College Writing Skills with Readings Chapter 37 Commas.

College Writing Skills with ReadingsCollege Writing Skills with Readings

Chapter 37 Commas

• Examples...Examples...– We have a vivid picture of the Civil War because

almost every soldier sent letters, kept journals, or sent letters, kept journals, or wrote memoirs.wrote memoirs.

– Young boys managed to enlist in the military during the Civil War because in 1861 people did not have a driver’s license, a school transcript, or a driver’s license, a school transcript, or a student identification carda student identification card to prove their age.

Use a comma between items in a series:Use a comma between items in a series:

• Use a comma after an introductory word, an introductory word, an introductory phrase, or an introductory introductory phrase, or an introductory clause.clause.• An example of an introductory word:

• Unfortunately, many boys who were sixteen years old Unfortunately, many boys who were sixteen years old and younger fought as soldiers in the Civil War.and younger fought as soldiers in the Civil War.

• An introductory phrase:¯ After the war, an army statistician managed to do a After the war, an army statistician managed to do a

study of the ages of the soldiers.study of the ages of the soldiers.

Use a comma after introductory material:Use a comma after introductory material:

• An introductory clause:An introductory clause:When the war actually broke out, When the war actually broke out,

Americans did not seem to realize that Americans did not seem to realize that the dispute would be devastating.the dispute would be devastating.

Use a comma after introductory material:Use a comma after introductory material:

• Example…Example…– Because the drum Because the drum

beat told the soldiers beat told the soldiers how and when to how and when to

maneuvermaneuver, , drummers drummers were important.were important.

– COMMA AFTER COMMA AFTER INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

• But:But:– Drummers were Drummers were

important because important because the drum beat told the drum beat told the soldiers how and the soldiers how and when to maneuver.when to maneuver.

– NO COMMA NO COMMA BECAUSE NO BECAUSE NO INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

NOTE:NOTE: If a dependent clause comes at the end of theIf a dependent clause comes at the end of thesentence, there issentence, there is NO NEEDNO NEED for a comma.for a comma.

• Interrupting words are set off by commas. If you Interrupting words are set off by commas. If you remove the words from the sentence and it still remove the words from the sentence and it still makes sense, the words are interrupters. Such makes sense, the words are interrupters. Such nonessential information is set off by commas.nonessential information is set off by commas.– Examples:

• Agriculture, especially the growing of cotton, was vital Agriculture, especially the growing of cotton, was vital to the South’s economy.to the South’s economy.

• Sometimes American civilians, who actually picnicked Sometimes American civilians, who actually picnicked in the battle areas to watch the fighting, were in the battle areas to watch the fighting, were trampled by retreating soldiers.trampled by retreating soldiers.

Use commas around words interrupting the flow of thought.Use commas around words interrupting the flow of thought.

• Examples:Examples:– Emotions ran so high that thousands of men

rushed to enlist, and young boys were caught up in this movement.

– The drum beat was needed to give directions to the men in the Civil War, but the bugle began to take over this role because it was easier to hear.

Use a comma between complete thoughts connectedUse a comma between complete thoughts connectedby a joining word.by a joining word.

• There are two distinct uses of the word There are two distinct uses of the word howeverhowever with with the comma.the comma.• When the word When the word howeverhowever is used as an interrupter, it requires is used as an interrupter, it requires

the comma.the comma.• Example: The approval of the parents, however, was The approval of the parents, however, was

rare.rare.• When the word When the word howeverhowever is used between two complete is used between two complete

thoughts, both the semicolon and the comma are needed.thoughts, both the semicolon and the comma are needed.• Example: The military easily decided on a uniform color The military easily decided on a uniform color

and design; however, producing the uniforms for an entire and design; however, producing the uniforms for an entire army was more difficultarmy was more difficult.

• Example:Example:

– The students The students complained, complained, “Reading about “Reading about these boys in the these boys in the war is very war is very depressing.”depressing.”

Use a Comma with Direct QuotationsUse a Comma with Direct Quotations

• Use commas with Use commas with dates, addresses, dates, addresses, numbers, and with numbers, and with the openings and the openings and closings of letters.closings of letters.

• The armistice of The armistice of World War I was World War I was November 11, 1918.November 11, 1918.

• There were 270,000 There were 270,000 letters written.letters written.

• Dear Elise,Dear Elise,• Sincerely,Sincerely,

Letter-Writing and Informal SituationsLetter-Writing and Informal Situations

• We wrote to our We wrote to our governor and governor and telephoned our telephoned our senator.senator.

( No comma is needed because there are not two complete sentences.)

Avoid Unnecessary CommasAvoid Unnecessary Commas

Practice Review Exercises

Lacrosse __ a game played by two Lacrosse __ a game played by two competing teams __ is a sport which competing teams __ is a sport which involves a ball and a special netted stickinvolves a ball and a special netted stick.

,,

,,

(No comma)(No comma)

The game was originally played by the The game was originally played by the Native Americans as a training for warNative Americans as a training for war __ and was adopted by the __ and was adopted by the French-Canadians.French-Canadians.

The French players called the netted stick la crosse __ because it resembled a bishop’s cross.

,,,,

(No comma)(No comma)

Today __ lacrosse players use a stick that has a wooden __ graphite __ or metal handle.

,,

Practice Review Exercises

Practice Review Exercises

Of course, the goalkeeper uses a crosse __ but he may defend the goal with his hands and body as well.

,,If teams are tied at the end of sixty minutes ____ they play sudden-death overtime periods.

,,

The game may seem chaotic ___ however ___ there are rules that must be followed.

,,

,,Long throws ___ although allowed ___ are usually not attempted.

;;

,,

Practice Review Exercises

Activities 1-5