Using Commas
Why are commas important?
Items in a series
Compound sentences
Interrupters
Introductory elements
Conventional uses of commas
Review A
Review B
Why is punctuation
so important?
Especially
commas???
The story begins with an email that John
received one day from his new girlfriend.
Consider how pleased he must have felt to
read this note from Jill-
Dear John,
I want a man who knows what love is all
about. You are generous, kind, thoughtful.
People who are not like you admit to being
useless and inferior. You have ruined me for
other men. I yearn for you. I have no
feelings whatsoever when we're apart. I can
be forever happy--will you let me be yours?
Jill
Unfortunately, John was far from pleased. In fact, he
was heartbroken. You see, John was familiar with Jill’s
peculiar ways of misusing punctuation marks. And so
to decipher the true meaning of her email, he had to
re-read it with the marks altered:
Dear John,
I want a man who knows what love is. All
about you are generous, kind, thoughtful
people, who are not like you. Admit to being
useless and inferior. You have ruined me. For
other men, I yearn. For you, I have no feelings
whatsoever. When we're apart, I can be
forever happy. Will you let me be?
Yours,
Jill
Another classic example:
A woman, without her man, is nothing.
A woman: without her, man is nothing.
A real life
example…
The caption should
read:
Rachael Ray finds
inspiration in cooking,
her family, and her
dog.
Why are commas important?
Commas set apart words or groups of words within
a sentence. Using commas correctly helps make
your meaning clear.
George William Jo Ann Kevin
and Maria are all members of
the quiz team.
Without commas, it is unclear
who the members of the team
are.
George?
or George William?
Jo?
or Jo Ann?
Why are commas important?
Commas make the meaning of this sentence clear
by separating the names in the list.
George William, Jo Ann, Kevin, and Maria are all
members of the quiz team.
[End of Section]
Items in a series
Use commas to separate items in a series. A
series is three or more items written one after
another.
Words in a series
On the trail we saw chipmunks, woodpeckers,
and snakes.
Phrases in a series
We drove along the highway, up the mountain,
and into the woods to visit the nature center.
Items in a series
If all items in a series are joined
by and, or, or nor, do not use
commas to separate them.
Shall we go bowling or rent a
movie or listen to music?
I’ve seen snakes and lizards and
toads in our yard.
Items in a series
Use commas to separate items in a series.
Clauses in a series
Please let me know when the barbecue will begin,
who will be there, and when it will be over.
Items in a series
Use commas to separate items in a series.
Short independent clauses
The lights dimmed, the curtain rose, and the
orchestra began to play.
Two or more adjectives before a noun
On the doorstep she found a huge, beautiful,
fragrant bouquet of flowers.
Use a clean, glass measuring cup.
Items in a series
To determine if a comma should
go between two adjectives, try
switching the order of the
adjectives. If the sentence does
not make sense this way, do not
use a comma.
A large horned owl lives in that tree.
Would “horned large owl” make sense?
No. Do not add a comma.
Items in a series
On Your Own
Add commas where needed in the following
sentences.
1. The fluffy kitten with the brown white and black
spots is my favorite.
2. For lunch we had milk tuna sandwiches and pears.
3. I searched for the book in my locker at my house
and in my mother’s car.
4. At the beach we swam flew kites and built sand
castles.
[End of Section]
Compound sentences
Use a comma before and, but, for, nor, or, so, or
yet when it joins independent clauses in a
compound sentence.
I am very tired,
my sister
is sleepy
tired. and
My sister
is sleepy
too. too.
Josie’s mother said she could go to the movies,
movies.
but
her father
to stay
home.
Her father
said said
she she
had had
to stay
home.
The dog barked,
I threw
ball.
barked. so
I threw
thethe
ball.
Compound sentences
A compound sentence is two independent
clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction such
as or, but, yet, so, or and.
Theo turned the knob.
The water poured out.
Theo turned the knob,
and the water poured
out.
Compound sentences
Do not be fooled by compound
verbs, which can make a
sentence look like a compound
sentence. You do not need to use
a comma between the parts of a
compound verb.
Dana
hitthe
theball
balland
andran
rantotofirst
first
Dana hit
base.
One subject with two verbs.
Compound sentences
On Your Own
Add commas where needed in the following
sentences.
1. The children must go to bed now or they will be
tired in the morning.
2. The oak tree shaded the house but the shade kept
the grass from growing.
3. Ariel sings in the choir and Heidi plays in a band.
4. Jim practiced the piano piece all month for he
wanted to perform well at the recital.
[End of Section]
Interrupters
Use commas to set off elements that interrupt the
sentence.
Words used in direct address
Class, please pay attention.
I would like to give my
speech next, Ms. Garza.
Your eagerness, Ben, is
refreshing.
Interrupters
An appositive or appositive phrase describes or
identifies another noun. Use commas to set off
appositives and appositive phrases when they are
not necessary to the meaning of the sentence.
Their dog, Chaco, is a mixed breed.
Chaco identifies the dog. It is not essential to
the sentence’s meaning.
Jamaica, a popular island for tourists,
is in the Caribbean Sea.
A popular island for tourists describes Jamaica.
Interrupters
On Your Own
Add commas where needed in the following
sentences.
1. My sister was happy to see her favorite movie
Charlotte’s Web.
2. Elaine who swims well wants to become a
lifeguard.
3. Juan the captain of our soccer team is ill.
4. When you go outside Kami please take out the
trash.
[End of Section]
Introductory elements
Use a comma to set off certain introductory
elements.
Mild exclamations such as well, oh, or why
Well, have you girls finished with that mural yet?
Introductory words such as
yes and no
Yes, Toni just finished painting
her part.
Introductory elements
Use a comma to set off certain introductory
elements.
Introductory participial phrases
Signaling for a timeout, the coach gathered
her players.
Two or more introductory prepositional
phrases or one long one.
At the conclusion of the first half, her team
was trailing by four points.
Introductory elements
To remember all the reasons to use commas, think
of the word “LIES”:
L ists of items Bring a hat, gloves, and a scarf.
I ntroductions Yes, that is a cardinal.
E xtra information Ian, of course, was late again.
S entences put together I was tired, yet I stayed.
Introductory elements
On Your Own
Add commas where needed in the following
sentences.
1. In the corner of the room a night light showed the
way to the door.
2. Why that’s a beautiful ring you’re wearing.
3. Because the snow cover was so thin the deer had
no trouble finding food.
4. Smiling from ear to ear Monica told us the news.
[End of Section]
Conventional uses of commas
Use commas in certain conventional situations.
Separate items in dates and
addresses
A letter dated November 26, 1888,
was found in the old house at 980
West Street, Davenport, Iowa,
yesterday.
Conventional uses of commas
Use commas in certain conventional situations.
After the salutation of a personal letter
Dear Grandfather,
My dear Rosalyn,
After the closing of any letter
Sincerely yours,
With love,
Conventional uses of commas
On Your Own
Add commas where needed in the following
sentences.
1. The Harvest Festival was on Friday November 16
2007.
2. The letter began “My dearest Janet How are the
children?”
3. The main office in Santa Barbara California has a
new fax number.
[End of Section]
Review A
Add commas where necessary. If a sentence is
correct, write C.
_____ 1. My little brother likes to draw castles dragons and
horses.
_____ 2. This mild, creamy cheese will taste good with the
bread.
_____ 3. I bought a new skirt but I haven’t worn it yet.
_____ 4. Mr. Reyes who teaches science at the high school
will be our guest speaker today.
[End of Section]
Review B
Add commas where necessary in the following sentences.
1. The squirrel ran over the lawn up the tree and onto a
high branch.
2. The beaver a rodent builds dams out of sticks and mud.
3. Marching for more than an hour the scouts often lost
their formation.
4. Monday October 13 2008 was my grandparents’ golden
wedding anniversary.
5. My oldest sister Kate sent a postcard from Tokyo Japan.
[End of Section]
The End