CommasThe bane of our existence

Common Comma Usage

• Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction joining independent clauses

– Coordinating conjunctions• and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet

– Independent clauses• A clause that can stand on its own as a sentence• Has subject AND verb

Independent Clauses

• EX: A good money manager controls expenses and invests surplus dollars to meet future needs.– No comma before “and” because second

clause it dependent upon the subject in the first clause.

– “A good money manager controls expenses” is an independent clause.

– “invests surplus dollars to meet future needs” needs a subject, which makes it dependent

Test Your Sentences

• Look at any sentence with a coordinating conjunction in parts

1. Look before the conjunction2. Look after the conjunction3. If both can stand on their own as

sentences, then put a comma before the conjunction.

Test Your Sentences

• EX: Roger had always wanted a handmade violin but he couldn’t afford one.

1. Look before the conjunction

Roger had always wanted a handmade violin

It stands on it’s own as a sentence.

Test Your Sentences

• EX: Roger had always wanted a handmade violin but he couldn’t afford one.

2. Look after the conjunction:

He couldn’t afford one.

It stands on it’s own as a sentence.

Test Your Sentences

• EX: Roger had always wanted a handmade violin, but he couldn’t afford one.

3. If both can stand on their own as sentences, then put a comma before the conjunction.

• Two subjects: Roger & he

Test Your Sentences

• EX: He pushed the car beyond the tollgate and poured a bucket of water on the smoking hood.

1. Look before the conjunction

He pushed the car beyond the tollgate

It stands on it’s own as a sentence.

Test Your Sentences

• EX: He pushed the car beyond the tollgate and poured a bucket of water on the smoking hood.

2. Look after the conjunction

Poured a bucket of water on the smoking hood

It does not stand on it’s own as a sentence.

Test Your Sentences

• EX: He pushed the car beyond the tollgate and poured a bucket of water on the smoking hood.

3. If both can stand on their own as sentences, then put a comma before the conjunction.

• The verb “poured”is still using the first subject “he.”

Common Comma Usage

• Use a comma after an introductory clause or phrase

– Most common function as adverbs, telling us• When, where, how, why, or under what

conditions the main action occurs– A comma here tells the reader the intro

clause is over and the main part begins:• When Irwin was ready to iron, his cat tripped on

the cord.

Introductory Phrase• When Irwin was ready to iron, his cat

tripped on the cord.• Without this comma, the sentence would be

more confusing:– When Irwin was ready to iron his cat tripped on

the cord.Certainly, Irwin wasn’t going to iron his cat.

Bibliography

Hacker, Diana. The Bedford Handbook. 8th ed. New York: Bedford/St. Martins, 2010. 354-378. Print.