Transcript Slide 1
By: Brittney Holmes And Dairy So Rules for using commas: • 1. Commas are used to list three or more items in a series. A serial comma (also called an “Oxford comma”) is a comma used before the word “and” in a list or series. Ex: We were eating pizza, chips, and soda. • 2. Use a comma in front of a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) to connect two independent clauses. Ex: The employee was late to work, so his boss fired him. • 3. Use a comma after an introductory element. Ex: Whenever Brittney laughs, she makes a weird snorting sound. Ex: For instance, that transitional phrase should be set off by a comma. • 4. Use a comma before and after the unnecessary phrases that can be eliminated out of the sentence where it will not change the meaning. Ex: Dairy, my best friend, went to school with me for five years. • 5. “Use a comma to separate coordinate adjectives (a series of descriptive words-modifiers--describing a noun). If you can put an and or but between the adjectives, a comma will probably belong there” (Darling). Ex: That suave, smart, outgoing-looking man is my English professor. Ex: The cute, little puppy was sleeping in the red brick house. • 6. Use a comma before a quoted phrase except when using the word “that.” Ex: Jo said that she was going to the mall. Ex: Jo said, ” I am going to the mall.” • 7. “Use commas to set off phrases that express contrast” (Darling). Ex: The kittens were cute, yet very wild. • 8. Use a comma to help avoid confusion in a sentence. Ex. Outside the lawn was cluttered with hundreds of broken branches. Outside, the lawn was cluttered with hundreds of broken branches. • 9. Do Not use a comma between a subject and its verb!!! Ex: Susan ran fast down the street after the bus. • 10. Commas used for typographical reasons: • Between city and state, date and year (exception--no comma with month and year: June 2006), name and title (title after name), long numbers. Caution!!!!!! • Use commas sparingly without overusing them! Follow the comma rules and not the “pausing” rule. Ex. "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.] Works Cited Page Darling, Charles. "Rules for Comma Usage." Guide to Grammar and Writing. n.d. Capital Community College Foundation. 15 June 2006 <http://grammar.ccc.connect.edu/gramma r/commas.htm>. Email Addresses. (Send us your comma questions!) Dairy [email protected] [email protected] Brittney [email protected] [email protected]