Yep there are rules you have to follow Rule 1 Separate items in series Separate individual words phrases or clauses that occur in a series Running jumping and spitting are not allowed in school ID: 491952
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Slide1
Comma Usage
Yep, there are rules you have to follow!Slide2
Rule #1: Separate items in series
Separate individual words, phrases, or clauses that occur in a series.Slide3
Running jumping and spitting are not allowed in school.
You may not eat swear or lie in the presence of your grandmother.
The politicians talked among themselves ate massive amounts of food and lied continuously to the public.Slide4
Running
,
jumping
,
and spitting are not allowed in school.
You may not eat
,
swear
,
or lie in the presence of your grandmother.
The politicians talked among themselves
,
ate massive amounts of food
,
and lied continuously to the public.Slide5
Rule #2: Use commas after introductory material
Introductory words (yes, no, well)
Intro. participial phrases
Intro. prepositional phrases or a series of them– more than 4 words
Intro adverb clausesSlide6
Individual words
Well I seriously doubt you can eat the golf ball in one bite.
Yes
Shiela
has my permission to leave early.
Why I am very surprised by your reaction to my proposal!Slide7
Well
,
I seriously doubt you can eat the golf ball in one bite.
Yes
,
Shiela
has my permission to leave early.
Why
,
I am very surprised by your reaction to my proposal!Slide8
Intro. participial phrases
Shooting from the hip the cowpoke missed the target by a mile.
Mouthing off to the principal Bert soon found himself in trouble.
Lying openly the criminal swore he killed only three of the four people.Slide9
Shooting from the hip
,
the cowpoke missed the target by a mile.
Mouthing off to the principal
,
Bert soon found himself in trouble.
Lying openly
,
the criminal swore he killed only three of the four people.Slide10
Intro. prepositional phrases
(must use a comma if the phrase or combined phrases contain 4 or more words)
On
the morning of the parade we got on the float early.
In the cool of the afternoon shade the puppies gamboled and yipped.Slide11
On the morning of the
parade
,
we got on the float early.
In the cool of the afternoon
shade
,
the puppies gamboled and yipped.Slide12
Rule #3: between independent clauses,
if
they are joined by a conjunction
The material on both sides of the conjunction must be independent clauses (subject, verb, stand alone as a sentence).Slide13
Between independent clauses
*
Living in Montana can be tough but we are known as a tough breed.
*Winning the gold medal was an incredible experience and he thanked everyone who helped him .Slide14
*Living in Montana can be tough
,
but we are known as a tough breed.
*Winning the gold medal was an incredible experience
,
and he thanked everyone who helped him .Slide15
Rule #4: Set off nonessential material
Nonessential clauses
Nonessential participial phrases
DO NOT set off material that is important to the meaning of the sentence.Slide16
The doctor believing she was infallible refused to acknowledge her mistake.
Montana the fourth largest state in the union has a relatively small population.Slide17
The
doctor
,
believing she was
infallible
,
refused to acknowledge her mistake.
Montana
,
the fourth largest state in the
union
,
has a relatively small population.Slide18
The infallible doctor refused to acknowledge her mistake. Slide19
Rule 5: Set off material
which interrupts the sentence
Appositives – a noun, pronoun, or entire phrase to identify or explain another noun/pronoun
Nouns of direct address
Parenthetical expressionsSlide20
Appositives
Entomology the study of insects sounds like an interesting but creepy field.
My dog Schnitzel only turns to the left.Slide21
Entomology
,
the study of
insects
,
sounds like an interesting but creepy field.
My
dog
,
Schnitzel
,
only turns to the left.Slide22
Nouns of direct address
Phillip will you stop making noise?
Will you please Phillip stop making noise?Slide23
Phillip
,
will you stop making noise?
Will you
please
,
Phillip
,
stop making noise?Slide24
Parenthetical expressions
That is I think the dumbest thing you have ever done!
I think that is the dumbest thing you have ever done.
He will I bet make the all-conference team this year.Slide25
That
is
,
I
think
,
the dumbest thing you have ever done
!
He will
,
I
bet
,
make the all-conference team this year.Slide26
Rule 6: Various conventional uses
Addresses, when in text
Dates
Salutations
Names that associate a title or degreeSlide27
Take the package to Jim Palmer, 2007
Alameta
Street, Billings, Montana 59333.
Monday, September 8, 1954, is the day he was born.
Dear Maria,
Mara Green, ATC, PT, RN, will serve as the trainer for
the team.Slide28
That’s it!
Know these rules and you can control the world of commas!