Ch. 24 - Comma
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Opening Activity
In each of the following sentences, identify
whether commas have been used correctly or
incorrectly. Hint: Two sentences contain
errors.
1. My dog, Sophie, loves to lay outside in the
heat and humidity.
2. She also enjoys rolling around, in the brown
smelly mulch by the side of the house.
3. Every time, Sophie gets into the mulch I have
to give her a bath.
4. She hates the shampoo, but loves the water.
© 2016. CENGAGE LEARNING. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Answers
• In each of the following sentences, identify
whether commas have been used correctly or
incorrectly. Hint: Two sentences contain
errors.
1. My dog, Sophie, loves to lay outside in the heat
and humidity. CORRECT
2. She also enjoys rolling around in the brown,
smelly mulch by the side of the house.
INCORRECT
3. Every time Sophie gets into the mulch, I have to
give her a bath. INCORRECT
4. She hates the shampoo, but loves the water.
CORRECT
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Learning Outcomes
By the time you finish reading and studying this
chapter, you should be able to:
Understand comma usage…
◦ LO1 In Compound Sentences and After Introductory
Clauses
◦ LO2 With Introductory Phrases and Equal Adjectives
◦ LO3 Use the traits for reading and writing
◦ L04 With Appositives and Other Word Groups
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In Compound Sentences
and After Introductory Clauses
•Use commas in compound sentences
• Use a comma before the coordinating conjunction (and, but,
or, nor, for, yet, so) in a compound sentence.
• Hundreds of students visit The Writing Center each year, but Leon
hasn’t sought help yet.
•Use commas after introductory clauses
• While The Writing Center offers thirty minute sessions, some students
need more time and attention from tutors
© 2016. CENGAGE LEARNING. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
With Introductory Words and
Equal Adjectives
•Use commas after introductory phrases
• While walking, Ryan calculated the distance between his apartment and
the apartment complex’s gym.
• Use commas to separate adjectives
• Use commas to separate adjectives that equally modify the same
noun.
• Rush noticed a noxious, stringent, detergent smell when he entered the
gym.
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With Introductory Words and
Equal Adjectives
•Use commas to determine equal modifiers
• To determine whether adjectives modify a noun equally, use
these two tests.
1. Reverse the order of the adjectives; if the sentence is clear, the
adjectives modify equally.
2. Insert and between the adjectives; if the sentence reads well, use a
comma when and is omitted.
Nicole noticed the piles of smelly, rotting, trash sitting next to
the dumpster behind the restaurant.
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Between Items in a Series and
Other Uses
•Use commas between items in series
• Use commas to separate individual words, phrases, or clauses
in a series. (A series contains at least three items.)
• Rosa rushed to the store to pick-up bananas, fat free milk, flour, and vanilla.
•Use commas to set off transitional expressions
• Use a comma to set off conjunctive adverbs and transitional
phrases.
• First and foremost, marriage equality is a complicated issue.
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Between Items in a Series and
Other Uses
•Use commas to set off dialogue
• Use commas to set off the words of the speaker from the rest of the
sentence. Do not use a comma before an indirect quotation.
• “Put your cell phone away,” said Dr. Miers.
•Use commas to enclose explanatory words
• Use commas to enclose an explanatory word or phrase.
• Dr. Miers explained that texting, in her opinion, was disrespectful to
her and the other students.
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With Appositives and Other
Word Groups
•Use commas to set off some appositives
• A specific kind of explanatory word or phrase called an
appositive identifies or renames a preceding noun or pronoun.
• The mayor, who served in Iraq, is wearing a patriotic ribbon.
•Use commas with some clauses and phrases
• Use commas to enclose phrases or clauses that add
information that is not necessary to the basic meaning of the
sentence.
• The mayor’s staff, who all began work last fall, arrived late for the
fundraiser.
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With Appositives and Other
Word Groups
•Use commas with "that" or "which"
• Use that to introduce necessary clauses; use which to
introduce unnecessary clauses.
• The blanket that kept me warm needs to be washed.
• The blanket, which is going into the washer, is my favorite.
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Closing Activity
Add commas as needed in the following
sentences.
1. Earlier today I wrote a belated personal
check to the electric company.
2. I felt annoyed by the large flashy reminder
notices they kept sending me.
3. Next month I will pay my electricity water
and gas bills on time.
© 2016. CENGAGE LEARNING. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Answers
Add commas as needed in the following
sentences.
1. Earlier today, I wrote a belated personal check to the
electric company.
2. I felt annoyed by the large, flashy reminder notices
they kept sending me.
3. Next month, I will pay my electricity, water, and gas
bills on time.
© 2016. CENGAGE LEARNING. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.