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Rules for Commas

Rules for Commas. By: Stacey Sigwarth Info from: OWL at Purdue And www.grammarbook.com. What is a Comma?. A comma is a punctuation mark that indicates a pause is needed in the sentence Commas help to clarify meaning for the reader. To Avoid Confusion.

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Rules for Commas

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  1. Rules for Commas By: Stacey Sigwarth Info from: OWL at Purdue And www.grammarbook.com

  2. What is a Comma? • A comma is a punctuation mark that indicates a pause is needed in the sentence • Commas help to clarify meaning for the reader

  3. To Avoid Confusion • The $10 million is to be split between my mother, father, brother, and sister. • She went to the store to buy milk, bread, cheese, and eggs. • Use commas to separate words and word groups with a series of three or more.

  4. To Separate Adjectives • Use a comma between adjectives where an “and” can replace the comma • Needed: He is a hungry, growing boy. • Not Needed: She is going to a winter ski resort.

  5. Direct Address • Use commas when directly addressing a person • Joe, did you do your homework? • Will you, Alicia, do my chores for me? • Did you talk to her, Kyle?

  6. Dates • Use a comma to separate the day of the month and the year • If any part of a date is left out, do not add a comma. • He met her on August 7, 1985. • She went to Hawaii in January 2006.

  7. Cities and States • Use a comma to separate the city and state • If using the abbreviated state name, do not use the comma. • He lives in San Francisco, California. • She has lived in San Francisco, CA for 3 years.

  8. Additional Clauses and Introductory Words • Use a comma when a weak or additional clause is added to the beginning or middle of a sentence. Also use them when using an introductory word. • I am, as you can see, very nervous. • If you are unsure, let me know now. • Well, I never thought she would do that.

  9. Non-essential Information • Commas surround non-essential information in a sentence that still may be needed to identify the subject • Freddy, who has a limp, was in a car accident. • Sheila, who is wearing yellow, is over there.

  10. Conjunctions • Use a comma when using any of the conjunction words with two strong clauses • I have painted the entire house, but he is still sanding the doors.

  11. Quotations • Use commas when introducing or interrupt a quote that is less that three lines long • The teacher said, “Sit down!” • “Why,” she asked, “is lunch so late?”

  12. Separate Parts of a Sentence • Use commas to separate statements from questions • Also use commas when separating contrasting parts of sentences. • I can go, can’t I? • This is mine, not yours.

  13. Interrupters • Use a comma to surround interrupters in your sentences • I would, however, like to hear your feedback. • She would, therefore, volunteer for the blood drive.

  14. Comma Splices • A comma splice is an error in which two independent clauses are joined by a comma • To correct them, add a conjunction, start a new sentence or use a semicolon. • Comma Splice: Time flies when we are having fun, we are always having fun. • Correct: Time flies when we are having fun, and we are always having fun.

  15. Works Cited • Straus, Jane. "Commas." Grammar and Punctuation. N.p., 2012. Web. 30 Sept. 2012. <http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/commas .asp>. • "Purdue OWL." Purdue OWL. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Sept. 2012. <http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/>.

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