Punctuation: Commas With Interrupters

What’s an Interrupter? An interrupter is something which “interrupts” the flow of the sentence.  Nonessential Clauses and Phrases  Appositives and Appositive Phrases  Words used in a direct address  Parenthetical Expressions

What is a clause or phrase? A clause is a group of words that contains both a subject and a verb that complement each other. A phrase is a group of words that does not contain a subject or a verb that complement each other.

What is a clause or phrase? Clause: contain a subject and verb. If they form complete thoughts, we call them independent clauses. If they form incomplete thoughts, we call them dependent or subordinate clauses. Phrase: are word clusters lacking subject and verb combinations.

Clause examples: 1) We collected the data (Complete sentence with a subject and verb. This is an independent clause.) 2) While we collected the data (FRAGMENT as is even though it has a subject and verb. This is a dependent clause.) Phrase example: While collecting data (also a fragment, but not even a subject and verb!) Added slide Examples of Clauses and Phrases

Rule 1: Nonessential vs. essential A nonessential clause or phrase adds information that is not needed to understand the basic meaning of the sentence. This phrase or clause could be removed from the sentence without changing the main idea of the sentence so it must be set off with a comma. This small turtle, crossing the street slowly, was in danger.

Nonessential vs. essential Do not use commas to set off an essential phrase or clause. These phrases cannot be removed from the sentence without changing the meaning of the sentence. The theories developed by Einstein have changed the way people think about the universe.

Rule 2: What is an Appositive? An appositive is a noun or pronoun that follows another noun or pronoun to help identify or explain it. An appositive is a noun or phrase that identifies the person or thing it follows. Use commas to set off MOST appositives.  Mr. Schremp, the football coach, teaches driver’s education.  Both of them, he and his dog, got lost on the wooded trail. Do not use commas to set off a short appositive, such as one name.Example: This is my friend Kara.

What is an Appositive Phrase? An appositive phrase includes an appositive and all of its modifiers. Mr. Schremp, the highly respected football coach, teaches driver’s education. Both of them, he and his black and white dog, got lost on the wooded trail.

Tricky Appositives! Appositives/Appositive Phrases can be  “nonessential” (use commas to separate)  or “essential” (do not use commas). A meeting with Mr. LeMoine, the school’s dean, should help clear up the commons attendance policy. We are studying the works by the landscape artist Fernando Amorsolo.

Rule 3: Words of Direct Address Words used in a direct address within a sentence are set off by commas. Paul, please pick up your garbage. Can you develop, Ben, your answer by using a specific quote? You seem upset, my friend.

Rule 4: What is a Parenthetical Expression? Parenthetical Expressions are remarks that add incidental information or relate ideas to each other (very similar to transition words). Of course, Napoleon was a poor leader. Boxer, on the other hand, would have been a great leader. Snowball was the best leader, naturally.

Should I Use Parenthetical Expressions? YES! Parenthetical Expressions help to clarify your writing and bring ideas together (make connections).

Examples of Parenthetical Expressions After all At any rate By the way Consequently For example For instance However I believe (hope, etc.) Incidentally In fact in general In the first place Meanwhile Moreover Naturally Nevertheless Of course On the contrary On the other hand That is Therefore Not (as in Joe, not Jim, …)

Tricky Parentheticals What is the difference? My sister, by the way, borrowed your gym uniform. We could see by the way the students lined up that the weight room would be crowded.