Transcript Do Now - Collingswood High School

Commas
The one general rule to obey is:
Commas
Use to Prevent
Confusion
Always use a comma when it will
prevent confusion.
Examples:
- In this department sale goods are marked
with red tags. (In the department? Or in the
department sale?)
- In this department, sale goods are marked
with red tags.
- For the photography project I picked Jesse
and Chad picked Heather. (This is actually a runon.)
- For the photography project I picked Jesse,
and Chad picked Heather.
Commas
Use Commas to:
Separate
Words,
Phrases,
and Short
Clauses
1. Separate words, phrases, and short
clauses in a series.
a. A comma should always come before the
conjunction in a series.
b. Examples:
-
-
It takes the Earth exactly 365 days, five hours,
forty-eight minutes, and 47.8 seconds to go
around the sun.
We looked for the costumes under the bed, in the
attic, and in the garage.
c. You DO NOT need a comma when
separating only two words, phrases, or
dependent clauses.
-
Example: The gorilla was nervous and beat his
chest.
Commas
d. Some words are thought of as pairs.
-
Group paired
words together
-
i.e. ham and eggs, bread and butter
When such a pair occurs with other items in
a series, set it off with commas as a single
item.
Example:
-
The elegant brunch included Belgian waffles, ham
and eggs, smoked salmon, and fresh berries.
e. If you want to create your own pairs,
set them off with commas as well.
-
Example: Before we move we’ll have to
separate and examine, select and discard, and
weigh and pack our belongings.
f. Use no commas when all items in a
series are connected by “and” or
“or”.
-
Example: Josh seems carefree and jaunty and
happy-go-lucky as ever.
Commas
Use Commas to:
Separate two or
more
coordinate
adjectives
2. Separate two or more coordinate
adjectives that modify the same noun.
a. Identifying coordinate adjectives:
-
-
“And” should be able to substitute for the
comma without changing the meaning of the
sentence.
Examples:
1. She is a slow, careful worker.
2. Ben is a cheerful, likeable person.
-
-
If “and” cannot be substituted without
changing the meaning, then no comma is
needed.
Example:
1. Laura knitted a dark brown sweater for her sister. (It
makes no sense to say dark and brown sweater.)
Commas
Use Commas to:
3. Separate each item when a date or address
consists of two or more parts.
Separate items
in a date or
address
a. Example: The will was read on Thursday, April
20, 2009.
b. The exceptions for this rule are:
-
There should be no comma between the state and
ZIP code.
-
DO NOT use to
set off items
separated by
prepositions
Example: Address the letter to Rita Watson, 520 West
Legion, Apartment 8G, Evansville, Wisconsin 53536.
When you write just the month and year, do not
use a comma
-
Example: The will was read in April 2009.
4. DO NOT use commas to set off items
separated by prepositions.
-
Example: The class meets on Wednesday at 9 a.m.
Commas
Use Commas to:
5. Set off non-essential phrases and clauses.
a.
b.
Set off nonessential
phrases and
clauses
Do not confuse “non-essential” with unimportant.
To distinguish the difference between a non-essential
and essential clause ask yourself:
-
c.
When the clause is removed, does the meaning of the
sentence change?
Examples:
-
Non-Essential: Teenagers, who can’t drive properly,
should be kept off the highways. (This implies that all
teenagers can’t drive properly and should be kept off the
highways)
-
Essential: Teenagers who can’t drive properly should be
kept off the highways. (This implies that only teenagers
who can’t drive properly should be kept off the highways)
d. Think of this: If a clause contains grammatically
essential information, it’s too important to be set
off with commas!
Commas
Use Commas to:
6. Set off Appositive Phrases, if it is not
essential to the meaning of the sentence.
Set off
Appositive
Phrases
a. Appositive Phrase: explains or identifies what
comes before it.
b. Examples of appositives:
-
Susan, our team’s outstanding center, fouled
out of the game.
The first test tube baby, Elizabeth Jordan Carr,
was born on December 28, 1981.
Commas
Use Commas to:
Set off
parenthetical
expressions
7.
Set off parenthetical expressions which interrupt
the main thought of the sentence.
a.
Examples:
-
b.
Set off
conjunctions
at the beginning
of sentences
Set off
direct addresses
Common parenthetical expressions are:
-
8.
I will understand, of course, if you are unable to attend.
The children, I suppose, are excited about the holidays.
to tell the truth
on the other hand
as a matter of fact
- for example
- nevertheless
- by the way
- you know
- it seems
- therefore
- however
- perhaps
- I think
Set off words at the beginning of a sentence like
yes, no, well, oh, why and boy.
a. Example: Oh, I didn’t see you standing there.
9.
Set off a person’s name or other words that stand
for a person when they are used in direct address.
a.
Examples:
-
Jennifer, can you help me study for my Physics test.
Boys and girls, please be quiet because the show is starting.
Commas
Use Commas to:
Set off
introductory
adverb clauses,
participial
phrases, two or
more
prepositional
phrases
10. Set off an introductory adverb clause, a participial
phrase, or two or more adjoining prepositional
phrases.
a.
-
b.
Before
coordinating
conjunctions
Examples:
Even though Alex set the alarm, it did not go off.
Thinking the alarm was set, he did not worry.
At nine o’clock in the morning, he was sleeping peacefully.
To see more clearly, Annette stood on a chair.
When a phrase or clause is short, no comma is
needed:
-
Whatever he says annoys our teacher.
At times the class is enjoyable.
11. Before and, but, for, or, nor, yet when they separate
two independent clauses.
a.
Examples:
-
Dr. Frazier was tired, yet she still had four more hours left.
My brother doesn’t like coffee, but he does like tea.
Commas
Use Commas to:
12. Separate Contrasting Elements.
a. Examples:
Separate
Contrasting
Elements
-
Throw your dirty socks in the hamper, not on the
floor.
The harder we tried to paint neatly, the messier it
looked.