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Presented by Erin Joy With some examples from Lynne Trusss Eats, Shoots & Leaves
Commas
Proper punctuation is both the sign and the cause of clear thinking.Lynne Truss
The waiter turns to the relevant entry and, sure enough, finds an explanation.
Commas
Punchline Panda:
Large black-and-white bear-like mammal, native to China. Eats, shoots and leaves.
Commas
As the author says: So, punctuation really does matter, even if it is only occasionally a matter of life and death.
Comma confusion and the inclusion illusion Commas have power over us because of common misperceptions:
Long sentences must need a comma If you cant hear a comma, one isnt needed If you pause in a sentence, a comma is needed While these are sometimes reliable indicators, learning some common rules can make you a confident comma dropper.
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Note: some people do not include the comma after short introductory phrases like the second example. Still, you are not wrong to include it.
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Note: the easiest way to determine if a clause is independent is to see if it could stand alone as a complete sentence.
Comma caveat
Watch out for other compound constructions
Do not use commas with conjunctions joining two nouns or two verbs instead of independent clauses. Lisa went to the bank and withdrew fifty dollars. (compound verbsno comma)
Do not use commas to separate two independent clauses without a conjunction, or you will create a comma splice.
Lisa went to the bank, she withdrew fifty dollars. (comma splice)
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The family went to the movies, ate dinner at a restaurant, and slept at a hotel while on vacation.
Her papers are always thorough, interesting, and complete.
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Note: The final comma in the series may or may not need to be there; it depends on your audience.
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Not all students are inconsiderate, just the ones who are late.
People who reject evolution are usually quite religious. Not all people are usually quite religious, just those who reject evolution.
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The invention, which [by the way] is affordable, allows patients to heal quickly after surgery.
Maureen, [by the way] forgetting it was a holiday, went to the bank to make a deposit. Note: Which usually indicates non-essential information and is accompanied by a comma, but that always indicates essential information and never has a comma.
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Keep the integrity of the sentence Maintain the meaning of the sentence
Some sentences can look the same but be punctuated as essential or non-essential information differently depending on the context surrounding them.
My brother, who lives in Omaha, won the lottery last week.
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Should I, for example, put a comma here? Use commas with interrupters
Anything that appears to interrupt or show contrast somewhere in the sentence should be set off with commas.
No, she did not attend class last week. She did, however, find time to go to Cancun. I did, in fact, fail her for her excessive absences. The policy was spelled out in the syllabus, wasnt it?
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Although there are many other uses for the comma, this presentation covers some of the more common ones. You can find additional resources online, in writing handbooks, or by visiting us in the Writing Center.
Commas