How do I know when I need to use a comma?: Difference between revisions

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-Commas are the most used and misused punctuation for beginning college writers. Generally, the comma is used to signal and pause. Commas help to make a sentence’s meaning clearer, but if used carelessly, can cloud the meaning entirely. The most important rule to follow for using a comma is: use a comma only when you are sure you need it. More specifically, if you follow these six rules, you will use commas correctly.
+== Important information about commas ==
-. Put a comma before a coordinating conjunction when it connects two independent clauses.
+*Commas are the most used and misused punctuation for beginning college writers.
+*Commas are used to signal and pause.
+*Commas help to make a sentence’s meaning clearer, but if used carelessly, can cloud the meaning entirely.
+*The comma was invented to help readers understand run ons and smushed together sentence parts.
-: Our plane was late, so we ate dinner.
-. Put a comma between items in a series and coordinate adjectives.
+'''''Follow these rules and you will begin to use commas correctly.'''''
-: I’m taking math, science, and reading.
+== Put a comma before a coordinating conjunction when it connects two independent clauses. ==
-: Use the large, red pen.
-Some words seem to go togther, so do not need a comma:
+''':''' Our plane was late, so we ate dinner.
-: She is a sweet little old lady.
-. Put a comma after an introductory expression (word clause, phrase) that does not flow smoothly into the sentence.
+== Put a comma between items in a series and coordinate adjectives. ==
-: Yes, I have visited New York City.
-: Although I like reading, I watched a movie instead.
-: For example, dogs might be a better choice than hampsters.
-. Put commas around the name of a person being addressed (direct address).
+''':''' I’m taking math, science, and reading.
+''':''' Use the large, red pen.
-: Look, Derek, I do not care for your attitude.
-: Kim, would you hand me that piano?
-: Would you get me a Coke, darling?
-. Put commas around expressions that interrupt the flow of the sentence.
+== Some words seem to go togther, so do not need a comma: ==
-: I think, of course, that she is the best person for the job.
+''':''' She is a sweet little old lady.
-. Put commas around non-restrictive information, or nonessential information. If the information is removed, it will not change the meaning of the sentence.
+== Put a comma after an introductory expression (word clause, phrase) that does not flow smoothly into the sentence. ==
+''':''' Yes, I have visited New York City.
+''':''' Although I like reading, I watched a movie instead.
+''':''' For example, dogs might be a better choice than hampsters.
+==  Put commas around the name of a person being addressed (direct address). ==
+''':''' Look, Derek, I do not care for your attitude.
+''':''' Kim, would you hand me that piano?
+''':''' Would you get me a Coke, darling?
+== Put commas around expressions that interrupt the flow of the sentence. ==
+''':''' I think, of course, that she is the best person for the job.
+==  Put commas around non-restrictive information, or nonessential information. If the information is removed, it will not change the meaning of the sentence. ==
 : George W. Bush, the President of the United States, will speak tonight.
+==  Use commas with date, addresses, tittles,and numbers. ==
+: On December 31, 1956, Peter was Born. I was born in Columbus, Mississippi, in the 1980's.  Bill Barnes, M.D., performed my knee surgery.
+== Use commas to set off conjunctive adverbs. ==
+''':''' Over one million people in Atlanta wanted tickets to the big game.  Their access to the Super Bowl, however, was a chance in a million.
+==  Use commas with coordinate adjectives. ==
+''':''' After the NASDAQ bubble burst in 2000 and 2001, the Internent technology companies that remain are no longer the fresh-faced, giddy kids of Wall Street.
+== Extra Practice ==
+[[http://dailygrammar.com/346to350.shtml Daily Grammer 1]]
+[[http://dailygrammar.com/341to345.shtml Daily Grammer 2]]
+== Works Cited ==
+Hacker, Diana. ''A Writer's Reference.'' Boston: Bedford/St.Martin's, 2003.
+Hult, Christine A., Thomas N. Huckin. ''THe New Century Hand Book.'' New York: Pearson Eeucation, Inc, 2005.
+Faigley, Lester. "The Brief Penguin Handbook." New York: Pearson Education, Inc, 2003
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