2. Conquering Commas By: Alice Hack

3. Commas * A punctuation mark that indicates a pause. * Clarify meaning

4. Common Comma Usage * Commas used in a series black, white, blue, pink, purple black, white, blue, pink, purple * Commas to separate adjectives The big, scary, black dog The big, scary, black dog * Commas used in speech “We went to school,” said Ruby. “We went to school,” said Ruby.

5. Comma Splice * A comma splice is an error in which two independent clauses (noun,verb) are joined by a comma. Anne struggled with her homework, her father helped her. Anne struggled with her homework, her father helped her. ERROR

6. Correcting a Comma Splice * Insert a conjunction (and,but,or,for,nor,yet,so) Anne struggled with her homework, so her father helped her. Anne struggled with her homework, so her father helped her. * Start a new sentence Anne struggled with her homework. Her father helped her. Anne struggled with her homework. Her father helped her. * Insert a semi-colon between two independent clauses Anne struggled with her homework; her father helped her. Anne struggled with her homework; her father helped her.

7. Compound Sentences * A compound sentence is two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (and,but,or,for,nor,yet,so).

8. Adding a Comma in a Compound Sentence * A comma in a compound sentence is placed before the coordinating conjuction. The class ended on Thursday, but the information lasted forever. The class ended on Thursday, but the information lasted forever.

9. Comma Chant,and,but,or,for,nor,yet,sooooooooooooooo Remember, before conjunctions!