COMMA PRESENTATION FOR OUR ENGLISH PROFESSOR, MR. DOLLIESLAGER

OUR GROUP MEMBERS Georgia Hardy Gwen Huffman Clint Nicholson Karen Brown Why couldn’t we be doing this!!!!

COMMA RULES Use a comma to separate the elements in a series (three or more things). EX.- He hit the ball, dropped the bat, and ran to first base. *Using a comma between all the items in a series avoids the last two items from being glommed together Use a comma and a little conjunction (FANBOYS) to connect two independent clauses. EX.-He hit the ball well, but he ran towards third base. *A comma after well and before but because but is the conjunction word.

MORE RULES Use a comma to set off introductory elements EX.- Running toward third base, he suddenly realized how stupid he looked. Use a comma to set off parenthetical elements EX.- The Founders Bridge, which spans the Connecticut River, is falling down. *A parenthetical element is a part of a sentence that can be removed without changing the essential meaning of the sentence.

CONTINUATION COMMA RULES Use a comma to separate coordinate adjectives. EX.- The tall, distinguished, good- looking fellow. Generally, if you can put an and or a but between adjectives, a comma will probably belong there. Use a comma to set off quoted elements. EX.- Summing up this argument, Peter Convey writes, “The purpose and strength of the romantic image of the child had been above all to establish a relation between childhood and adult consciousness.” Use commas to avoid confusion EX.-For most, the year is already finished.

Not to do “Comma Rules” Do not use a comma between compound verbs ( verbs joined by or/and). EX.-We studied for the test, and developed our confidence. Studied and developed are compound verbs a comma is not needed. Do not use a comma if you are unsure if the information given in a parenthetical element is essential. EX.-The Founders Bridge of the Connecticut River is falling down.

Not to do “Comma Rules” Do not use a comma with adjectives whose order in a sequence is not reversible. EX.- We saw a new Australian movie. “New” and “Australian” are not reversible. You would not say “an Australian new movie.” Do not overuse. Try not to use a comma unless you can apply a specific rule. EX.- Our instructor, Mr. Dollieslager, loves to torture, humiliate, amuse, and intellectualize us, about something in particular, on a regular, irregular basis.

COMMA SPLICES Comma Splices occur when independent clauses are joined with a comma rather than with a semicolon or a conjunction (and another clause) or severed with a period. EX.- Talk is cheap, action is what counts. *Insert a period after cheap and capitalize A in action. Repairing Comma Splices Join the independent parts on both sides of the comma splice with a semicolon or a period. EX.- Talk is cheap. Action is what counts.

CONCLUDING COMMAS Always use commas with caution!!!!!!!!!!!