Grammar (1) Commas. (American English).

                G. 1. Proper use of commas.

   I often see commas used willy-nilly or whenever a break is wanted in a sentence, but there is actually a method to this madness. There are seven words you should always use a comma before when combining two stand alone sentences. These include ‘and’, ‘but’, ‘or’, ‘nor’, ‘for’, ‘so’, and ‘yet’. This is because you are connecting two independent clauses. An independent clause is a section of a sentence which can stand by itself. In order for two independent clauses to be connected together the adding of a coordinating conjunction is needed. Otherwise, the combination is grammatically incorrect. When the independent clause is missing a subject it is no longer a clause, and it cannot stand alone as a sentence.

Example 1:

Independent clause - 1. “I tripped over my own feet.” 2. “I fell on my face.”

‘Sentence’ without a subject �" 1. “Fell on my face.” 2. “Tripping over my own feet.” (See, that’s not a sentence at all!)

Two independent clauses connected with a comma and coordinating conjunction �" “I tripped over my own feet, and I fell on my face.” In this sentence ‘and’ is the coordinating conjunction. When you take ‘I’ away from ‘fell on my face’ a comma is no longer needed because the second part is no longer a clause. “I tripped over my own feet and fell on my face.” OR, you can say “I fell on my face after tripping over my own feet.”

An appositive is a phrase that gives more information, and it too has a requirement when it comes to commas. It can be used both at the end of a sentence and in the middle. If in the middle two commas are required. If at the end one comma is required.

***THIS IS HARD. I wrote out this chapter and then confused myself about twelve times trying to edit it. I settled on following this rule: Two sentences = 1 comma/ No sentence = no comma.***

Example 2:

An appositive for ‘dog’ �" ‘a burly pit bull’.

Used in the middle of a sentence �" “The dog, a burly pit bull, panted merrily.”

Used at the end of a sentence �" “Panting merrily was a dog, a burly pit bull.”

A comma is also required when you start your sentence out with a verb that introduces it. This is commonly used, and I personally enjoy starting sentences this way. What do I mean? Well, starting sentences in different ways freshens up a piece and makes it easier to read. If every sentence starts the same way, it becomes laborious and repetitive.

Example 3:

Verb �" Finally, eventually, lastly, suddenly…

Sentence �" “I took the safety off my gun and aimed for his head.”

Sentence beginning with an introductory verb: 1. “Suddenly, I took the safety off my gun and aimed for his head.” 2. “Eventually, I took the safety off my gun and aimed for his head.” 3. “Reluctantly, I took the safety off my gun and aimed for his head.”

Introductory verbs describe how the later mentioned thing is being done. Is he reluctantly taking the safety off? Is he excitedly taking the safety off? When you use a noun and describe it with two adjectives a comma is needed between them. A comma, however, is not needed if you have an adjective and a noun acting as an adjective.

Example 4:

Noun �" guy.

Adjectives �" 1. Fierce 2. Scary

Comma connecting these adjectives in a sentence �" “The fierce, scary man came at me with his hatchet.”

Noun acting as an adjective �" Winter cold.

Comma not needed for a noun acting as an adjective �" “She shivered against the chilling winter cold.” A comma would be needed if the sentence was instead: “She shivered against the sharp, chilling winter cold.”

When you use a negation in a sentence, this also requires a comma.

Example 5:

Negation (at the end of sentence) �" “Not a coward.”

Sentence �" “He was a bold fighter, not a coward.”

Negation (in the middle of a sentence) �" “Not a coward.”

Sentence �" “He was bold, not a coward, and a fierce fighter.” This follows the same rule that one comma is required at the end and two commas if used in the middle.

Author's Note

I'll be posting a chapter here once a week, so check back for more!

Reviews

[MoriartyMesa]

Wait on New York Minute!

Are you saying we also must be sober while writing, reviewing, commenting and spelling? Damn it, I knew I should have went to college.

[Meat of Dog]

Haha I laughed so hard that I read your comment out loud to my brother. You're awesome.

[Calamity]

Great resource, thank you for taking the time to post this for us.

[Meat of Dog]

Of course! I love being involved in the community here :)

[Calamity]

Good to see you're adding value. :)

[Frank]

Very useful, I will refer to.

Did you point out on this international stage that the internet is made up of English speakers from all across the world? I did not read all of it just now. British English is different in the treatment of punctuation regarding the use of 'and'.

A Britisher would write:

There were pots, pans and assorted clutter. An America would write as you have explained:

There were pots, pans, and assorted clutter.

“He was bold, not a coward, and a fierce fighter.” Because thee is a comparison in the sentence, a dichotomy I think and is not suitable in this sentence, I feel 'but' should be used:

'He was bold, not a coward, but a fierce fighter.' This brings attention to the dichotomy. Withut the comma in your original sentence it would suggest:
He was bold
He was not a coward
and he was a fierce fighter

Confusing maybe.

Example:

Allies push bottles up the Germans.
or
Allies push, bottle up the Germans

Thanks very much, you put some time into this and I sure it will be appreciated on the site.

[Meat of Dog]

I'll have to specify in the title. I'm from the States, so I'm not particularly versed in other grammatical English styles. I'm actually learning a lot of these things myself as I write! Most of what I do know is self-taught. I'm glad you like it! I just like to be involved in the community and help out.

[Frank]

You done good :)

[Meat of Dog]

Thank you ;}

[Relic]

Glad to see you've posted this. I'll be looking for more.

[Meat of Dog]

Thank you!

[Ariana Omnomnom]

This is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my whole life ever.

[Meat of Dog]

Thank you! I just do a ton of reviews and the commas were driving me crazy. The best part is that after I wrote this I realized everything I was doing wrong! Learning all around here.

[Ariana Omnomnom]

I have a problem when people think it's okay to use like 10 commas in a sentence that doesn't need any to begin with.

[Meat of Dog]

Yeah, a lot of that stems from the misconception that a comma is to be used whenever you want to pause. It's like they hear it in their head, and then write it phonically.

[Ariana Omnomnom]

It really bothers me.

Probably too much for what it is.

[Meat of Dog]

Agreement level: 200%

[Ariana Omnomnom]

I have a weird analness about grammar.

[Meat of Dog]

Me too. It was basic knowledge when I was in school. I lived with a bunch of teens and young adults for a while in Colville, and some were practically illiterate.

[Ariana Omnomnom]

For me too. I always feel like I have dishonored myself if I accidentally make a typo or use the wrong punctuation. Unless, of course, I do it on purpose. That's something else though.