Training: Punctuation

A. Commas –

Commas are the mortar that holds sentences together. Too many or too few commas can severely damage the structure of your content. Luckily, there are definitive rules for comma usage; you just need to know when to apply each rule.

1. Commas and Conjunctions:

A basic comma rule is to use one in front of a coordinating conjunction that separates two complete sentences, such as, “Dave went to the bar, and he stayed until the end of the ballgame.” Since there is a clearly defined subject in each clause, the comma is necessary. However, if a subject is shared between clauses, then a comma is not used. This is seen in the sentence, “Dave went to the bar and stayed until the end of the ballgame.” The same rule applies to imperative sentences that imply the use of “you” as the subject. “Cook the apples, and add the sugar.”

2. Commas and Direct Quotations:

A comma must be used to introduce a quote that contains a complete sentence. The first sentence in Example 1 contains a quote that is a full sentence, so there must be a comma in front of the quotation. However, the second sentence has a fragment inside the quotations, so a comma is not needed to offset the quote (the introduction of a quote that is two sentences or longer requires a colon). If you are attributing a quote to a source, then place the comma inside the quote, as seen in the last sentence within the example.

3. Commas and Equal Adjectives:

A rule that sometimes takes a little thought is placing a comma between equal adjectives. Saying “a long, winding road” requires a comma because the adjectives are equal in describing the road. “A long asphalt road” is an example of unequal adjectives. While “asphalt” describes the road, it is an essential part of the noun phrase. “The stylish, brightly colored baseball cap” uses three modifiers, but “baseball” outranks the other adjectives because it is essential to the noun phrase of “baseball cap.”

4. Commas and Essential/Nonessential Clauses:

Use commas to indicate when a word or phrase is not essential to a sentence. Example 2 contains two sentences with the same wording, but they have very different meanings. The first example

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Example 1 – -His famous last words were, “Serial commas are for the birds.”

-He thinks that commas are “for the birds.”

-“Serial commas are for the birds,” he thought to himself.

Example 2 –

1. Baseball players, who are elite in their profession, make more money than athletes in other sports.

2. Baseball players who are elite in their profession make more money than athletes in other sports.

,

indicates that the phrase “who are elite in their profession” is not needed to fulfill the meaning of the sentence. Therefore, the sentence implies that all baseball players are elite in their profession and that they all make more money than other athletes. The second example features the phrase as an essential part of the sentence. Since it plays a role in the meaning of the sentence, “who are elite in their profession” applies the understanding that only elite players make more than athletes in other sports.

Another example of this rule is, “Bill’s dog, Betsy, needs to go to the vet.” The commas indicate that “Betsy” is not needed in the sentence, so Betsy must be Bill’s only dog. If there were no commas, then “Betsy” is essential meaning Bill has multiple dogs and Betsy is the one who needs to go to the vet.

5. Commas With Hometowns and Ages:

Commas are used when a person’s hometown or age is used as an appositive. This is seen in the following sentences:

Samuel Perkins, Kansas City, Mo., finished in first place. Sarah Jenkins, 37, was the first on the scene.

6. Commas and Introductory Elements:

One of the most common reasons for a comma, an introductory element is helpful in setting the scene of the sentence. The basic rule is that a comma must be used to set off introductory phrases and clauses (Example 3). Additionally, a comma is needed when the sentence starts with a transitional word. Omitting the comma confuses the reader and could relay a message far from the intended meaning.

7. Commas and Parenthetical Elements:

AP style discourages the use of parenthetical elements, such as “The writer, regrettably, used a parenthetical element.” Remove any instances of parenthetical elements you come across.

8. Serial Commas:

Serial commas are the bane of writers just starting their career with CrowdSource. Do not use serial commas! A serial comma is a comma placed in front of the conjunction between the final two elements in a series (“He has a cat, dog, and bird”). For all CrowdSource writing, do not include the serial comma (“He has a cat, dog and bird”) unless it falls under the exception. Serial commas are the most common error that beginner writers make. While they are not article-decimating errors, they are still mistakes that must be fixed by an editor, and a missed serial comma leaves an inconsistency. A trick that makes it easy for you to check your article for serial commas is to do a “find” (CTRL+F)

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Example 3 –Introductory Element:If you intend on going, bring an umbrella.

Examples of Transitional Words:-however -nevertheless-well -yes-no -meanwhile-furthermore -still-also -hence-consequently -therefore

for any possible occurrence of a serial comma. When you have the “find” bar open, search for “, and” and “, or” to remove any serial commas you find.

There is, however, an exception to this rule shown in Example 4. When the last element in the series contains a conjunction, a serial comma is used to separate the last two items in the series. “Track and field” is a single element in the series, so a comma is placed between “baseball” and “track and field.”

While there are numerous rules regarding the usage of commas, using them properly creates consistent content that reads properly. This keeps the reader interested in the writing, allows the reader to trust the integrity of the article and encourages the reader to continue reading.

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Example 4 –Correct –He plays soccer, baseball and hockey.

Incorrect –He plays soccer, baseball, and hockey.

Exception –He plays soccer, baseball, and track and field.

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