1. Commas Matter!

2. Comma errors can cause… Love confusion.

3. Dear John: I want a man who knows what love is all about
Dear John: I want a man who knows what love is all about. You are generous, kind, thoughtful. People who are not like you admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me for other men. I yearn for you. I have no feelings whatsoever when we're apart. I can be forever happy--will you let me be yours? Jane

4. Unfortunately, John was far from pleased. In fact, he was heartbroken
Unfortunately, John was far from pleased. In fact, he was heartbroken. You see, John was familiar with Jane's peculiar ways of misusing punctuation marks. And so to decipher the true meaning of her , he had to re-read it with the marks altered:

5. Dear John:
I want a man who knows what love is. All about you are generous, kind, thoughtful people, who are not like you. Admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me. For other men, I yearn. For you, I have no feelings whatsoever. When we're apart, I can be forever happy. Will you let me be?
Yours, Jane

6. Comma Errors can cause… Million Dollar Mistakes.

7. A tariff passed in 1872 contained a list of duty free items that read, “fruit plants, tropical and semitropical.” A clerk accidentally altered the line, “Fruit, plants tropical and semi tropical.” Those importing argued that the passage, with its misplaced comma, excluded all tropical and semitropical plants from duty feed. They won.

8. Comma Rules
Comma Rule # 1: Use commas to separate three or more items in a list.
For example:
Jayne went to the supermarket, the bookshop and the bank during her lunch break.

9. Comma Rules
Comma Rule # 2: Use a comma to separate two sentences that are stuck together with a joining word (and, but, or, so, yet, for)
There are simple sentences, and there are complex ones. Simple sentences don’t need commas. Take these two:
I have seen the film. I didn’t enjoy it.
I have seen the film, but I didn’t enjoy it.
You can read the book, or watch the video if you prefer.
He wanted to talk to Lucy, so he called her at the office.
The safe was supposed to be secure, yet the robbers still managed to break it open.
John had to listen carefully, for the director spoke with a strong accent.
I have seen the film, and I really enjoyed it.

10. Comma Rules
Comma Rule # 3: Use a comma in a complex sentence beginning with words like when, as, since, if, although, so, because, until and for
This is similar to tip # 2, in that it deals with complex sentences, but with a twist.
Look at this example:
When we receive your payment, we will send you the goods.

11. Comma Rules
Comma Rule # 4: Use a pair of commas when you are inserting extra information in the middle of a sentence.
Take this sentence:
Mr Smith will contact you next week.
It’s a simple sentence, but who is Mr Smith? Perhaps I should add some extra information to make it clearer.
Mr Smith, our sales manager, will contact you next week.

12. Comma Rules The team who plays the best should win tomorrow night.
How should we punctuate this?

13. Comma Rules
NO COMMAS!
WHY?!
Because it is ESSENTIAL information!

14. PRACTICE:
1.In the room over the garage Amy worked on her painting. 2. I’ll tell you since you asked that I think the movie is good. 3. Mike and Brady are both good singers but Brady is better. 4. I am by the way planning to go to the party.
5. Jennifer of course made an A on the test.
6. A salad that contains crisp fresh tasty greens adds to any meal.
7. I had dinner with David and Leslie went home.
8. For dinner we plan to eat hamburgers french fries and ice cream.