Writing and Study Skills ClinicBetter Expression through Punctuation I:Commas versus Periods

Vantage Point: ConventionsMeaningStyleBuilding awareness and use

APA versus Chicago versus MLARequirements of the field will

vary by:◦Reference system most commonly

employed◦Norms of published journals◦Needs of the materials:

What format best communicates the information based on the kinds of ideas or concepts most common to the field?

How much “extraneous” information, or how much detail, is needed to maintain flow and logical structure?

Meaning: Clarification through Careful Comma-ing…When in doubt, what makes it easiest

for the reader to follow the flow? All punctuation (and capitals) are

“eye-catchers” that allow to mind to almost automatically draw conclusions about what it sees. The main meanings conveyed by commas are:◦Keeps the focus on the main threads◦Chunks ideas that function as modifiers

and/or as one concept◦Clarifies relationships and omissions

Back to basics: Mastering the RulesMost common rules at the

sentence level:◦Independent versus dependent◦Adverbial modifiers◦Adjectival modifiers◦Appositives◦Participial modifiers

ExamplesIndependent clauses (FANBOYS)

◦I love chocolate, but it makes me sick.

◦But I love chocolate so much.*Dependent clauses

◦Although Shakespeare has been purported to be a woman, evidence is spotty at best.

◦Abe Lincoln, who was president, died an untimely death.

More ExamplesAdverbial modifiers

◦Dogs, however, don’t really know what they’re doing.

Adjectival modifiers◦The fabulous, wonderful woman who

married me will be coming home soon.

Appositives◦Abe Lincoln, sixteenth US president,

was my favorite of them all.

Yet More ExamplesParticipial modifiers

◦Having taken off his coat, my doctor sat down.

◦My doctor sat down after having taken off his coat.

◦The dog licked his master, having exhausted the areas of his own body to lick.

◦The women cared about each other having gone through similar circumstances.

To Retain MeaningKeep the modifiers as close as

possible to their referents. ◦She looked out, who had never known

love, and gazed upon the shallow pool in the glen upon which gleamed the sun.

KNOW what you want to say! When in doubt, use the complete structure. ◦We found that dogs tend to stay close to

home, having lost their way numerous times.

Periods versus CommasCommas most often mark some

transition or relationship. Periods are only bound by completeness of the thought.

Periods must have minimum a subject and predicate to exist. They can offer self-contained thought.

While periods are necessary, commas allow for more complex information to exist from period to period, and for thoughts to flow into and around each other.

Example: How does this feel?

Periods versus CommasKnowing how to manipulate ideas

through good punctuation allows you to control expression more efficiently.

A sentence more than two lines long needs to be broken down—but where shall we put the period?

In the end, commas are dependent on not just the sentence itself, but what came before and what came after.

Periods, commas, and problemsI fell.He threw the ball.It saves me having to type the

same thing again.The results indicate

_______________.Given the parameters of the

projectIn the endNot only but also

Style: Building a Written PersonaBeing aware of the conventions at play

as you read will inform how YOU write.Recognizing the other elements that

affect punctuation use:◦Tone◦Purpose◦Flow and relationships

Always use the main clause as your guide: KNOW what you want to focus on, and keep it central.

Choose a role model.

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