Commas and Their Use

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Commas and Their Use

• ENGL 3100
• Dr. Shelley Thomas

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Comma

• Description
• The comma is used more often than any other mark
  of punctuation because it has a variety of uses
  it can link, enclose, separate, and show
  omission. Used with care, the comma can add
  clarity and emphasis to your writing used
  carelessly, it can cause confusion. (520)
• (from Alred, Brusaw, Oliu. Writing that Works.
  New York St. Martins, 1984.)

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Punctuation Saves Lives
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Comma

• Do not follow the old myth that you should
  insert a comma wherever you would pause if you
  were speaking (HTW 78).

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Comma To Link

• Coordinating conjunctions
• and, but, for, or, so, nor, yet
• Comma is placed BEFORE the coordinating
  conjunction to connect independent clauses

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Example

• Human beings have always prided themselves in
  their unique capacity to create and manipulate
  symbols.

Today computers are manipulating symbols.
Human beings have always prided themselves in
their unique capacity to create and manipulate
symbols, but today computers are manipulating
symbols.
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Comma To Enclose

• Nonrestrictive elements
• Provide additional, nonessential information
  about things they modify
• Example
• Our new Detroit factory, which began operations
  last month, should add 25 percent to total output.

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Comma To Enclose

• Parenthetical elements
• Also provide extra information
• Set off by commas to show a loose relationship
  with the rest of the sentence
• Example
• We can, of course, expect their lawyer to call
  us.

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Comma To Separate

• Introductory commas
• Sets off introductory elements from the rest of
  the sentence
• Indicates to the reader where the main part of
  the sentence (the subject) begins

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Example

• Introductory Commas
• Since many rare fossils never occur free from
  their matrix, it is wise to scan every slab with
  a hand lens.
• During the first field-performance tests last
  year at our Colorado proving ground, the new
  motor failed to meet our expectations.

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Comma To Separate

• Items from each other
• Commas should be used to separate words in a
  series.
• Example
• Basically, plants control the wind by
  obstruction, guidance, deflection, and
  filtration.
• It is well known that plants absorb noxious
  gases, act as receptors of dust and dirt
  particles, and cleanse the air of other
  impurities.

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Comma To Separate

• Subordination
• A comma separates the subordinating clause from
  the main clause
• Example
• While the test ramp was being checked a final
  time, the driver reviewed his checklist.

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Comma To Separate

• For clarity and emphasis
• Two contrasting thoughts or ideas can be
  separated by commas
• Example
• The project was finished on time, but not within
  the cost limits.
• It was Bill, not Matt, who suggested the names be
  changed.

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Comma Splice

• Comma Splice is a grammatical error in which two
  independent clauses are joined by only a comma
• Example
• The new medical plan was comprehensive, the union
  negotiator was pleased.
• Revision?

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Sentence Fragment

• An incomplete grammatical unit that is punctuated
  as a sentence.
• Example
• Especially the outdoor cats.
• Enough of this stuff.
• Because of their dramatic effect.

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Exercises

• Handout in groups