direct quotation
He replied, ”No, but I waited with
them until their bus arrived.”
Dear Joyce,
Sincerely,
Jamaica
COMMA RULE #6.3: Use a comma in
both salutation and the closing of a
friendly letter.

COMMA RULE #7: CONTRARY
(CONTRAST)COMMA. Use commas to set off phrases that
express contrast.
Some say the world will end in
ice, not fire.
The puppies were cute, but very
messy.
Example #1:
Example #2:

NOTE:
 In general, try to develop an awareness of
other words that trigger contrary commas,
words like instead, rather, and
though/although.
Art is not difficult because it wishes
to be, rather because it wishes to
be art.

COMMA RULE #8: Use a comma
to avoid confusion and preserve the meaning of a
sentence
For most the year is already
finished.
For most, the year is already
finished.
Example #1:

Example #2:
Outside the lawn was cluttered with
hundreds of broken branches.
Outside, the lawn was cluttered
with hundreds of broken branches.

to avoid confusion and preserve the meaning of a
sentence
 Commas are used to separate names when
the name is inverted( as in a biography ,
catalog or index)
Examples:
Cuba, the culture of
Pen, ball point

COMMA RULE #9.1: Never use only
one comma between a subject and its
verb.
Believing completely and
positively in oneself is
essential for success.
[Although readers might pause after the word
"oneself," there is no reason to put a comma
there.]

 When a sentence begins with a complete
thought followed by an incomplete thought ,a
comma is not necessary.
I always eat a hearty breakfast ,
before any activity.
I always eat hearty breakfast
before any activity.
COMMA RULE #9.2:
Incorrect:
Correct:

COMMA RULE #9.3:
 When a sentence has one subject ,a comma is
not necessary to separate two verbs.
Johnny returned to the polling place
and picked up the car keys he had
left in the booth.
Johnny returned to the polling place
,and picked up the car keys he had
left in the booth.
{Johnny =subject, he did 2 things , that is, he returned and
picked up}
Incorrect:
Correct:

to set off parenthetical elements
The Founders Bridge, which spans
the Connecticut River, is falling
down.
parenthetical element-a part of a sentence that
can be removed without changing the essential
meaning of that sentence. AKA “added
information”
Appositives are almost always treated as
parenthetical elements.

 When an appositive phrase can be removed
from a sentence without changing its meaning
or making it unclear:
Robert Frost, perhaps America’s
most beloved poet, died when he
was 88 years old.
 An absolute phrase is treated as a parenthetical
element:
Frankly, it doesn’t matter.

 An addressed person’s (or people’s) name is
always parenthetical:
I am warning you, good citizens of
Toronto, this vote is crucial to the
future of our city.
 An interjection is treated as a parenthetical
element:
Excuse me, but there are, of course,
many points of view that we must
consider before voting.

Example #1:
Mike's ambition, to become a
goalie in professional soccer, is
within his reach.
Eleanor, his wife of thirty years,
suddenly decided to open her
own business.
Example #2:

THE LAST RULE:
Don’t overuse commas!
When a comma is
needed, use it;
otherwise, do without.

SUMMARY OF COMMA
RULES:
Rule No. 1: In a simple series, use a
comma to separate the elements
Rule No. 2: Use a comma to
separate two independent clauses
connected by a coordinating
conjunction.
Rule No. 3: Use a comma following
an introductory phrase of four
words or more.
Rule No. 4: Use a comma with
complete dates hometowns, ages,
names of states and nations used
with city names, affiliations, and
most large numbers.
Rule No. 5: Use commas between
coordinate adjectives.
Rule No. 6: Use a comma,
carefully, to set off quotes or
paraphrases.
Rule No. 7: Use commas to set
off phrases that express
contrast
avoid confusion
Rule No. 9: Do not use comma
when there is ONLY one
subject.
set off parenthetical elements

Sources:
 http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/commas.
htm
 https://www.humber.ca/liberalarts/sites/default/files/th
e_comma.pdf
 http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/words/comma
 http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/commas.
asp
 https://lilt.ilstu.edu/golson/punctuation/comma.html
 http://www.towson.edu/ows/modulecomma.htm
 http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/commas/
 Grammar Essentials for DUMMIES

Punctuation : COMMA

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Punctuation : COMMA