I was stretched out on my back, my paws dangling at my sides, thinking nothing more of the meal I’d just eaten and the chocolate I hoped still lie ahead. James Howe, The Celery Stalks at Midnight Only Howie, who was growling as he chewed vigorously on a rawhide bone, seemed unable to relax. James Howe, The Celery Stalks at Midnight And she didn’t want to sit next to Frank Pearl, who ate paste, in class. Megan McDonald, Judy Moody Intricate mosaic tiles, handpicked by Baba in Isfahan, covered the four floors of the four bedrooms. Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner

, Comma use as an interrupter, When a group of words interrupts a sentence, it needs to have commas on both sides. Use two commas to set off nonessential information Interrupters add information to sentence.

When to use an interrupter? An interrupter clarifies the noun in front of it, but if it is to be set off with commas, the interrupter is not necessarily essential to the meaning of the sentence. Sent ence, interrupter, (sentence with interrupter in the middle to add description)

Example without interrupter: I know that the chocolate covered doughnut will upset Pam’s stomach this early in the morning. Example with interrupter: I know that the chocolate covered doughnut, even though they are her favorite, will upset Pam’s stomach this early in the morning.

Example without interrupter: Our yellow ranch house had a garage and a bathroom shower with sliding glass doors. Example with interrupter: Our yellow ranch house, 26 Bobolink Drive, had a garage and a bathroom shower with sliding glass doors. She’s Come Undone, written by: Wally Lamb

Special Note: Sometimes writers add comments about the ideas in the sentence that are not a part of the main idea, but more transitional statements. These comments are words and phrases such as: of course, for example, in fact, as a matter of fact.

Your Task: Rewrite each sentence adding commas where needed. Example: Giraffes which are the tallest land mammal may be eighteen feet tall. Answer: Giraffes, which are the tallest land mammals, may be eighteen feet tall. 1.My essay to be perfectly honest flew out of the bus window while we were coming to school. 2.What you just ate if you must know was squid eyeball stew. 3.The bathroom tiles whenever time permits require a good scrubbing for the grout is black with mold.

Create your own comma interrupters in these sentences below. 1.My best friend Molly always wears blue shoes. 2.The family cat Fluffy always makes a mess in the hallway. 3.Her hair was held back by a elastic headband. 4.Mrs. Depew says we’re intelligent.

Possible Answers 1.My best friend Molly, who I have know for 6 years, always wears blue shoes. 2.The family cat Fluffy, who has white and brown fur, always makes a mess in the hallway. 3.Her hair, long brown and wavy, was held back by a elastic headband. 4.Mrs. Depew, our math teacher, says we’re intelligent.