So We Can Avoid This Mishap

A Solution to Comma Commotion!

So we can avoid this mishap:

Let’s eat Grandma! vs. Let’s eat, Grandma!

And understand this murder mystery involving a Panda at a bar:

He either…

Eats shoots and leaves. Or Eats, shoots, and leaves.

The Comma Rules - Simplified

1. Separating Clauses
2. A comma separates clauses from each other, whether dependent or independent.
3. Examples:
4. When it snows in Hong Kong, I will go skiing down from the Peak.
5. Training for a road race can be hard work, but the satisfaction of reaching a goal is worth it.

1. Introductory Information
2. Use a comma to offset information to introduce a clause
3. Dependent clauses (see above)
4. Responses
5. Yes, I would like to see that film with Leonardo DiCaprio very much!
6. No way, I don’t want to go out in the cold today.
7. Adverbs
8. Gradually, she fell asleep by the fire.
9. With glee, he responded to the query.
10. This is another type of non-essential information. See number 3.
11. Time
12. On Sundays, I like to go hiking.
13. In the evening, I do my homework after dinner with the wifi turned off.
14. Direct Address (can also be later in the sentence)
15. Bob, let’s eat!
16. Let’s eat, Bob!
17. I’m hungry, Bob, so let’s eat!

1. Non-essential Information
2. Information unnecessary, but helpful, to a sentence is surrounded by commas
3. Sarah, on the other hand, is a first rate fencer and would make a fantastic Tybalt.
4. Before “too,” unless it is an adjective (too much of a good thing)
5. I’m going, too.
6. Appositives
7. Wilma, the girl with the long braids, is the smartest in the class.
8. Essential information must not be separated from the main sentence by commas
9. What is the difference in these sentences?
10. Sarah’s friend, Curtis, is coming over to play cards tonight.
11. Sarah’s friend Curtis is coming over to play cards tonight.
12. Answer: In the first sentence, Curtis is the ONLY friend whom Sarah has.

1. Items in a series
2. For breakfast, I eat eggs, berries, and walnuts.
3. Running, swimming, and biking are the components of a triathlon.
4. Do not use the last comma before “and” if you are using British grammar or writing in a newspaper. The British kept some old habits, and newspapers like to save ink for their advertisements.
5. Adjectives in a series
6. The big, mean duck ate all my chocolate.
7. Coordinate vs. Non-coordinate
8. Let’s go to the happening dance club.

1. Quotes
2. Juliet said, “I would like to go to the ball with you, Romeo!”
3. “I would very much enjoy that, Juliet. I will wear a mask to hide from your cousin,” said Romeo.

1. Numbers
2. 1,200
3. 3,000,000

1. Addresses and places
2. I come from Boston, Massachusetts.
3. She lives at 33 Vinebrook Avenue, London, England.

1. Dates
2. Friday, March 13, 2012, was a strange day.
3. Not for just the month and year: March 2012 was a strange month.

Good sources with examples: