Comma

Lesson 7: Comma||
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The comma is a mark of punctuation that can be used to manipulate the reading of a passage.

Here are 8 of the most commonly used situations were the comma is compulsory.


1. Before the coordinating conjunction(FANBOYS) in a compound sentence.
EXAMPLE: A duck's quack doesn't echo, and no one knows why.


2. To separate items is series.
EXAMPLE: Please send me 500 labels of each of these colors: blue, green, read, black, and white.
Notice that the comma before the conjunction is not optional; it is now compulsory. The reason for this is to prevent misreading of sentences.


3. After most introductory material.

(a) Introductory dependent clauses.
EXAMPLE: When you put your curlers in your hair, you look like an electronics project.

(b) Long introductory prepositional phrases:
EXAMPLE: In most cases involving suspected impaired driving, police take a blood test.

(c) Introductory words (yes, no, certainly, and introductory interjections e.g. well, oh, hey).
EXAMPLE: Yes, I do love you. EXAMPLE: Damn, you look fine.


4. To set off contrasting, or qualifying elements beginning with words such as, "not" and "unlike".
EXAMPLE: Buy shoes for style, not comfort. EXAMPLE: Alicia, unlike Sarah, is clean and tidy.


5. To set off parenthetical expressions (interrupters) and appositives (noun or noun phrase which renames a nearby noun).
EXAMPLE: Most people, I think, would agree that baseball players are paid way to much.
EXAMPLE: George, my therapist, is in need of some therapy his own.


6. After conjunctive adverbs, and transitional expressions. (for example: in addition, after all).
EXAMPLE: He was ill; therefore, I will give him an extension on his assignment.


7. To separate direct quotation from introductions and conclusions.
EXAMPLE: "It's those 99% of lawyers," Steven said, "that give the rest a bad name."


8. To set off non-essential clauses.
EXAMPLE: My car, which has 300000 km on it, is completely shot.
The clause, "which has 300000 km on it", does not describe the "car" but is additional, non-essential info.

EXAMPLE: Having a car that has cruise control is important for my long trip.
We don't put a comma here because the clause, "that has cruise control", describes "car" and is essential to the meaning of the sentence.