Comma Usage From Hodges Harbrace Handbook 16 th Edition
Commas Misunderstandings Fallacy #1: Place commas whenever you want the speaker to pause Truth #1: Sometimes commas indicate a pause for a speaker Truth #2: Pause indication is NOT a reliable tool commas are often required where a speaker DOES NOT pause. January 6, 2010. Truth #3: Pauses can occur where no comma is present!
Commas Misunderstandings A better way to approach commas is to understand the basic principles of comma usage! Commas can call for a pause: Cameron, call your brother in for dinner. Sometimes stronger punctuation is needed. Cameron! Let go of your brother s hair.
Commas Misunderstandings Commas can clarify meaning. In the dark room, the photographer processed the film. In the dark, rooms appear scary. In the pitch-black dark screeched the ghost.
Commas Misunderstandings Clarity required: When the recruiter called Kenneth Martin answered. Fix #1: When the recruiter called, Kenneth Martin answered. Fix #2: When the recruiter called Kenneth, Martin answered.
Say What? When I asked out the freshman Sara Lee laughed. Fix #1: Fix #2:
Comma Humor
Comma Truth Knowing correct comma usage is essential to becoming a strong writer who is able to convey clear ideas. Even a great piece of writing that has a lot of comma errors weakens an otherwise strong piece of work. There are over 30 comma rules--if you can learn even half of these, your writing will become a lot more credible, clear, and cohesive!
Rules that you must know Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) that links two independent clauses (complete sentences) Subject + Predicate, coordinating conj. Subject + Predicate
Combine these! 1) No one can contest that Edward is beautiful. He is terribly pale. 2) Edward is handsome. Bella has a classic beauty. 3) Jake was once the underdog. Now he has a ton of fans. 4) Teen fans across the world are counting down to June. The next film is due out then.
Rules that you must know! A comma follows an introductory dependent clause. If you begin a sentence with a dependent (subordinate clause), you should place a comma after it to set it off from the independent (main) clause. Dependent Clause, Independent Clause These apply to adverb clauses only!
Rules that you must know! If you give a mouse a cookie (dep. clause) He may ask for a glass of milk. (ind. clause) If you give a mouse a cookie, he may ask for a glass of milk.
Rules that you must know! If the dependent clause falls in the middle of the sentence or at the end of the sentence, generally no comma is used.(adv clauses only) He may ask for a glass of milk if you give a mouse a cookie.
Online Support http://www.towson.edu/ows/advadjnomcla use.htm http://www.cnm.edu/depts/tutoring/tlc/res/ AccuPlacer_English/264- Indep_DepClauses-C.pdf https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resourc e/598/2/
Combine using 12b-1 rule 1) No one can contest that Edward is beautiful. He is terribly pale. 2) Edward is handsome. Bella has a classic beauty. 3) Jake was once the underdog. Now he has a ton of fans. 4) Teen fans across the world are counting down to June. The next film is due out then.
Adjectival Clauses Adjectival clauses work to modify nouns or pronouns. They usually answer: What kind is it? How many are there? Which one is it? They may come in the middle or at the end of the sentence
Relative Pronouns Relative pronouns introduce or mark adjectival clauses and sometimes act as the subject of the clause. The woman [who slapped me] was arrested. The man [whom I love] is my husband.
Comma Usage You must decide if an adjectival clause is essential or extraneous. If it is not essential to the sentence, put commas around The giraffe, [which was born on March 16], was wearing a red and green bow around its neck for Christmas.
If you need the information to make the idea complete, you DO not use commas. Those who are allergic to peanuts should not sit there! Hint: Adj Clauses with that are almost always essential. The dog that bit me was quarantined. http://www.towson.edu/ows/comma.htm
Rules that you must know! A comma often follows an introductory phrase which comes before a main clause. Introductory Phrase, Main Clause Despite the frigid weather, I wore shorts.
Rules that you must know! Use a comma with a long introductory prepositional phrase of more than three words (or for clarity as needed). Introductory Long Prepositional Phrase, Main Clause
Practice 1) On the cold winter s night not a sound could be heard across the snow-dusted plains. 2) Inside the light houses could be seen. 3) With travel came responsibilities. 4) In 2009 great hardships were felt. 5) In 2010 5500 jobs will be lost in S.C. alone.
Rules that you must know A comma often follows an introductory word. Use commas to set off interjections (mild), vocatives (direct address), or transitional words. Introductory Word, Main Clause
Take a moment to ponder other punctuation
Rules that you must know Oh, I forgot about the meeting. (mild interjection) Ouch! I sliced off my finger! (strong interj.) Tom, carry in my bags please. (vocative) First, I will shop. Next, I will pick up the children. Finally, I will go to the gym. (transitional word)
Rules that you must know Write a sentence with the following: 1. Introductory mild interjection 2. Introductory strong interjection 3. Introductory vocative (direct address) 4. Introductory transitional word
Rules that you must know! Commas are sometimes used with appositives but this is NOT always the case! What is an appositive? An appositive acts to identify, explain, or supplement the meaning of other nouns or noun phrases. They add detail and variety to sentences. There are two types-- essential and nonessential appositives.
Rules that you must know A nonessential appositive provides extra details about the noun or pronoun but is not ESSENTIAL or required information and, therefore, has commas before and after it Example: Mrs. Condra, my English teacher at Cardinal Newman, has two dogs and a wayward cat and three frogs as pets. You do not need to know that the person named is a teacher at Cardinal Newman for the remainder of the sentence to be relevant therefore commas surround the appositive {from my to Newman }
Commas Misunderstandings An essential appositive is a noun or noun phrase that follows and renames another noun. It is specific and necessary to a sentence and therefore does not require ANY commas. My friend Page Duffie went to Heathwood and later the College of Charleston with me. I have many friends It is important to know which friend I am referencing; therefore, the appositive is ESSENTIAL to the sentence and there are NO Commas around the appositive.
Practice: Add punctuation as needed 1)The high school Cardinal Newman is considered one of the best Catholic high schools in the Diocese of Charleston. 2)The Border Collie, Lionel, and the Chihuahua, Lola, were the playful dogs we saw at the dog park. Other dogs and cats were less energetic. 3) The author Toni Morrison is a skilled African-American story-teller. 4) Frank McCourt, a great Irish author, passed away this year.