, comma sense twelve basic suggestions the center for academic excellence presents
Post on 17-Dec-2015
214 Views
Preview:
TRANSCRIPT
,Comma Sense
Twelve Basic Suggestions
The Center for Academic Excellence presents . . .
Commas Demystified
Commas can be tricky to use. Students often have a difficult time deciding when to put them in, or when to leave them out. The following suggestions will make this decision simpler, reducing the mystery to a matter of common sense.
(1) Use a comma to separate words (or groups of words) in a series:
I went to Lance’s to buy bread, butter, and milk.
James unlatched the window, looked around stealthily, then made good his escape.
LIS
TS
(2) Use commas to separate adjectives modifying the same noun:
It was a fine, sunny day.
The large, loping hound started to bark furiously.A
DJE
CT
IVE
S
(3) Use a comma before the conjunction in a compound sentence:
I couldn’t see him, but I knew he was there.
He dropped his fork on the floor, so he decided to use a clean one.
CO
NJU
NC
TIO
NS
(4) Use one or two commas, as needed, to set off words
which interrupt the thought of the sentence:
Simon, however, will not be going.
You are, consequently, the prize-winner.
My mother, who lives out-of-state, still considers herself a Hoosier.
INT
ER
RU
PT
ION
S
(5) In direct quotations, commas are used to separate speech from commentary:
She said, “I am glad to be in Indiana.”
“I am,” she said, “so glad to be in Indiana.”
“I am glad to be in Indiana,” she said.
QU
OTA
TIO
NS
(6) Use a comma after a mild interjection, or after introductory
words and phrases:
Oh dear, I just missed my bus.
Well, look who the cat dragged in!
In all, four houses have been sold.
INT
RO
DU
CT
ION
S
(7) Use commas to set off nouns of direct address:
Pete, where are you?
Come in, Nancy.
Hey, Bonehead! Whaddup?
NA
ME
S
(8) Use a comma after a person’s last name when it precedes the first name (in an alphabetical listing, for example):
Dickinson, Emily
Frost, Robert
Shakespeare, William
RE
VE
RS
AL
S
(9) Commas separate days, months, and years:
Day and Year: November 11th, 1936
Month and Year: July, 1875
Day, Month,Year: Sunday, 13th March, 1960
She was born on November 11, 1875, in Frankfurt, Germany.
DA
TE
S
(10) A comma is customarily used after the salutation or the complimentary close of a letter:
Dear Mr. Jones,
Yours sincerely,
LE
TT
ER
S
(11) The names of towns and states are separated with a comma:
North Manchester, Indiana
Hamburg, Germany
I drove to Brussels, Belgium, last week.
CO
UN
TR
IES
(12) Use a comma to separate people’s names from their qualifications, degrees, or titles:
Alec Coyle, DDS.
Jane Ball, RN.
Dagny Boebel, PhD.
Martin Luther King Jr.
Joseph Smith, Sr.
TIT
LE
S
Short Name for Each “Rule”:
When you are tempted to use a comma, ask yourself which of the Twelve Suggestions applies. If you cannot justify the use of the comma, leave it out.
1. Lists2. Adjectives3. Conjunctions4. Interruptions5. Quotations6. Introductions7. Names8. Reversals9. Dates10. Letters11. Countries12. Titles
Brief Quiz
1. Well I really wish she hadn’t been late.
2. My sister who works at Biaggi’s is a chef.
3. I own a shotgun but I have never used it.
4. Jonathan have you seen my keys?
5. He said “Paris is one of my favorite cities.”
6. I was born in Paris France but I grew up in Brussels.
7. I saw a long low building in the distance.
8. She ironed her blouse shone her shoes and then drove quickly to work.
9. Dr. Jonathan Watson Ph.D. will be today’s guest lecturer.
10. William Shakespeare was reputedly born on April 23rd 1564.
Lists—Adjectives—Conjunctions—Interruptions—Quotations—Introductions—Names—Reversals—Dates—Letters—Countries—Titles
Brief Quiz—Grading Key
1. Well, I really wish she hadn’t been late. Introductions
2. My sister, who works at Biaggi’s, is a chef. Interruptions
3. I own a shotgun, but I have never used it. Conjunctions
4. Jonathan, have you seen my keys? Names/Introductions
5. He said, “Paris is one of my favorite cities.” Quotations
6. I was born in Paris, France, but I grew up in Brussels.
Countries/Interruptions
7. I saw a long, low building in the distance. Adjectives
8. She ironed her blouse, shone her shoes, and then drove quickly to work. Lists
9. Dr. Jonathan Watson, PhD, will be today’s guest lecturer. Titles/Interruptions
10. William Shakespeare was reputedly born on April 23, 1564. Dates
Lists—Adjectives—Conjunctions—Interruptions—Quotations—Introductions—Names—Reversals—Dates—Letters—Countries—Titles
The End
Po
werP
oin
t Presen
tation
by M
ark A. S
pald
ing
, BA
, ME
d, M
A, 2007.
top related