The English House of Commas
Presents
Commas set off the items of a series
(three or more things), including the
last two.
My favorite uses of the Internet are
sending e-mail, surfing the Web, and
researching.
You may have learned that this
comma is not necessary.
But sometimes the last two items in
your series will glom into one if you
don’t use the so-called serial
comma.
Our newspaper has editors for
news, sports, features , and art.
Write a example:
• Of a sentence with a list that needs to be
separated by commas.
• DON’T PUT THE COMMAS IN IT.
• Give it to someone next to you.
• They will put the commas in.
• Evaluate their work and correct any errors
So.... Chunk together the meaning
in the sentence and punctuate it.
Chunk it and Punk it.
We found oil in the water, in the
sand, under the rocks , and later in
our shoes.
For breakfast we had a choice of
pancakes, oatmeal , sausage, or
bacon and eggs.
“Chunk it and Punk it.”
Use a comma and a conjunction
(fanboys) to separate two
independent clauses.
The public seems eager for some kind
of gun control legislation, but the
congress is too timid to enact any
truly effective measures.
If the two independent clauses are
brief and nicely balanced, this
comma may be omitted, but the
comma is always correct.
Our team is very good but their team
is better.
Write a example:
• Of a compound sentence. Make sure you have
two independent clauses and a conjunction
• DON’T PUT THE COMMAS IN IT.
• Give it to someone next to you.
• They will put the commas in.
• Evaluate their work and correct any errors
“Chunk it and Punk it.”
Use a comma to set off
introductory elements.
Anxious about the upcoming winter,
settlers began to bicker among
themselves about supplies.
In the winter of 1644, nearly half the
settlers died of starvation or
exposure.
I can baby-sit tonight, or I will
watch your children tomorrow.
My dad enjoys swimming and
fishing , and he also likes to ski in
the winter.
If the introductory element is brief
and the sentence can be read easily
without the comma, it can be
omitted.
In 1649 the settlers abandoned their
initial outpost.
Practice using commas in
introductory elements
To apply for the medical magnet
program ,you must fill out an
application.
Yes ,your speech was wonderful.
In addition to taking Spanish next
year,you must take humanities.
Finally, the desert received some
rain.
Write a example:
• Of a sentence with an introductory element
that requires a comma.
• DON’T PUT THE COMMAS IN IT.
• Give it to someone next to you.
• They will put the commas in.
• Evaluate their work and correct any errors
“Chunk it and Punk it.”
Use a comma to separate
adjectives.
Coaches grew weary of running
practices in the drafty, dreary,
dilapidated gymnasium.
The designs for an expensive ,
modern gym should make them
happy.
If you can put a but or an and
between the adjectives, you should
put a comma between them.
expensive and modern =
expensive, modern
But not “a little and old house.”
“A little old house” is correct.
Our bus began to emit black, greasy
smoke.
Marlene was sporting a flashy, new
pair of orange go-go boots.
Orange and go-go boots? naw . . .
Use a comma to set off elements
that express a contrast or a turn
in the sentence.
The house was cute, but too
expensive for the newlyweds.
They were looking for something
practical, not luxurious.
I’m a human being here,not a
computer.
He’s a gifted musician,yet somewhat
touchy.
The ham was delicious, if somewhat
salty.
Write a example:
• Of a sentence with multiple adjectives back to
back.
• DON’T PUT THE COMMAS IN IT.
• Give it to someone next to you.
• They will put the commas in.
• Evaluate their work and correct any errors
“Chunk it and Punk it.”
Use a comma to set off states and
countries, years (in a full date), titles,
etc.
The conference was originally set for
Geneva, Switzerland, but was then
rescheduled for Chicago, Illinois.
Their wedding date was set for
August 5,2000,in the college chapel in
Newton,Massachusetts.
Tashonda Klondike ,Chair of the
Ways and Means Committee ,
submitted the committee’s final
report.
Use a comma to set off quoted
language.
Frost’s poem ,“Fire and Ice” begins
with the lines “Some say the world
will end in fire, / Some say in ice.”
“Fire when ready, Jones ”, the
Admiral said.
“We can’t see into the future ,” said
the President,“but we have to
prepare for it nonetheless.”
Write a example:
• Of a sentence with a quote that requires a
comma. Use this format. _______ said “
“___________________”
• DON’T PUT THE COMMAS IN IT.
• Give it to someone next to you.
• They will put the commas in.
• Evaluate their work and correct any errors
Use a comma to set off
parenthetical elements.
This is the most difficult comma rule.
A parenthetical element is “added
information,” something that can be
removed from a sentence without
changing the meaning of that
sentence.
Deciding what is “added
information” and what is essential
is sometimes confusing.
Parenthetical elements:
When an appositive phrase can be
removed from a sentence without
changing its meaning or making it
ambiguous:
Robert Frost, perhaps America’s
most beloved poet, died when he
was 88.
Frankly, it doesn’t seem to matter.
Well ,I’m not sure I’d like wild
moose for dinner tonight,Dear.
Mathilde,the greedy little French
housewife in “The Necklace”, was
actually a Cinderella in reverse.
Write a example:
• Of a sentence with an appositive phrase. Make
sure it is still a sentence without the phrase!
• DON’T PUT THE COMMAS IN IT.
• Give it to someone next to you.
• They will put the commas in.
• Evaluate their work and correct any errors
“Chunk it and Punk it.”
An addressed person’s (or people’s)
name is always parenthetical:
I am warning you, good citizens of
Hartford, this vote is crucial to the
future of our city.
Of course,Dad,I’d love to help clean
the garage this weekend.
One more parenthetical
element:
An interjection is treated as a
parenthetical element:
Excuse me, but there are, of
course, many points of view that
we must consider before voting.
Do you know Carol how much
the CD’s are at Circuit City?
Do you know, Carol, how much
the CD’s are at Circuit City?
Baseball my favorite sport is
being offered as a PE course.
Baseball, my favorite sport, is
being offered as a PE course.
My mother as a matter of fact
graduated from high school at
the age of fifteen.
My mother, as a matter of fact,
graduated from high school at
the age of fifteen.
Write a example:
• Of a sentence with an interjection. Make sure
it’s still a sentence without the interjection.
• DON’T PUT THE COMMAS IN IT.
• Give it to someone next to you.
• They will put the commas in.
• Evaluate their work and correct any errors
One last rule: Don’t overuse commas! When a
comma is needed, use it;
otherwise, do without.
Practicing the rules of comma
usage will help you
understand the way sentences
are built — and that,
ultimately, will help you
become a better writer.
“Chunk it and Punk it.”