Taken from your lovely WREN books.
TUTORIAL #2: DELETING
UNNECESSARY COMMAS
To delete unnecessary commas
means that a writer must get rid
of commas that split up a
sentence incorrectly.
Unnecessary picture.
EXAMPLE
 Incorrect: Wally brewed a pot of coffee, that
was too strong for Nancy.
 It seems like there should be a pause in this
sentence, but it actually makes the sentence
confusing by breaking it into unequal parts.
 Correct: Wally brewed a pot of coffee that
was too strong for Nancy.
Goals for this Lesson
1) Avoid writing sentences with unnecessary
commas.  Best option
2) Recognize and fix sentences with
unnecessary commas.  Acceptable option
Incorrect:
Correct:
 It would have been, a
 It would have been a thought
thought, and only a thought.
 The bomb would have
and only a thought.
 The bomb would have
instilled fear within their
people, and would have
pressured the Japanese
government to sign a treaty
to et out of the war
instilled fear within their
people and would have
pressured the Japanese
government to sign a treaty
to get out of the war.
 It was a good decision to drop
 It was a good decision to drop
the bomb in Japan, for
various reasons.
the bomb in Japan for various
reasons.
Deleting unnecessary commas in
the ACT
 For the past ten years,
cities across the country
have reported higher
average temperatures
during the summer.
Many have stopped
spending time, outside,
as temperatures make
outdoor activities
increasingly
uncomfortable.
 A. NO CHANGE
 B. spending time
outside, as temperatures
 C. spending time outside
as temperatures
 D. ,spending time
outside, as temperatures
Deleting unnecessary commas in
the ACT
 For the past ten years,
cities across the country
have reported higher
average temperatures
during the summer.
Many have stopped
spending time, outside,
as temperatures make
outdoor activities
increasingly
uncomfortable.
 A. NO CHANGE
 B. spending time
outside, as temperatures
 C. spending time
outside as
temperatures
 D. ,spending time
outside, as temperatures
ACT Example #2
 Countless baseball fans
across the City of
Chicago have given up
their loyalty to the
White Soc in favor of
the Cubs. The reason is,
the Cubs are just more
fun.
 A. NO CHANGE
 B. The reason is the
Cubs
 C. The reason is the
Cubs,
 D. The reason is, the
Cubs,
SURPRISE!
ACT Example #2
 Countless baseball fans
across the City of
Chicago have given up
their loyalty to the
White Soc in favor of
the Cubs. The reason is,
the Cubs are just more
fun.
 A. NO CHANGE
 B. The reason is the
Cubs
 C. The reason is the
Cubs,
 D. The reason is, the
Cubs,
THE END