Taken from your lovely WREN books.

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 thought, 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 get out of the war  It was a good decision to drop the bomb in Japan, for various reasons.  It would have been a thought 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 get out of the war.  It was a good decision to drop 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 Sox 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 Sox 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