Using Commas to Set off Non- Restrictive Elements

Commas Here, No Commas There? What’s going on? ❖ The best idea that John ever had was to quit drinking soda. ❖ The best ideas, which are not always easy to think of, are often the most simple. ❖ Pizza, my favorite meal, is easy to order but not so easy to make at home. ❖ It’s hard to order pizaa that everyone will like.

What is the difference? ❖ You need to use commas to set off non-essential (non-restrictive) elements from the rest of the sentence. ❖ You do NOT do this for essential (restrictive) elements. ❖ The difference lies in whether the piece/element can be taken out or not.

What is a Restrictive Element? ❖ A restrictive element is a phrase that restricts the meaning of a word or group of words in a sentence. It is essential to the meaning of the sentence. ❖ The boy who lost his ballon is my nephew. ❖ The plan that Jim has is not going to work. ❖ The children need clothes that are easily washable.

❖ A restrictive element is a phrase that restricts the meaning of a word or group of words in a sentence. ❖ The boy who lost his ballon is my nephew. ❖ The plan that Jim has is not going to work. ❖ The children need clothes that are easily washable. You do not need to set these off with commas. They are essential to the meaning of the sentence.

What is a non-restrictive element? ❖ A non-restrictive element is phrase that can be removed from a sentence and the meaning of the sentence remains the same. It is not essential to the meaning of the sentence and could be removed. ❖ You must set these phrases off from the rest of the sentence with commas. ❖ My uncle, who lives in Maine, is a world-class skiier. ❖ Why doesn’t Jane, who never does, just come over to visit sometimes? ❖ People who forget their passwords, me included, need to have a better system.

Non-restrictive elements can be deleted with no change in the meaning. ❖ A non-restrictive element is phrase that can be removed from sentence and the meaning of the sentence remains the same. ❖ My uncle is a world-class skiier. (“who lives in Maine” was removed) ❖ Why doesn’t Jane just come over to visit sometimes? (“who never does” was removed) ❖ People who forget their passwords need to have a better system. (“me included” was removed)

You try. Does each sentence need editing? ❖ The children will need sturdy shoes which are quite expensive. ❖ Jim my friend who has serious allergies can’t eat mushroom pizza. ❖ The United States Coastal Survey which was established in 1807 was the first scientific agency in this country. ❖ Jim can’t eat pizza that has mushrooms on it. ❖ Corporations that have stock holders must be extra careful with their decisions.