Comma 7 easysteps

comma conundrums

Friday, May 13, 2011

comma conundrums

7 easy step


the comma


the comma

2 main functions for the reader:


the comma


words that go together


the comma


words that go together

which part most important


1


Introductory bits 1


Introductory bits

setting off

main subject

main verb

1


1


3 types of introductory bits1


3 types of introductory bits

small1



small

medium

1



small

medium

large

1



small

medium

largenever stand alone as complete thought

1



small

medium

largenever stand alone as complete thought

introduce main subject and verb

1


1


e.g. small1


e.g. small

Generally, research has been inconclusive.

1


e.g. small

Generally, research has been inconclusive.

Moreover, they have been conducted without much thought.

1


1


e.g. medium1


e.g. medium

In fact, our research was inconclusive

1


e.g. medium


Throughout his early life, he investigated the relation between trees and roots

1


e.g. medium


Throughout his early life, he investigated the relation between trees and roots

Frankly speaking, I completely disagree with his statement

1


1


e.g. large1


e.g. largeIf you discover that you feel nauseated, then you know you’ve tried my Clam Surprise.

1


e.g. largeIf you discover that you feel nauseated, then you know you’ve tried my Clam Surprise.

As far as I am concerned, all research that has come before this has been a waste of time

1


FANBOYS2


FANBOYSFor

2


FANBOYSFor

And

2


FANBOYSFor

And

Nor

2


FANBOYSFor

And

Nor

But

2


FANBOYSFor

And

Nor

But

Or

2


FANBOYSFor

And

Nor

But

Or

Yet

2


FANBOYSFor

And

Nor

But

Or

Yet

So

2


2 FANBOYS


ForAndNorButOrYetSo

2 FANBOYS


2


Function = connectors2


Function = connectors

They connect

2



They connect

words

2



They connect

words

phrases

2



They connect

words

phrases

and clauses

2



They connect

words

phrases

and clauses

like this:

2


2


Words: I am almost dressed and ready.2


Words: I am almost dressed and ready.

Phrases: My socks are in the living room or under my bed.

2


Words: I am almost dressed and ready.

Phrases: My socks are in the living room or under my bed.

Clauses: They smell really bad, so they will be easy to find.

2


2


Look carefully!

2


Look carefully!

Johnson (1982) carried out numerous experiments, but he didn’t do anything else.

2


2


2Johnson (1982) carried out numerous experiments



,



but FANBOYS

,



but

he didn’t do anything else

FANBOYS

,


in comparison

2


2



but FANBOYS



but

didn’t do anything else

FANBOYS


Test

if the second grouping of words isn’t a complete thought, don’t use a comma

Try reading the words after FANBOYS all by themselves.

Do they make a complete thought?

2


The dreaded comma splice3


The dreaded comma splice

No FANBOYS but COMMA causes

3


The dreaded comma splice

No FANBOYS but COMMA causes

a comma splice or run-on sentence

3


3


e.g.3


e.g.

Johnson (1982) conducted research, it was well organized

3


e.g.


BAD

3


e.g.


BAD

Extremely bad

3


e.g.


BAD

Extremely bad

One of those things Editors love to seek out!

3


e.g.


BAD

Extremely bad

One of those things Editors love to seek out!

Don’t do it!!!!!

3


3


1-2-3-4 Fix it!3


1-2-3-4 Fix it!

Add FANBOYS3


1-2-3-4 Fix it!

Add FANBOYS

Change comma for semicolon

3


1-2-3-4 Fix it!

Add FANBOYS


Add subordinate (because, while, although, if, when, since)

3


1-2-3-4 Fix it!

Add FANBOYS



Make each clause a separate sentence

3


1-2-3-4 Fix it!

Add FANBOYS




3Johnson (1982) conducted research, and it was well organized


1-2-3-4 Fix it!

Add FANBOYS





Johnson (1982) conducted research; it was well organized


1-2-3-4 Fix it!

Add FANBOYS






Johnson (1982) conducted research because it was well organized


1-2-3-4 Fix it!

Add FANBOYS






Johnson (1982) conducted research because it was well organized

Johnson (1982) conducted research. It was well organized


FANBOYS fakers4


FANBOYS fakers

However, therefore, moreover, and other words like them are not FANBOYS

4


FANBOYS fakers


(conjunctive adverbs)

4


FANBOYS fakers



They ACT as FANBOYS (between 2 thoughts)

4


FANBOYS fakers



They ACT as FANBOYS (between 2 thoughts)

Punctuation is different

4


Why?

4


4


Doesn’t matter!4


Doesn’t matter!

(Adverbs don’t join independent clauses into one sentence)

4


Doesn’t matter!


recognize

4


Doesn’t matter!


recognize

and make the right choice

4


4


2 good choices4


2 good choices

Check 2 complete thoughts on both sides

4


2 good choices


if yes

4


2 good choices


if yes

4

Make 2 sentences


2 good choices


if yes

4

Make 2 sentences Semicolon after 1st thought


See the difference: BAD4


See the difference: BAD4Evidence was found, however it was not useful in

our experiments A, B, and C.


See the difference: BAD4Evidence was found, however it was not useful in


Evidence was found, however, it was not useful in our experiments A, B, and C.


See the difference: GOOD4


See the difference: GOOD4Evidence was found; however, it was not useful in



See the difference: GOOD4Evidence was found; however, it was not useful in


Evidence was found. However, it was not useful in our experiments A, B, and C.


X,Y, and Z5


X,Y, and Z

Comma between items in a list

5


X,Y, and Z


short list of things

5


X,Y, and Z



last comma before and or or

5


X,Y, and Z




is never wrong!

5


X,Y, and Z




is never wrong!

When the list is long and complicated

5


X,Y, and Z




is never wrong!

When the list is long and complicated

always a comma

5


5


EITHER: 5


EITHER:

You can buy life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness in Los Angeles.5


EITHER:

You can buy life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness in Los Angeles.

OR:

5


EITHER:


OR:

You can buy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness in Los Angeles.

5


EITHER:


OR:


BUT ALWAYS:

5


EITHER:


OR:


BUT ALWAYS:

A good student listens to his teachers without yawning, reads once in a while, and writes papers before they are due.

5


Describers6


Describers

If you have two or more adjectives

6


Describers


(words that describe)

6


Describers


(words that describe)

and not joined by and

6


6


e.g.

Johnson was a careless, intelligent, nutty professor.

6


Interrupters7


Interrupters

Two commas can be used to set off additional information that appears within the sentence but is separate from the primary subject and verb of the sentence.

7


7


Separate the main point7


Separate the main point

text between commas not necessary to understand rest of the sentence

7




thus....

7




thus....

you could do without

7


7


e.g.

Bob Mills, a sophomore from Raleigh, was the only North Carolina native at the Japanese food festival in Cary.

or.

There was, however, still a lot to be done in the way of setting up the experiment.

7


7


compare:7


compare:7Evidence was found, however, it was not useful.


compare:7Evidence was found, however, it was not useful.

There was, however, still a lot to be done in the way of setting up the experiment.


Comma 7 easysteps

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