24 April 2013

Use a comma whenever

you take a breath or pause
Not bad advice, but not that simple

Statement is more accurate historically

Dots to indicate amount of breath needed
Slash to represent a pause

Modern function of the

comma
Intent is to clarify meaning for the reader
Helps break the sentence into smaller parts

to understand things more quickly

Lets the reader know which elements are

intended to go together

Independent &
Dependent Clauses
REVIEW: Whats the difference between the

two?
Independent clause: Subject and a verb that

form a complete thought.

Dependent clause: Also has a subject and a

verb, but cannot stand by itself. It clarifies

and adds detail to an independent clause.

Dependent + Independent
When the independent clause comes first, no

comma is needed.
When the dependent clause comes first, use

a comma.
Example:
We have an umbrella because it is raining.
Because it is raining, we have an umbrella.

Dependent + Independent
(contd)
Use a comma after introductory (a) clauses, (b)

phrases or (c) words that come after the main clause.

While I was in the shower, the FedEx package arrived

at the front door.

Because she lost her phone, she was late waking up

this morning.
When the snow stops falling, well shovel the driveway.

(Reverse the order on these, and theres no comma)

Dependent + Independent
(contd)
If the dependent clause is in the middle, put

commas on both sides. It functions as a

parenthetical element.
Example:
Last payday, after he went to the grocery store,

John went to the mall.

Independent +
Independent
Use a comma to separate two independent

clauses connected with a coordinating

conjunction.
Conjunctions connect two or more

words/phrases/clauses.
Coordinating Conjunction: FANBOYS
For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So
(There are also subordinating conjunctions

and correlative conjunctions, but the lists are

longer).

Coordinating Conjunctions

[Complete thought]
thought].

, FANBOYS [Complete

Example: The football team won the game, and the

Jayhawks are going to the Orange Bowl.

Exception: Some writers omit the comma (between

two independent clauses connected by a

coordinating conjunction) if its a brief, balanced
sentence.
Example: He is nice so he helps people.
NOTE: It is not incorrect to use a comma in the

sentence above.

Subordinating Conjunctions
Just a couple quick notes here
An independent clause has a subject and

verb, and can stand on its own:

John went to the grocery store.

If you add a subordinating conjunction, it

converts that to a dependent clause.

When John went to the grocery store
After John went to the grocery store
Because John went to the grocery store

Back to coordinating
conjunctions
What if you have two independent clauses (complete

thoughts) without FANBOYS in the middle?

I woke up late this morning, I didnt have time for breakfast.

Its known as a comma splice. You have a run-on

sentence with a comma instead of a period. You have

four options to solve it:
1. Convert it to two sentences.
2. Change the comma to a semicolon
3. Add in a (comma) FANBOYS
4. Add in a subordinating word/clause.

Essential v.
Nonessential
Phrases and Clauses
Essential: Modifies a noun with information

you need to understand the meaning of a

sentence.
No commas around it.
You need the information to retain the

meaning of the sentence.

Covering it up changes the message.
That
Example: The girl who lives next door earned a

scholarship to Princeton.

Essential v.
Nonessential
Phrases and Clauses
Nonessential: Adds extra information that you

can eliminate and still understand the full

meaning of a sentence.
Always use commas before and after.
More of a side note than essential information.
If omitted, it does not affect the main clause.
Which
Example: Hannah Selden, who lives next door,

earned a scholarship to Princeton.

Essential v.
Nonessential
Examples
How does the meaning of the sentence

change?
The students who arrived hours before tipoff

were excited for the game.

The students, who arrived hours before tipoff,

were excited for the game.

One more
The bike that needs to be fixed is in the

garage.
The bike, which needs to be fixed, is in the

Essential v.
Nonessential
Quick Tests
If you leave out the word, phrase or clause, does

the sentence still make sense?

Does the word, phrase or clause interrupt the flow

of words in the original sentence?

If you move the element elsewhere, does the

sentence still make sense?

(If you answer yes to at least one question, its

nonessential, and you should set it off with

commas).

Which is correct?
The CEO of Dynacorp who was recently

promoted indicated his opposition to the bill.

Or
The CEO of Dynacorp, who was recently

promoted, indicated his opposition to the bill.

Parentheticals
Enclose all parenthetic expressions between

commas.
The following are treated as parentheticals:
A name or title in direct address
Well, Bill, this is your problem now.
Yes, professor, I will.

Nonessential (nonrestrictive) clauses

They dont limit or define the noun, only tell us

things like which, when, where).

Strunk & White on

Parentheticals:
This rule is difficult to apply; it is frequently hard to

decide whether a single word, such as however, or a

brief phrase is or is not parenthetic. If the interruption
to the flow of the sentence is but slight, the commas
may be safely omitted. But whether the interruption is
slight or considerable, never omit one comma and leave
the other. There is no defense for such punctuation as
Marjories husband, Colonel Nelson paid us a visit

yesterday.
Or
My brother you will be pleased to hear, is now in perfect

health.

Strunk & White on

Parentheticals
Corrected Versions
Marjories husband, Colonel Nelson paid us a

visit yesterday.
Marjories husband, Colonel Nelson, paid us a

visit yesterday.
My brother you will be pleased to hear, is now in

perfect health.
My brother, you will be pleased to hear, is now in

perfect health.

Comma Usage:
Abbreviations
The abbreviations etc., i.e., and e.g., the

abbreviations for academic degrees, and

titles that follow a name are parenthetic and
should be punctuated accordingly:
Letters, packages, etc., should go here.
Horace Fulsome, Ph.D., presided.
Rachel Simonds, attorney.
The Reverend Harry Lang, S.J.

More on titles
Titles after the name are lower-cased & set

off by commas before and after:

Rick Perry, governor of Texas, said
William McClain, lieutenant general of infantry,

addressed the committee

Junior / Senior
Exception: Commas are not used around Jr. or Sr.
Not Martin Luther King, Jr. but Martin Luther

King Jr.
General agreement to drop the comma.

Argument is that it is essential to the meaning.

Restrictive Terms of
Identification
No comma should separate a noun from a

restrictive term of identification.

Billy the Kid
The novelist Jane Austen
William the Conqueror
The poet Sappho

Serial / Oxford
Comma

Serial comma When, in a list of two or more things,

a comma is included before the last item in the series.

a.k.a. Oxford Comma: (Oxford University Press guidelines

mandated it).
AP style omits the comma.

Id like to thank my parents, Ayn Rand, and God.

(Serial/Oxford comma)
Id like to thank my parents, Ayn Rand and God.
(Without)
Arguments For/Against: Prevents confusion; saves space.
AP Style: Omit unless there is the potential for confusion.
Companies often omit the last comma, but follow usage of

the individual firm: (Dewey, Cheatem & Howe).

Commas with
Adjectives

Coordinating Adjectives: Using multiple words to describe

something. (Little old lady rule)

Two tests to see if a comma is needed:
If you can put an and between adjectives, a comma is likely

needed.
If you can write the adjectives in reverse order, add a comma.

He is a strong, healthy man. (Correct because He is a

strong and healthy man makes sense; you can also reverse
the adjectives).
We stayed at an expensive winter resort. (No comma

because you wouldnt say We stayed at an expensive and

winter resort; also couldnt flip it to say We stayed at a
winter and expensive resort.)

Commas & Quotes

Commas go inside all quotation marks.
Use a comma to set off quoted elements.
On originality, Bukowski writes, As the spirit wanes,

the form appears.

Three exceptions:
Use a colon instead of a comma if your quote is either

very formal or long (especially if its longer than a

sentence).
If you add the word that before the quote, omit the

comma.
If you use a partial quote, dont use a comma.

Commas & Dates

Dates usually contain parenthetic words or figures.

Punctuate as follows:
March to April, 2013
April 24, 2013
Today is Wednesday, April 24, 2013.

If part of the date is omitted, leave out the comma.

There arent any numbers side by side to confuse the

reader.
Example:
In September 2005 she turned ninety.

On Christmas day 2012 he was arrested.

----->>>>>>It is also acceptable to omit the comma in 6 April 1988.

Commas & States

The state is treated as a parenthetical.
State with city - separate the state with two commas:
Melbourne, Florida, is located on the ocean. (Becoming

increasingly common to omit the comma following the state,

however).
Exception #1: If the state is in a possessive form, omit the

trailing comma.
Melbourne, Floridas climate is mild.

Exception #2: When the state (or country) name becomes

part of a compound structure, omit the trailing comma.

Never Summer, a Denver, Colorado-based company, is moving

to another state.

Commas & Addresses

Address, City, State Zip
The most recent address we have for the

applicant is 123 Fake Street, Whatever, KS

32451.

Commas and
Contrast
Use a comma to contrast different elements

or indicate a distinct shift.

He was merely ignorant, not stupid.

The chimpanzee seemed reflective, almost
human.

Should there be a
comma in the
sentence below?
Why cant you?

Answer: It depends.
Why cant you?
(Means roughly: Why cant you accomplish it?)

Why, cant you?

(Means roughly: Cant you take care of it?)