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 3 types of introductory bits


small


small

medium


small

medium

large


small

medium

large
never stand alone as complete thought


small

medium

large
never stand alone as complete thought
introduce main subject and verb


1 e.g. small


1 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 e.g. medium


1 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 e.g. large


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


1 e.g. large
If 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


2 FANBOYS


2 FANBOYS
For


2 FANBOYS
For
And


2 FANBOYS
For
And
Nor


2 FANBOYS
For
And
Nor
But


2 FANBOYS
For
And
Nor
But
Or


2 FANBOYS
For
And
Nor
But
Or
Yet


2 FANBOYS
For
And
Nor
But
Or
Yet
So


2 Function = connectors


They connect


They connect
words


They connect
words
phrases


They connect
words
phrases
and clauses


They connect
words
phrases
and clauses
like this:


2 Words: I am almost dressed and ready.



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



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 Look carefully!


2 Look carefully!

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


2
experiments


2
experiments
,


2
experiments
,
but FANBOYS


2
experiments
,
but FANBOYS

he didn’t do anything else


2
in comparison


2
experiments

but FANBOYS


2
experiments

but FANBOYS

didn’t do anything else


2 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?


3 The dreaded comma
splice


3 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 e.g.


3 e.g.
Johnson (1982) conducted research, it was
well organized


3 e.g.
well organized
BAD


3 e.g.
well organized
BAD
Extremely bad


3 e.g.
well organized
BAD
Extremely bad
One of those things Editors love to seek out!


3 e.g.
well organized
BAD
Extremely bad
One of those things Editors love to seek out!
Don’t do it!!!!!


3 1-2-3-4 Fix it!


3 1-2-3-4 Fix it!
Add FANBOYS


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





3 1-2-3-4 Fix it!
Add FANBOYS

Johnson (1982) conducted research; it was well organized




3 1-2-3-4 Fix it!
Add FANBOYS


Johnson (1982) conducted research because it was well organized



3 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


4 FANBOYS fakers


4 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 Doesn’t matter!


4 Doesn’t matter!

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


4 Doesn’t matter!

one sentence)

recognize


4 Doesn’t matter!

one sentence)

recognize
and make the right choice


4 2 good choices


4 2 good choices

Check 2 complete thoughts on both sides


4 2 good choices

if yes


4 2 good choices

if yes

Make 2 sentences


4 2 good choices

if yes

Semicolon after 1st
Make 2 sentences
thought


4 See the difference: BAD



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



Evidence was found, however it was not useful in

Evidence was found, however, it was not useful in


4 See the difference: GOOD



Evidence was found; however, it was not useful in



Evidence was found; however, it was not useful in

Evidence was found. However, it was not useful in


5 X,Y, and Z


5 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 EITHER:


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


5 EITHER:
OR:


5 EITHER:
OR:
You can buy life, liberty and the pursuit of


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.


6 Describers


6 Describers

If you have two or more adjectives


6 Describers

(words that describe)


6 Describers

(words that describe)
and not joined by and


6
e.g.
Johnson was a careless, intelligent, nutty
professor.


7 Interrupters


7 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 Separate the main point


text between commas not necessary to
understand rest of the sentence


thus....


thus....
you could do without


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 compare:


7 compare:

Evidence was found, however, it was not useful.


7 compare:

Evidence was found, however, it was not useful.

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


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