Commas and Semicolons

1. Commas and Semicolons Why do we love them so much?

2. I Commas [,] • Commas clarify meaning and set sentence meter for readers.

3. Commas Rule! (Comma Rules) 1. Use commas to separate items in a list. • I can’t believe you went to Disneyland, Six Flags, and Universal Studios all in one day! • He likes mustard, onions and chili on his hotdogs.

4. Comma Rules (cont.) 2.Use commas after longer introductory phrases and clauses. • After we completed our whirlwind visit to all three amusement parks, we fell into a dead sleep for 12 hours.

5. Comma Rules (cont.) 3. Use commas after shorter introductory phrases and clauses if necessary to avoid confusion. • To Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse is no stranger. • To chili, hotdogs are a natural accompaniment.

6. Comma Rules (cont.) 4. Use commas to set off appositives and appositive phrases that are not necessary to the meaning of the sentence. • Mickey Mouse’s main squeeze, Minnie, is one cute mouse.

7. Comma Rules (cont.) 5. Use commas to separate two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction. • We knew it would be a long day, but we decided to go to all three amusement parks anyway. • He roasted five hotdogs at the bonfire, and he also set a hay bale on fire.

8. Comma Rules (cont.) 6. Use commas to set off words used in direct address. • Ms. Jacobs, please explain the assignment. • Do you know who Santa Anna was, Beth? • You’re right, Inga, to say he was a Mexican general.

9. Comma Misuse • Do not use a comma to separate two independent clauses not joined by a coordinating conjunction. This creates a comma splice (as seen below). • We went to Disneyland, we went to Six Flags. • He ate six hotdogs, he got a stomach ache.

10. Comma Misuse (cont.) • Do not use a comma when a subordinate clause is inside or at the end of a sentence. If the subordinate clause is used at the beginning of the sentence, a comma is required. • We went to all three theme parks because we were bored. • Because he was hungry, he ate six hotdogs.

11. Our Friend, the Semicolon • Let’s begin with a simple sentence: Grandma stays up too late.

12. Our Friend, the Semicolon • Now let’s expand on that a bit: Grandma stays up too late. She’s afraid she’s going to miss something. This is OK. Two independent ideas, separated by a period.

13. Our Friend, the Semicolon • What if we try to combine the two ideas? Grandma stays up too late, she’s afraid she’s going to miss something. Something’s wrong. We connected two independent clauses with only a comma. The dreaded COMMA SPLICE!

14. Our Friend, the Semicolon • We could insert a coordinating conjunction: Grandma is afraid she’ll miss something, so she stays up too late. This is better! Note the comma that accompanies the coordinating conjunction.

15. Our Friend, the Semicolon • We could also try subordinating one of these ideas: Grandma stays up too late because she’s afraid she’s going to miss something. Notice that the comma disappeared. One idea has become a dependent, or subordinate clause.

16. Our Friend, the Semicolon • But let’s try something else. ENTER THE SEMICOLON !

17. Our Friend, the Semicolon • Let’s try using a semicolon in this sentence. Grandma stays up too late; she’s afraid she’s going to miss something. Notice there is no conjunction used with this semicolon – neither subordinating nor coordinating—just the semicolon, all by itself.

18. Our Friend, the Semicolon Rule: Use a semicolon between parts of a compound sentence if they are not joined by and, but, for, nor, or, so, or yet. • Todd’s report is about Arizona; mine is about Utah. • The rain clouds are moving in quickly; let’s head home.