Commas Let’s pause and study the rules of comma usage.

Are commas important?  The dog said my dad is scratching at the door and needs to go out for a walk.  The dog, said my dad, is scratching at the door and needs to go out for a walk.

What does a comma do?  While an end mark (.!?) signals a full stop, a comma signals a brief pause. It may be used to separate basic elements in a sentence or to set off elements added to a sentence.

Separate three or more words, phrases, or clauses in a series.  Cars, buses, and trucks clog city streets. (words)  Beside the fence, on the porch, or outside the back door is a good place for that potted plant. (phrases)  Call me before you leave town, while you’re in Florida, or after you return home. (clauses)

Set off an introductory word  Yes, we enjoyed our spring break!  No, you didn’t sing off key.  Well, I thought I had more time to complete my homework, but I was wrong.

Set off names used in direct address  Claire, have you traveled on a ship?  I flew to Alaska, Mr. Hess, just last week.  Did you enjoy your trip down the Ohio River, Dale?

Set off two or more prepositional phrases  In the fall of 1998, Frank Jordan ran for mayor. ( two phrases at the beginning)  Beneath a dozen fluttering red and blue banners, he made his campaign speech. (one long prepositional phrase)  Comma usage with a single short prepositional phrase is optional.

Set off participles and participle phrases  Talking, we lost track of the time.  Talking on the phone, we lost track of the time.  The band, marching in formation, moves down the field.  Independence day, celebrated on July 4, is a national holiday.

Before and after parenthetical expressions  Set off words that interrupt the flow of thought in a sentence.  These phrases are not essential to the sentence.  Politicians, of course, sometimes forget their campaign promises.  I reminded Mom, in case she’d forgotten, that I really want an iPod for my birthday.

Use a comma after a conjunctive adverb  Conjunctive adverbs: however, moreover, furthermore, nevertheless, therefore  The school district is growing; therefore, taxes will rise.  I thought I made a C on the test; however, I made a B.  I didn’t study very much; nevertheless, I made a good grade.

Set off an appositive that is not essential to the meaning  An appositive explains who or what a noun is.  The Titanic, a luxury liner, sank on its first voyage.  Our principal, Alex Crane, gave a great speech.  Katie Stevens, the best ballerina in the performance, shone as the star of the night.

Commas with Compound Sentences  A compound sentence consists of two independent clauses– that is, two or more complete thoughts, joined by one of the coordinating conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).  Use a comma before the conjunction to separate two independent clauses in a compound sentence.

Examples 1. I want to be on the newspaper staff but I also want to play soccer. 2. I told them about finding a buried treasure and they said I had to be lying!

 Remember to use a comma before a conjunction only when there are complete thoughts on both sides of the conjunction! Examples:  I will go to my grandparents’ house and to my uncle’s cabin for Spring Break.  I made an “A” in math and a “B” in science.

Use a comma to set off an adverb clause  A clause has a subject and a verb; a phrase doesn’t  And adverb clause begins with subordinating conjunctions: after, although, as, because, before, if, since, though, unless, until, when, whenever, where, wherever, or while

 Whenever I feel afraid, I whistle a happy tune.  After the game, we went to Sunspot.  When I was little, I loved to watch The Brady Bunch.  Since you are headed to the grocery store, pick up a gallon of milk.  Before you leave home, be sure to eat a snack.

Adverb clause at the end of a sentence  Usually does not require a comma  I whistle a happy tune whenever I feel afraid.

Set off nonessential adjective clause  Gives additional information and is not necessary to the meaning of the sentence  Usually begins with a relative pronoun: who, whom, whose, which, or that

Adjective clause  My house, which has green shutters, is at the corner of Elm and Maple.  Don’t set off an essential adjective clause.  The house that has green shutters is at the corner of Elm and Maple.

Comma in a date  In a date, set off the year when it’s used with both the day and the month.  The ship struck an iceberg on April 14, 1912, and sank early the next morning.  Don’t use a comma if the month and year are given.  The ship sank in April 1912 on its first voyage.

Comma after a state or country  Set off the name of a state or a country when it’s used after the name of a city.  The ship was sailing from Southampton, England, to New York City.  Set off the name of a city when it’s used after a street address.  You can write Lisa at 15 College Court, Stanford, CA

Commas with addresses  Don’t use a comma after the state if it’s followed by a ZIP code  You can write Lisa at 15 College Court, Stanford, CA 94305

Abbreviated title or degree  Set off an abbreviated title or degree following a person’s name  Michelle Jones, Ph.D., will be the graduation speaker.  Letisha Davis, M.D., is our family physician.

Too in a sentence  Set off too when it’s used in the middle of the sentence and means “also.”  Don’t set off too at the end of a sentence. (contradicts its assignment)  Parents, too, will attend the ceremony.

In direct quotation  Use a comma to set off a direct quotation.  Mom asked, “Have you finished your homework?”  “I did it,” I replied, “in study hall.”  “Tell me what you learned,” Mom said.

Comma in a letter  Use a comma after the salutation of a friendly letter.  Dear Dad,  Use a colon after the salutation of a business letter.  Dear Sirs:

Comma in a letter  Use a comma after the closing of both a friendly letter and a business letter.  Your loving daughter,  Sincerely,  Yours truly,

Comma for clarity  Use a comma to prevent misreading.  Instead of two, five teachers made the trip.  In the field below, the brook gurgled merrily.

Revision Practice Correct any misuses of commas. 1. Summer of my German Soldier is a book but it is also, a movie. 2. Patty’s mother is mean, and thinks too highly of herself. 3. Patty yearned for her father’s attention, yet he never showed her any.

Revision Practice Correct any misuses of commas. 1. The Westing Game is a book but it is also, a movie. 2. Grace Wexler is mean, and talks too much. 3. Dr. Deere tried to impress Angela, yet she didn’t seem to notice.