PunctuationPunctuation

CommasCommas

Colons/ Semi -colonsColons/ Semi -colons

What are commas?What are commas?

Commas are forms of punctuation Commas are forms of punctuation that can make the meaning of that can make the meaning of sentences clearer by separating sentences clearer by separating certain sentence elements. However certain sentence elements. However using too many commas can cause using too many commas can cause more confusion than leaving them more confusion than leaving them out.out.

Commas in a Series Commas in a Series

Use commas between adjectives of Use commas between adjectives of equal rank that modify the same equal rank that modify the same noun.noun.

Example: A Example: A youngyoung, , adventurousadventurous man man jumped off a 300-foot bridge.jumped off a 300-foot bridge.

Commas is a seriesCommas is a series

Use commas after Use commas after firstfirst , , secondsecond, , and so on when they introduce items and so on when they introduce items in a series.in a series.

Example: Participant are asked to Example: Participant are asked to folloe three simple rules: folloe three simple rules: firstfirst, , secure the bungee cord for safety; secure the bungee cord for safety; secondsecond, do not attempt to hold on to , do not attempt to hold on to anything ; and third , have fun.anything ; and third , have fun.

Commas in a seriesCommas in a series

In a series of three or more items use In a series of three or more items use a comma after every item except the a comma after every item except the last one.last one.

Example: Bungee jumping has joined Example: Bungee jumping has joined the ranks of surfboarding , the ranks of surfboarding , skateboarding, and sky surfing as an skateboarding, and sky surfing as an extreme sport.extreme sport.

Commas after Introductory Commas after Introductory ElementsElements

Use a comma after an introductory Use a comma after an introductory prepositional phrase that contains prepositional phrase that contains one or more other prepositional one or more other prepositional phrases.phrases.

Example: Example: At the beginning of the At the beginning of the jumpjump, a person feels a rush of , a person feels a rush of emotions.emotions.

Commas with Introductory Commas with Introductory ElementsElements

Use a comma after an introductory Use a comma after an introductory word or a mild interjection such as word or a mild interjection such as ohoh or or well.well.

Example: Example: Oh,Oh, bungee jumping is not for bungee jumping is not for the fain-heartedthe fain-hearted

Example: Example: However, However, if you are a thrill if you are a thrill seeker , then this is the perfect hobby.seeker , then this is the perfect hobby.

Commas with Introductory Commas with Introductory ElementsElements

Use a comma after an infinitive Use a comma after an infinitive phrase, participial phrase, or an phrase, participial phrase, or an adverb clause that begins a adverb clause that begins a sentence.sentence.

Example: Example: Taking a deep breathTaking a deep breath, the , the jumper prepares for the dive.jumper prepares for the dive.

Example: Example: When the jump is over,When the jump is over, the exhilaration remains.the exhilaration remains.

Commas as InteruptersCommas as Interupters

Use commas to set off words that Use commas to set off words that interrupt the flow of thought in a interrupt the flow of thought in a sentence.sentence.

Examples: Bungee jumping, Examples: Bungee jumping, by the by the way,way, can be done in groups. can be done in groups.

A seven –person team, A seven –person team, for example, for example, has jumped in a specially designed has jumped in a specially designed basket.basket.

COMMON INTERUPTERSCOMMON INTERUPTERS

HOWEVERHOWEVER THERFORETHERFORE FOR EXAMPLEFOR EXAMPLE I SUPPOSEI SUPPOSE MOREOVERMOREOVER I BELIEVEI BELIEVE BY THE WAYBY THE WAY IN FACTIN FACT AFTER ALLAFTER ALL

OF COURSEOF COURSE FURTHERMOREFURTHERMORE NEVERTHELESSNEVERTHELESS

Commas as InterruptersCommas as Interrupters

Use commas to set off nonessential Use commas to set off nonessential appositivesappositives

Example (nonessential) Paul, Example (nonessential) Paul, my my brother, brother, has gone bungee jumping in has gone bungee jumping in Australia.Australia.

Example : essential (no commas)Example : essential (no commas)

His friend His friend SheilaSheila will jump from a hot-air will jump from a hot-air balloon in Augustballoon in August

Use Commas to Set Off Nouns Use Commas to Set Off Nouns of Direct Addressof Direct Address

A noun of direct address names the A noun of direct address names the person or people being spoken to. person or people being spoken to. Nouns of direct address can be either Nouns of direct address can be either proper nouns or common nouns .proper nouns or common nouns .

Example: David, do you know anyone Example: David, do you know anyone who has gone bungee jumping?who has gone bungee jumping?

Example: If you want to learn more Example: If you want to learn more about bungee jumping , ladies and about bungee jumping , ladies and gentlemen, try a search on the gentlemen, try a search on the Internet.Internet.

Commas as InterruptersCommas as Interrupters

Use commas to set off nouns of Use commas to set off nouns of direct addressdirect address

Example: Example: David, David, do you know anyonedo you know anyone who has gone bungee jumping?who has gone bungee jumping?

If you want to learn more about If you want to learn more about bungee jumping,bungee jumping, ladies and ladies and gentlemen,gentlemen, try a search on the try a search on the Internet.Internet.

Use commas to set off Use commas to set off nonessential appositives nonessential appositives

An appositive is a word or phase that identifies or An appositive is a word or phase that identifies or renames a noun or pronoun , A nonessential renames a noun or pronoun , A nonessential appositive adds information about a noun or pronoun appositive adds information about a noun or pronoun in a sentence in which the meaning is already clear.in a sentence in which the meaning is already clear.

Example: Paul, Example: Paul, my brother,my brother, has gone bungee jumping has gone bungee jumping in Australia. (in Australia. (my brothermy brother as used in this sentence isas used in this sentence is nonessential)nonessential)

Example: His friend Example: His friend SheilaSheila will jump from a hot-air will jump from a hot-air balloon in August (balloon in August (Sheila as used in this sentence is essential)

An essential appositive provides information that is An essential appositive provides information that is needed to explain the preceding noun or pronoun . It needed to explain the preceding noun or pronoun . It requires no commas.requires no commas.

Use Commas with Nonessential Use Commas with Nonessential ClausesClauses

Use commas to set off non essential clauses.Use commas to set off non essential clauses. A non essential clause adds extra information to a A non essential clause adds extra information to a

sentence but is not necessary to the meaning of sentence but is not necessary to the meaning of the sentence.the sentence.

Example: Trick riding and fancy roping Example: Trick riding and fancy roping ,which are ,which are virtually unknown to rodeo fans today, virtually unknown to rodeo fans today, were were popular events during the 1920’s and 1930’s.popular events during the 1920’s and 1930’s.

Essential clauses are necessary to the meaning of Essential clauses are necessary to the meaning of sentences and are not set off with commas.sentences and are not set off with commas.

Example: Fancy roping originated among those Example: Fancy roping originated among those Mexican horsemen, Mexican horsemen, who are known as charros.who are known as charros.

Use Commas to avoid Use Commas to avoid confusionconfusion

Use a comma whenever the reader Use a comma whenever the reader might misinterpret a sentence without might misinterpret a sentence without it.it.

Example: (Unclear) Before the rodeo Example: (Unclear) Before the rodeo cowboys competed against one cowboys competed against one another for fun.another for fun.

Example: (clear) Before the rodeoExample: (clear) Before the rodeo,, cowboys competed against one cowboys competed against one another for fun.another for fun.

Use Commas with Use Commas with QuotationsQuotations

Use commas to separate direct Use commas to separate direct quotations from explanatory words quotations from explanatory words like like he said , Greg replied, and he said , Greg replied, and Sheila asked. Sheila asked. If theIf the explanatory explanatory words precede thewords precede the quotation, insert a quotation, insert a comma before the quoted wordscomma before the quoted words..

Example: Example: Mr. Cruz said, ”Mr. Cruz said, ”The rodeo The rodeo waswas born during the era of the cattle born during the era of the cattle industry, in the 1860’s and 1870’sindustry, in the 1860’s and 1870’s

Use Commas with Use Commas with QuotationsQuotations

If explanatory words interrupt a If explanatory words interrupt a quotation , insert a comma inside the quotation , insert a comma inside the quotation marks before the quotation marks before the explanatory words and another explanatory words and another comma after the explanatory words.comma after the explanatory words.

Example: “Cowboys would gather Example: “Cowboys would gather together, together, ”Mr. Cruz said,”Mr. Cruz said, :and :and compete against one another in steer compete against one another in steer roping and bronco riding.”roping and bronco riding.”

Use Commas With Use Commas With QuotationsQuotations

If explanatory words follow a If explanatory words follow a quotation, insert a comma inside the quotation, insert a comma inside the quotation marks before explanatory quotation marks before explanatory words.words.

Example: “Today cowboys compete Example: “Today cowboys compete against each other for monetary against each other for monetary awardsawards,” ,” added Mr. Cruz.

Commas in Compound Commas in Compound SentencesSentences

Use a comma to separate Use a comma to separate independent clauses joined by a independent clauses joined by a conjunction in q compound sentence.conjunction in q compound sentence.

Example: Rodeos are held in many Example: Rodeos are held in many parts of the United States parts of the United States ,but ,but they they are also popular in Mexico, Canada , are also popular in Mexico, Canada , and Australia.and Australia.

Use Commas in Letters, Place, Use Commas in Letters, Place, Names , and DatesNames , and Dates

Use a comma after the Salutation in a LetterUse a comma after the Salutation in a LetterExample: Dear Samantha,Example: Dear Samantha, Use a comma to set off a year number following a Use a comma to set off a year number following a

datedateExample: June 25, 2009Example: June 25, 2009Use commas to set off the name of a state or county Use commas to set off the name of a state or county

following the name of a city or townfollowing the name of a city or townExample: Houston, Texas,Example: Houston, Texas, Use commas after each part of an address (but not Use commas after each part of an address (but not

before the ZIP codebefore the ZIP codeExample: 111 West Fourth Street , Fort Worth, TX Example: 111 West Fourth Street , Fort Worth, TX

7610276102 Use a comma after the closing Use a comma after the closing Example: Sincerely,Example: Sincerely,

Commas in Letters, Place Names , and Dates

Use a comma after the salutation in a letterEx: Dear Samantha, Use a comma to set off the year and

number following a dateEx: June 25, 2000 Use a comma to set off the name of a state

or country following the name of a city or town

Ex: Houston, Texas

Commas in Letters, Place Names , and Dates

Use a comma after each part of an address (but not before the ZIP code)

Ex: 111 West Fourth Street, Fort Worth, TX

761021