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Created by April Turner Created by April Turner UWF WRITING LAB RULES OF UWF WRITING LAB RULES OF THUMB FOR COMMA USAGE THUMB FOR COMMA USAGE from from Real Good Grammar, Too Real Good Grammar, Too by Mamie Webb Hixon by Mamie Webb Hixon NOTE: Comp I students are responsible for only the rules covered on the first two slides.

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Page 1: Commas Uwf.Edu

Created by April TurnerCreated by April Turner

UWF WRITING LAB RULES UWF WRITING LAB RULES OF THUMB FOR COMMA OF THUMB FOR COMMA

USAGEUSAGE

fromfrom Real Good Grammar, Too Real Good Grammar, Too

by Mamie Webb Hixonby Mamie Webb Hixon

NOTE: Comp I students are responsible for only the rules covered on the first two slides.

Page 2: Commas Uwf.Edu

USE A COMMA:USE A COMMA:

with a coordinating with a coordinating conjunction to connect conjunction to connect two independent clauses.two independent clauses.

Betty is the homecoming Betty is the homecoming queen, and Bill is the queen, and Bill is the

king.king. to separate introductory to separate introductory

phrases, words, or phrases, words, or clauses from the main clauses from the main part of the sentence.part of the sentence.

After the Vietnam War After the Vietnam War ended, a number of ended, a number of

veterans were veterans were hospitalized.hospitalized.

Page 3: Commas Uwf.Edu

USE A COMMA:USE A COMMA:

to separate nonrestrictive to separate nonrestrictive clauses, phrases, and clauses, phrases, and appositives from the rest of appositives from the rest of the sentence. the sentence.

The scout leader, The scout leader, overweight and out of overweight and out of

shape, trudged up the hill.shape, trudged up the hill. DO NOT set off restrictive DO NOT set off restrictive

information with commas .information with commas . Twain’s novel Twain’s novel Huckleberry Huckleberry

FinnFinn is on the censored list. is on the censored list.

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USE A COMMA:USE A COMMA:

to separate direct quotations to separate direct quotations from the phrase identifying from the phrase identifying the speaker.the speaker. John said, "The fishing is John said, "The fishing is

great in Bear Lake.“great in Bear Lake.“ to separate the names of to separate the names of

smaller geographic units smaller geographic units from the names of larger from the names of larger units. units.

Denver, Colorado, is called Denver, Colorado, is called the Mile High City.the Mile High City.

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USE A COMMA:USE A COMMA:

to separate items in a date. to separate items in a date. Omit the comma when just Omit the comma when just the month and year or month the month and year or month and day are given. and day are given.

Kennedy was assassinated Kennedy was assassinated November 22, 1963, in November 22, 1963, in

Dallas, Texas.Dallas, Texas. to separate names of titles or to separate names of titles or

degrees that follow the degrees that follow the name. name.

Harold Johnson, Ph.D., will Harold Johnson, Ph.D., will speak in the Commons on speak in the Commons on

Tuesday.Tuesday.

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USE A COMMA:USE A COMMA:

to separate short, tightly, to separate short, tightly, interrelated clauses in a interrelated clauses in a series.series.

John phoned, Mary stopped John phoned, Mary stopped by, and Phil left a message.by, and Phil left a message.

to mark allowable omissions to mark allowable omissions of repeated words, especially of repeated words, especially verbs. verbs.

Your analysis is superb; your Your analysis is superb; your execution, appalling.execution, appalling.

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USE A COMMA:USE A COMMA:

to provide clarity and prevent to provide clarity and prevent misreading, even if none of the misreading, even if none of the other rules apply.other rules apply. We left him, assured that he We left him, assured that he

would fail.would fail. (We were sure that he would fail.)(We were sure that he would fail.) We left him assured that he would We left him assured that he would

fail.fail. (He was sure that he would fail.)(He was sure that he would fail.)

to separate three or more items to separate three or more items or phrases in a series.or phrases in a series.

Golfing, swimming, and bowling Golfing, swimming, and bowling are my favorite activities.are my favorite activities.

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USE A COMMA:USE A COMMA:

to separate a series of two or more to separate a series of two or more adjectives not connected by a conjunction adjectives not connected by a conjunction if the order of the adjectives can be if the order of the adjectives can be reversed and still retain the same reversed and still retain the same meaning.meaning. Your friend is a clever, sensitive person.Your friend is a clever, sensitive person.

to separate interrupters or parenthetical to separate interrupters or parenthetical and transitional words from the rest of the and transitional words from the rest of the sentence. sentence. Most of them, however, do try to act Most of them, however, do try to act

friendly and courteous.friendly and courteous.

Page 9: Commas Uwf.Edu

USE A COMMA:USE A COMMA:

to separate contradictory to separate contradictory phrases from the rest of the phrases from the rest of the sentence.sentence.

It was Betty, not Joan, who was It was Betty, not Joan, who was elected queen of the prom.elected queen of the prom.

to separate names used in direct to separate names used in direct address or other isolates such as address or other isolates such as yesyes, , nono, and , and thank youthank you from the from the rest of the sentence.rest of the sentence.

Tell me, John, did you vote for Tell me, John, did you vote for Joan?Joan?

No, I am not voting for myself.No, I am not voting for myself.

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USE A COMMA:USE A COMMA:

to separate tag questions from the rest of the to separate tag questions from the rest of the sentence. sentence.

You did that on purpose, didn't you?You did that on purpose, didn't you? to separate words and abbreviations that to separate words and abbreviations that

introduce an example or an illustration, including introduce an example or an illustration, including namelynamely, , that isthat is, , toto witwit, , i.e.i.e., , e.g.e.g., , for examplefor example, and , and for instancefor instance..

Many of my friends, for example, Fred, Dean, and Many of my friends, for example, Fred, Dean, and Pete, like to golf.Pete, like to golf.

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Questions and AnswersQuestions and Answers

Does anyone have Does anyone have a question about a question about the rules of the rules of comma usage?comma usage?

PLEASE ASK!!!PLEASE ASK!!!

Page 12: Commas Uwf.Edu

LET’S PRACTICE!!!LET’S PRACTICE!!!

I have told one million lies in my life and that is the I have told one million lies in my life and that is the Gospel truth.Gospel truth.

……lifelife,, and that… and that… As a child I was the kind of kid my mother told me not As a child I was the kind of kid my mother told me not

to play with.to play with. As a childAs a child,, I was… I was…

Denver which is the capital of Colorado has an altitude Denver which is the capital of Colorado has an altitude of one mile.of one mile. DenverDenver,, which is the capital of Colorado which is the capital of Colorado,, has… has…

The city which is the capital of Colorado has an altitude The city which is the capital of Colorado has an altitude of one mile.of one mile.

No commas (restrictive)No commas (restrictive)

Page 13: Commas Uwf.Edu

LET’S PRACTICE A LITTLE LET’S PRACTICE A LITTLE MORE!!!MORE!!!

Linda asked “Do you think she’ll ever speak to him Linda asked “Do you think she’ll ever speak to him again?”again?”

Linda askedLinda asked,, “Do you… “Do you… Paxton Florida is the home of the mighty Bobcats.Paxton Florida is the home of the mighty Bobcats.

PaxtonPaxton,, Florida Florida,, is the… is the… The No Child Left Behind Act was signed in on January The No Child Left Behind Act was signed in on January

2 2002.2 2002. ……January 2, 2002.January 2, 2002.

July 1990 is the date for the Progress “90” celebration.July 1990 is the date for the Progress “90” celebration. No comma (2 items in the date)No comma (2 items in the date)

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LET’S KEEP GOING!!!LET’S KEEP GOING!!!

The commencement speaker was Juliet Brown Ph.D.The commencement speaker was Juliet Brown Ph.D. ……Juliet BrownJuliet Brown,, Ph.D. Ph.D.

He shot pool he drank Anchor Steam beer and he He shot pool he drank Anchor Steam beer and he rarely went home.rarely went home. He shot poolHe shot pool,, he drank Anchor Steam beer he drank Anchor Steam beer,, and he and he

rarely went home.rarely went home. To the winners we give prizes; to the losers To the winners we give prizes; to the losers

consolation; and to the spectators a good show.consolation; and to the spectators a good show. ……to the loserto the loser,, consolation; and to the spectators consolation; and to the spectators, , a a

good show.good show.

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ALMOST THERE!!!ALMOST THERE!!!

The morning after a policeman came to the The morning after a policeman came to the door.door.

The morning afterThe morning after,, a policeman… a policeman… Jeff collected a change of clothing shoes and Jeff collected a change of clothing shoes and

golf gear before he set off for the day.golf gear before he set off for the day. ……a change of clothinga change of clothing, , shoesshoes,, and golf gear… and golf gear… A large green bug settled on the torn autumn A large green bug settled on the torn autumn

leaf.leaf. A largeA large,, green bug… green bug…

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WE’RE IN THE HOME WE’RE IN THE HOME STRETCH!!!STRETCH!!!

The order however was not filled that The order however was not filled that day.day.

The orderThe order,, however however,, was not… was not… PneumoniaPneumonia begins with a begins with a pp not an not an nn..

……with a with a pp,, not an not an nn.. Thank you Susan.Thank you Susan.

Thank youThank you,, Susan. Susan.

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LAST ONES!!!LAST ONES!!!

You’re going aren’t you?You’re going aren’t you? You’re goingYou’re going,, aren’t you? aren’t you?

Many of my friends for example Rachel, Many of my friends for example Rachel, Jennifer, and Allen, enjoy going to the Jennifer, and Allen, enjoy going to the movies.movies.

Many of my friendsMany of my friends,, for example for example,, Rachel Rachel,,……