ctivnan
12/24/07, 12:31 PM
Part II of Commas (,)
INTRODUCTORY PHRASES
- place a comma AFTER introductory phrases
e.g.
Disgusted with her brother, Tina ran off to tattle.
(participial modifying phrase)
With a shimmy on his hips, Pete kicked off the talent show.
(prepositional modifying phrase)
** Some introductory words or phrases are so brief that they don't really require a comma. In such cases, comma use is a matter of personal choice.
e.g.
Yesterday afternoon I went to the theater.
Yesterday afternoon, I went to the theater.
INTRODUCTORY WORDS
- Do NOT use a comma AFTER coordinating conjunctions (and, so, or, but, yet, and so on)
e.g. So you might want to check that out.
SERIAL COMMAS
- Everyone agrees that items in a series should be separated with commas. But not everyone agrees that a serial comma, which comes before a conjunction in a list, is necessary.
e.g.
PJ enjoys swimming, dancing and painting.
(no serial comma)
PJ enjoys swimming, dancing, and painting.
(uses a serial comma: makes prose clearer and more readable)
TWO CONJUNCTIONS
If two conjunctions (like but and if ) appear next to each other, you DO NOT NEED to separate them with a comma.
e.g. I'm no expert, but if I may make a suggestion, you might want to step away from the crocodile pit.
TWO SENTENCES
- To join two sentences, use a comma and a conjunction.
e.g. John didn't want to join the trip because he still had to read something for class, but Erlie insisted that he did.
** Sometimes the two sentences you want to join are SO SHORT that a conjunction will do the job, and you DON'T NEED a comma.
e.g. Vinna enjoys driving but Cathy does not.
Source: Chastain, E. (2005). How to write: A concise guide to grammar, usage & style. New York: Spark Publishing
INTRODUCTORY PHRASES
- place a comma AFTER introductory phrases
e.g.
Disgusted with her brother, Tina ran off to tattle.
(participial modifying phrase)
With a shimmy on his hips, Pete kicked off the talent show.
(prepositional modifying phrase)
** Some introductory words or phrases are so brief that they don't really require a comma. In such cases, comma use is a matter of personal choice.
e.g.
Yesterday afternoon I went to the theater.
Yesterday afternoon, I went to the theater.
INTRODUCTORY WORDS
- Do NOT use a comma AFTER coordinating conjunctions (and, so, or, but, yet, and so on)
e.g. So you might want to check that out.
SERIAL COMMAS
- Everyone agrees that items in a series should be separated with commas. But not everyone agrees that a serial comma, which comes before a conjunction in a list, is necessary.
e.g.
PJ enjoys swimming, dancing and painting.
(no serial comma)
PJ enjoys swimming, dancing, and painting.
(uses a serial comma: makes prose clearer and more readable)
TWO CONJUNCTIONS
If two conjunctions (like but and if ) appear next to each other, you DO NOT NEED to separate them with a comma.
e.g. I'm no expert, but if I may make a suggestion, you might want to step away from the crocodile pit.
TWO SENTENCES
- To join two sentences, use a comma and a conjunction.
e.g. John didn't want to join the trip because he still had to read something for class, but Erlie insisted that he did.
** Sometimes the two sentences you want to join are SO SHORT that a conjunction will do the job, and you DON'T NEED a comma.
e.g. Vinna enjoys driving but Cathy does not.
Source: Chastain, E. (2005). How to write: A concise guide to grammar, usage & style. New York: Spark Publishing