C OMMA R HAPSODY By: Queen of Commas

Is this a smudge here? Are these parentheses? What mark do I use when combining two sentences?

Between years and dates and cities and states, tell me? It’s just a small mark, but it plays an important part.

Because it’s everywhere, take a look. In short, short notes and in books.

It’s everywhere there’s written word. What could this punctuation be? What could it be?

Comma, why are you hard to understand and use? It’s so hard to pick and choose where you are supposed to go, and I’m not really sure why we need you at all!

Comma, Ooooooooo! I need to learn the rules, or else my teacher will be rather cruel and flunk me!

Can’t you see that you really, really matter?

Comma, where are you used? When we have a list of things, as in run, jump, play, dance, and sing.

Comma, separate some adjectives like, “He’s a crabby, stinky, crusty, mean, old man!”

Comma, Oooooooooo! After introductory words and phrases like, “According to mom, they all went to the mall.”

ROCK OUT!!!

With names of direct address such as in this sentence, “Ms. Dilsaver, Ms. Dilsaver, will you eat this ripe mango?”

And with interrupters, I am certain, is when they are used. Appositives, Appositives, Appositives, Appositives! Yeah, but what’s an appositive?

An appositive is a word that describes a noun that comes before it. “Ms. Dilsaver, a sixth grade teacher, had a dollar, but she tore it.”

Separate quotations from explanatory words. “School is done, and I am tired. Can I go home?” he asked as he raised his hand.

“Let him go!” the students shouted at the woman. Ms. Dilsaver said, “No! I will not let you go. Not until you know how to use your commas with quotations.” No! No! No! No! No! No! No!

And then there’s letters, put the comma after the salutation. “Dear Abby,” or “To whom it may concern,” With a closing like “Sincerely,” use the comma!

So here’s the most important way that a comma can function! When combining two sentences linked with a conjunction! Ohhhhh! That conjunction! Comma goes before the conjunction!

But only if the two combined sentences can stand alone. Independent clauses!

Commas, commas, commas. All this really matters, anyone can see. I expect correct punctuation on any assignment you turn in to me.

It’s all about the comma.