{"id":4114,"date":"2020-09-16T21:04:48","date_gmt":"2020-09-17T04:04:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/learningcommons.twu.ca\/?page_id=4114"},"modified":"2024-08-28T09:57:49","modified_gmt":"2024-08-28T17:57:49","slug":"quick-start-guide-commas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/create.twu.ca\/learningcommons\/2020\/09\/16\/quick-start-guide-commas\/","title":{"rendered":"Commas"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Welcome!<\/h3>

Welcome to the Learning Commons Quick Start Guide on commas!<\/strong><\/p>

Commas are a powerful but potentially difficult punctuation mark to use correctly. This guide will cover seven rules for English comma use to help improve your writing.<\/p>

This guide will explain:<\/p>

  • the importance of commas<\/li>
  • the 7 comma rules<\/li><\/ul>

    \u00a0<\/p>

    Commas 101<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

    These videos introduce the main uses of commas in English, showing that they:<\/p>

    • Separate items in a list.<\/li>
    • Link two independent clauses together with a coordinating conjunction.<\/li>
    • Set off the introductory element of a sentence.<\/li>
    • Insert non-defining information into a sentence.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
      \u00a0<\/h5>
      Course Information<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>

      Course Level:<\/strong>\u00a0Beginner<\/p>

      Time to Complete:\u00a0<\/strong><10 mins<\/p>

      Perfect for:<\/strong>\u00a0Students in WRTG100\/101, ENGL103, or anyone who needs a refresher.<\/p>

      Guide Creator:<\/strong>\u00a0Abby Pernsteiner<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

      \n\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t
      <\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t
      <\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

      Lists, Compound Sentences, and Establishing Information<\/span><\/h2>

      Rule #1: Lists<\/h3>

      Use commas to separate three or more words, phrases, or clauses written in a series or list.<\/p>

      Example: I drove home,<\/strong>\u00a0cooked dinner,<\/strong>\u00a0and got ready for the party.<\/p>

      Note about the Oxford Comma\u00a0<\/h4>

      In a list, the final comma before the conjunction is known as the \u201cOxford comma\u201d, as in the phrase above: \u201ccooked dinner, and got ready for the party.\u201d This is an academically contentious comma. Some style guides and instructors will recommend going without, so the sentence in that case would read: \u201cI drove home, cooked dinner and got ready for the party.\u201d<\/p>

      Ultimately neither way is necessarily \u201cincorrect\u201d, and you as a writer are free to choose either! However, be consistent throughout your writing, and be sure to use your discretion about careful phrasing. As one author found out, there is a big difference between \u201cI\u2019d like to thank my parents, Ayn Rand and God\u201d and \u201cI\u2019d like to thank my parents, Ayn Rand, and God.\u201d<\/p>

      Rule #2: Compound Sentences<\/h3>

      Use commas to separate independent clauses when they are joined by any of these seven coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS): for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.<\/p>

      Example: He needed some cash, so<\/strong>\u00a0he went to the ATM.<\/p>

      Rule #3: Establishing Information<\/h3>

      Use commas after introductory a) clauses, b) phrases, or c) words that come before the main clause.<\/p>

      Example:\u00a0To be honest,<\/strong>\u00a0I didn\u2019t like the movie.<\/p>

      Example:\u00a0According to the Bible,<\/strong>\u00a0Joshua was the son of Nun.<\/p><\/div><\/div>

      \u00a0<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
      Your Turn: Test Your Understanding<\/span><\/h5>

      Think you have a grasp of the information above? Test yourself!<\/p><\/div><\/div>