Commas!!!
Show your reader where to pause.
Between two independent clauses
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______________ , AND _______________.
______________ , FOR _______________.
_______________ , BUT _______________.
A spider bite may be painful but it’s almost
always harmless.
COMPOUND SENTENCE!!!
To separate adjectives
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The _______ , _________ lights were annoying.
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Matt was tired of working in the hot smelly
kitchen and decided to take his usual morning
walk.
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Test: Can you insert AND between the
adjectives?
Separate Contrasted Elements
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Test: do you see the word “not”?
Test: do you pause when you read?
It is our responsibilities not ourselves that we
should take seriously.
The only time a spider would bite a human if
for self-defense not for blood.
Set off Appositives
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A word or phrase that renames the subject
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Benson our enthusiastic Yorkshire terrier joined
our family on my sister’s fifteenth birthday.
Between items in a series
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Alex makes cider applesauce and jelly from the
apples in his orchard.
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Kevin does the long jump runs the hurdles and
throws the shotput on the track team.