Just like the color changing lizard,
the comma, with its adorable tale, will fit into different settings. The comma
has different uses including separating a series of words, giving introductions
their own space, isolating parenthetical clauses, combining independent
thoughts, and to separate place names and dates.
Some of us may have been taught to
use a comma wherever there was a pause in reading aloud, but, that is actually a
misnomer; this could lead to placing commas every time a reader needs to take a
breath. Another falsehood is that long sentences need to be broken up with
commas. Finally, using commas with the word “but” is not as confusing as some
people think.
It is important to note that the
use of commas can dramatically change the meaning of a sentence. Where would
you place commas in the following examples? Woman
without her man is nothing. My favorite things are cooking my family and my
pets. He subdued the robber who was robbing the store with his handcuffs. The
panda eats shoots and leaves. Try using different placements of commas and
see how the meaning can change. Make sure that what you write is what you meant
to say.
There are a few basic and consistent
comma rules when it comes to salutations, dates, addresses and descriptive adjectives.
When writing an informal letter, use a comma after a salutation like Dear Alice, - business letters use a
semi-colon after the salutation. When you are writing a complete date
specifying month, day and year, insert a comma – December 11, 2013 – if you are only using a partial date – December 2013 – there is no comma. Use
commas to break up the components of an address – 123 Main Street, Any City, Any State – but, if you use the
two-letter state abbreviation when mailing an envelope (or postcard), eliminate
the comma between the city and state. Use commas to separate two independent
clauses when each can stand on their own as a sentence – We planned to have
Thanksgiving dinner together, Amy was cooking the turkey.
Surround a parenthetical phrase
with commas – The party is being held at Tom’s house, the one with the green
doors, at ten-thirty tonight. A parenthetical phrase adds information which is
not necessary to the formation of a complete sentence, try saying the sentence
minus the words in the comma-surrounded phrase. Commas can be used to separate
parts of a series, if you can substitute the word “and” then a comma is appropriate (except for the final piece of the
series) – I packed blouses, slacks, shoes
and underwear in the suitcase. Another rule about commas is to separate
adjectives that describe the same thing such as beautifully, painted walls or loud,
booming voice. However if the adjectives do not describe the same thing and
if you can’t reverse them as in the brightly
lit room, don’t use a comma. Finally, use a comma after an introductory
phrase beginning a sentence (as I just did here).
Writing exercise: Using multiple adjectives and a separate
sentence for each thing, describe up to ten items in the room where you are
seated right now.
Writing prompt: Choose any three punctuation marks (i.e.:
comma, period, question mark, semi-colon, etc.) and write why you like or dislike
seeing those in a friendly letter.
