commas
DESCRIPTION
Commas. Comma definition. Comma com·ma [ˈ kɒmə ] N oun. A punctuation mark (,) indicating a pause between parts of a sentence. It is also used to separate items in a list and to mark the place. what does a comma do? When I can use a comma?. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
COMMA DEFINITION• Comma
• com·ma [ˈkɒmə]
• Noun.
• A punctuation mark (,) indicating a pause between parts of a sentence. It is also used to separate items in a list and to mark the place...
WHAT DOES A COMMA DO? WHEN I CAN USE A COMMA?• A comma does nothing but make easy a thing that if
you like it enough is easy enough without the comma.
• A comma in writing is like a pause inside a sentence when speaking. We use commas inside sentences. Commas separate parts of a sentence into logical elements. Commas have no meaning, but they help us to see the structure and therefore the meaning of the sentence.
xxx, xxx correct
xxx ,xxxincorrect
xxx , xxx
SHOULD I USE A COMMA BEFORE “AND” OR “OR”?
• When a coordinating conjunction is used to connect two independent clauses, a comma is always used. Examples:
• Con·junc·tion:Noun The part of speech that serves to connect words, phrases, clauses, or sentences.
• I hit my brother with a stick, and he cried.
• The rain stopped, and the sun came out again.
• Should I eat dinner, or should I play a game?
• When a coordinating conjunction is used to connect a dependent clause, a comma is never used. This includes both of your given examples. Other examples:
• The boy ran to his room and cried.
• Frank is a healthy and active child.
• Should I eat dinner or play a game?
• When a coordinating conjunction is used to connect three or more items or clauses, a comma is optional (though I personally prefer to use one). Examples:
• I bought cheese, crackers, and drinks at the store.
• Should I eat dinner, play a game, or go to the store?
RULES FOR USING COMMAS
Rule 1
• To avoid confusion, use commas to separate words and word groups with a series of three or more.
• Example:My $10 million estate is to be split among my husband, daughter, son, and nephew.
Rule 2
• Use a comma to separate two adjectives when the word and can be inserted between them.
• Examples:He is a strong, healthy man.
• Rule 3
• Use a comma when an -ly adjective is used with other adjectives.
• NOTE: To test whether an -ly word is an adjective, see if it can be used alone with the noun. If it can, use the comma.
• Examples:Felix was a lonely, young boy.I get headaches in brightly lit rooms. Brightly is not an adjective because it cannot be used alone with rooms; therefore, no comma is used between brightly and lit.
RULES FOR USING COMMAS
• Rule 4
• Use commas before or surrounding the name or title of a person directly addressed.
• Examples:Will you, Aisha, do that assignment for me? Yes, Doctor, I will.
• Rule 5b
• If any part of the date is omitted, leave out the comma.
• Example:They met in December 2003 in Mill Valley.
• Rule 6
• Use a comma to separate the city from the state and after the state in a document. If you use the two-letter capitalized form of a state in a document, you do not need a comma after the state.
• Examples:I lived in San Francisco, California, for 20 years.I lived in San Francisco, CA for 20 years.
RULES FOR USING COMMAS
• Rule 7
• Use commas to surround degrees or titles used with names. Commas are no longer required around Jr. and Sr. Commas never set off II, III, and so forth.
• Example:Al Mooney, M.D., knew Sam Sunny Jr. and Charles Starr III.
QUESTIONS TRUE OR FALSE?
.
• I may consider your plan, or I may disregard it.
• The female applicant must be able to tell jokes, sing, and dance.
• PLC provided the material, and we built the road.
• We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.
• I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat.