The comma is the most frequently used punctuation mark, but it is also the most often misused.

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1 CHAPTER 40 Commas TEST YOURSELF Add commas to the following sentences. We drove to the beach and we had a picnic. Before I eat breakfast I take a multivitamin. This is my favorite restaurant said Matt. though makes corresponding easy and fast. They were married on February in Las Vegas Nevada. The comma is the most frequently used punctuation mark, but it is also the most often misused. Commas make sentences easier to read by separating the parts of sentences. Following the rules in this chapter will help you write clear sentences that are easy to read. Understanding Commas To find out more about commas, go to MyWritingLab.com, and watch the video on Commas. Then, return to this chapter, which will go into more detail about this punctuation mark and give you opportunities to practice using it. Finally, you will apply your understanding of commas to your own writing. 1096

2 COMMAS WITH ITEMS IN A SERIES Use commas to separate items in a series. You should place commas between all items in a series. Series: Series: Series: The house had three bedrooms, two baths, and a pool. She caught the fish, cleaned it, and then cooked it. William can have a new car if his grades improve, if he gets a job, and if he does his chores at home. Sometimes this rule applies to a series of adjectives in front of a noun, but sometimes it does not. Look at these two examples. Adjectives with Commas: Adjectives Without Commas: The foggy, cold weather is finally over. The loose bottom knob fell off my TV. Both of these examples are correct. So how do you know whether or not to use commas? You can use one of two tests. One test is to insert the word and between the adjectives. If the sentence makes sense, use a comma. Another test is to switch the order of the adjectives. If the sentence still reads clearly, use a comma between the two words. Test 1: Test 2: Test 1: Test 2: The foggy and cold weather is finally over. OK, so use a comma The cold, foggy weather is finally over. OK, so use a comma The loose and bottom knob fell off my TV. Not OK, so no comma The bottom loose knob fell off my TV. Not OK, so no comma COMMAS WITH INTRODUCTORY WORDS 1097

3 Use a comma to set off an introductory word, phrase, or clause from the rest of its sentence. If you are unsure whether to add a comma, try reading the sentence with your reader in mind. If you want your reader to pause after the introductory word or phrase, you should insert a comma. Introductory Word: Introductory Word: No, it didn t rain. Really, the weather wasn t as bad as we thought it would be. Introductory Phrase: Introductory Phrase: On the whole, this is a great town to live in. To prove this to my relatives, I took them for a tour of the town. Introductory Clause: Introductory Clause: As the doors opened, the light poured in. When the movie was over, everyone was silent. COMMAS WITH INDEPENDENT CLAUSES Use a comma before and, but, for, nor, or, so, and yet when they join two independent clauses. (Remember that an independent clause must have both a subject and a verb.) Independent Clauses: The boy flew to London, and he took a boat to France. Independent Clauses: He enjoyed the flight, but he liked the boat ride more. Hint: Do not use a comma when a single subject has two verbs. no 1098

4 s v comma v The boy flew to London and left for France the next day. Adding a comma when none is needed is one of the most common errors in college writing assignments. Only if the second verb has its own subject should you add a comma. s v comma s v The boy flew to London, and he left for France the next day. COMMAS WITH INTERRUPTERS Use a comma before and after a word or phrase that interrupts the flow of a sentence. Most words that interrupt a sentence are not necessary for understanding the main point of a sentence. Setting them off makes it easier to recognize the main point. Word: Word: Phrase: Phrase: My next-door neighbor, Carlos, is from Portugal. I didn t hear the phone ring, however, because I was in the shower. My textbook, Ancient Rome, is on the desk. One of the most popular vacation spots, according to recent surveys, is Disneyland. Phrase: Mr. Colby, president of the school board, has been elected mayor. A very common type of interrupter is a clause that begins with who, whose, which, when, or 1099

5 where and is not necessary for understanding the main point of the sentence: Clause: The new mall, which is downtown, has three restaurants. Because the information which is downtown is not necessary for understanding the main idea of the sentence, it is set off with commas. Clause: Carol Roth, who has a Ph.D. in history, is my new neighbor. The main point here is that Carol Roth is my new neighbor. Since the other information isn t necessary for understanding the sentence, it can be set off with commas. Hint: Do not use commas with who, whose, which, when, or where if the information is necessary for understanding the main point of the sentence. My friend who is a circus clown just arrived in town. Because the information in the who clause is necessary to understand which friend just arrived in town, you should not set it off with commas. Hint: Do not use commas to set off clauses beginning with that. The mall that is downtown has three restaurants. COMMAS WITH DIRECT QUOTATIONS Use commas to mark direct quotations. A direct quotation records a person s exact words. Commas set off the exact words from the rest of the sentence, making it easier to understand who said what. Direct Quotation: My friends often say, You are so lucky. 1100

6 Direct Quotation: Direct Quotation: You are so lucky, my friends often say. You are so lucky, says my grandmother, to have good friends. Hint: If a quotation ends with a question mark or an exclamation point, do not use a comma. Only one punctuation mark is needed. NOT Correct: What did he want?, she asked. What did he want? she asked. OTHER USES OF COMMAS Other commas clarify information in everyday writing. Numbers: What is 2,502,500 divided by 10,522? A comma is optional in numbers of four digits: 4000 or 4,000. Dates: My great grandfather was born in December 1888 in London and died on July 23, 1972, in Denver. Notice there is a comma both before and after the year. Addresses: Ashley moved from Chicago, Illinois, to Jefferson Ave., Boston, MA Notice there is no comma between the state and ZIP code. Letters: Dear Alisha, Yours truly, 1101