Escalante, Alecsis Vivien D. Ugsod, Lariza Aidie R.

Sangulingan, Janirah Oppen, Maria Argie

A comma is a soft stop. Its not a final as a period.

Commas shape the phrasing of the written sentence in the same way that brief pauses shape the phrasing of spoken sentences. Commas indicate how a sentence is divided into distinct but connected grammatical parts. Commas are often used in writing to increase the readability of text.

Article 38. Minority insanity or imbecility the state of being deaf-mute prodigality and civil interdiction are mere restrictions on capacity to act and do not exempt the incapacitated person from certain obligations as when the latter arise from his acts or from property relations such as easements. (32a)

(Correct)

Article 38. Minority, insanity or imbecility, the state of being deaf-mute, prodigality and civil interdiction are mere restrictions on capacity to act, and do not exempt the incapacitated person from certain obligations, as when the latter arise from his acts or from property relations, such as easements. (32a)

Incorrect: 1) Dimples favorite colors are yellow red and pink. 2) She gave him food shelter and clothes.

Correct:
1) Dimples favorite colors are yellow, red, and pink. 2) She gave him food, shelter, and clothes.

A parenthetic expression (non restrictive) is a word or clause that qualifies or explains the subject. It only provides additional information, but is not essential to the meaning of the sentence. It is a non parenthetical expression (restrictive) if it provides information that a reader must have in order to understand the meaning of the sentence.

1. Olympic athletes, who have trained intensely, are usually in top physical shape.

2. Athletes who take steroids want a shortcut.

Note: The first sentence contains a parenthetic expression, while the second contains a non parenthetic expression.

3. A cat, which is a mammal, hunts rodents. 4. A cat that neglects to groom itself will have a matted fur.
Note: The first sentence contains a parenthetic expression, while the second contains a non parenthetic expression.

Between Subject and Verb

Incorrect: Francis, developed the method.

S V

Correct: Francis developed the method. Note: There should be no comma between Francis and developed.

Between Verb and Object

Incorrect: The agreement entails, training for part-time staff. s v D.O. Correct: The agreement entails training for the part-time staff. Note: There should be no comma between entails and training.

a. Common starter words for introductory clauses that should be followed by a comma include after,

although, as, because, if, since, when, while.

Example: If not alleged in the information, treachery is only a generic aggravating circumstance.
While sitting in the front row of chairs, Jose Laurel was approached by Domingo Panganiban.

b. Common introductory words that should be followed by a comma include yes, however,

well.

Example: Well, perhaps he meant no harm. Yes, the package should arrive tomorrow morning.

However, you may not be satisfied with the results.

Incorrect: Mary Shellys works are entertaining, they are full of interesting ideas. Correct: Mary Shellys works are entertaining; they are full of interesting ideas.
Note: If a comma is used between two or more independent clauses not joined by a conjunction, the result would be a run-on sentence. Using a comma in such case would make one guilty of committing a comma splice.

Exception: A comma can be used when the clauses are very short and alike in form, or when the tone of the sentence is easy and conversational. (But this is done very rarely) Ex:

Man proposes, God disposes.

Here today, gone tomorrow.

When the quotation is only one word: The witness screamed stop!

When a partial quotation is made part of the sentence:

The mediator said that he is giving the parties a 30-day extension.

1. Place the comma inside the quotation to separate it from the explanatory words about the speaker . Ex: "When Americans go to war, they need to be prepared," declared the history professor.

2. Place the comma after the explanatory words and before the quotation marks when they lead into a quotation. Ex: Ms. Anderson spoke out, "Never forget that you do have a choice in how your country is run."

However, do not use a comma if the direct quotation ends with a question mark or quotation mark.

Ex:

"Don't jump!" chanted the crowd.

Examples:
Incorrect: After Friday afternoon classes will be cancelled.
Note: Confusing! The sentence is not clear. It can mean either that the classes will be cancelled after Friday afternoon or the afternoon classes will be cancelled after Friday.

Correct: After Friday, afternoon classes will be cancelled.

Consider this question, asked by one zookeeper to another: Without comma: Did the lion eat Kokong? With comma: Did the lion eat, Kokong?

Without comma: As she was rising to speak her mind suddenly played a cruel trick and she forgot her speech. (Is she going to "speak her mind"? The reader is likely to read the first part of the sentence this way, unless help arrives in the form of a comma.)
With comma: As she was rising to speak, her mind suddenly played a cruel trick and she forgot her speech.

1. The video showed a young woman giving her coat to a young girl perhaps five or six years old apparently naked until then.
Correct Answer:
The video showed a young woman giving her coat to a young girl, perhaps five or six years old, apparently naked until then.

2. The media the government and the people must work together to create a positive and progressive environment.
Correct Answer: The media, the government, and the people must work together to create a positive and progressive environment.

3. The mere filing of an information and/or the issuance of a warrant of arrest will not automatically make the surrender involuntary. (People vs Oco)

Correct! No changes.

4. On that occasion an angry and violent mob armed with explosives firearms bladed weapons clubs stones and other deadly weapons assaulted and attempted to break into Malacaang.
Correct Answer: On that occasion, an angry and violent mob armed with explosives, firearms, bladed weapons, clubs, stones, and other deadly weapons assaulted and attempted to break into Malacaang.

5. All of us ran, the race.

Correct Answer: All of us ran the race. 6. Persons and Family Relations Legal Research and Legal Writing are my favorite subjects. Correct Answer: Persons and Family Relations, Legal Research, and Legal Writing are my favorite subjects.

7. Qualified lawyers who must be bar passers are in short supply.

Correct Answer: Qualified lawyers, who must be bar passers, are in short supply.

8. The 2004 baseball season, has gone on forever. Correct: The 2004 baseball season has gone on forever.

9. Law students who will receive F grades will repeat the same class next school year.
Correct! No changes. 10. In the winter time seems to stand still. Correct: In the winter, time seems to stand still.

There is an old story of Czarina Maria Fyodorovna who once saved a man's life simply by misplacing a comma in a notice written by her husband Alexander III, which exiled a criminal to imprisonment and death in Siberia.

The note was supposed to read : "Pardon impossible, to be sent to Siberia. The man was set free after the Czarina misplaced the comma to read: "Pardon, impossible to be sent to Siberia."
His life was saved, simply due to a thoughtlessly misplaced mark of punctuation.

Always remember:

Despite its small size, a comma holds an incredible importance.

-fin-

Strunk, Willam. The Elements of Style (The original edition). New York: Dover Publications, 2006
Owl Purdue Online Writing Lab, Extended Rules for Using Commas. <http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/607 /02/>

Comma Rules <http://webs.wofford.edu/whisnantcj/handouts/Gra mmar%20-%20Commas.pdf>