comma rule #1to comma or not to comma first do the and test: five and flashy and sports cars passed...
TRANSCRIPT
Comma Rule #1
Commas in a series
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Use a comma to set off the elements of a
series (three or more things), including the
last two.
My favorite uses of the Internet are sending e-mail, surfing the
Web, and using chat rooms.
You may have learned that this comma is not necessary.
Sometimes, however, the last two items in your series will
glom into one if you don’t use the so-called serial comma.
The English House of Commas
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The English House of Commas
Rule #1
I like dogs cats and birds.
I like dogs, cats, and birds.
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Oxford comma: Without it, meanings of
sentences can change completely
• Susan found herself in the Winnebago with her ex-boyfriend, an herbalist and a pet detective.
• Susan found herself in the Winnebago with her ex-boyfriend, an herbalist, and a pet detective.
• One comma makes the difference between an awkward road trip with two people and a potentially hilarious road trip with four people. Make sure you’re punctuating the story you want people to read.
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Comma Rule #2: Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction
(and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so) to separate two independent
clauses.
I like to go shopping at the mall , and I like to eat at The
Cheesecake Factory while I’m there.
The English House of Commas Rule #2
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Comma Rule #2 Coordinating
Conjunctions
Formula
Sentence + comma FANBOY + sentence
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Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction
(and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so) to separate two
independent clauses.
The public seems eager for some kind of gun control
legislation, but congress is obviously too timid to do something
about it.
The English House of Commas
Rule #2
The public seems eager for some kind of gun control
legislation but too timid to do something about it.
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To comma or not to comma…
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I ate the old stale bread.
I ate the old and stale bread.
I ate the old, stale bread.
Use a comma to separate adjectives
If you can
place and or
but between
the adjectives,
then a comma
is needed!
The English House of Commas
Rule #3
If you can
change the
order of the
adjectives and
it still makes
sense, then a
comma is
needed!
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The English House of Commas Rule
#3
Coaches grew weary of running practices in the
drafty, dreary, dilapidated gymnasium.
Sometimes there are more than two
adjectives! These must be separated
with a comma if the AND test works
and the order of the words can be
switched up.
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To comma or not to comma
First Do the AND test:
Five and flashy and sports cars passed by.
If you are still unsure, mix up the order of the adjectives. If the sentence
loses meaning, then no comma is needed.
Five flashy sports cars passed by.
Five sports flashy cars passed by.
Sports flashy five cars passed by.
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To comma or not to comma
Michael’s faded ragged jeans were inappropriate
for the job interview.
Michael’s faded and ragged jeans were...
Michael’s ragged faded jeans…
Michael’s faded, ragged jeans were inappropriate
for the job interview.
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The English House of Commas
Rule #4
• Put a comma after an introductory (dependent)
clause at the beginning of a sentence.
A phrase that has a subject and verb, but isn’t a sentence
because it begins with a hanging word
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Rule #4 cont…• Hanging words:
– Since
– Although
– Because
– Before
– After
– If
– When
– Etc.
Hint: cover up the
hanging word & it
should make sense
up to the comma
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Put a comma after an introductory (dependent)
clause at the beginning of a sentence.
Because they were anxious about the upcoming winter, settlers
began to bicker among themselves about supplies.
The English House of Commas
Rule #4
After they made it through the winter of 1944, nearly half the
settlers died of starvation or exposure.
After I left the school, I went home.