Let’s talk commas. Yep, those little squiggles cause
headaches for all writers. “When should I use one? When don’t I need one?”
Writers almost lose their sanity when trying to figure out the answers. Here
are a few rules that can be helpful.
1. A comma goes after all but the last item in a series of
three or more. Some folks say leaving out the comma between the last two items
and before the conjunction (and, or) is permissible. I’ve always instructed
students to include it for consistency’s sake.
EX: Most teens
enjoy movies, computers, cell phones, and video games.
2. NEVER put a comma before the word “because” when it comes
in the middle of a sentence and begins a dependent clause.
EX: He was late
because a terrible wreck blocked the road.
3. If a sentence begins with the word “because,” put a comma
at the end of the words that go with it.
EX: Because a
terrible wreck blocked the road, he was late.
4. If a sentence calls someone’s name to tell him or her
something, set that name off. The same rule applies for beginning a sentence
with “yes,” “no,” “well,” and other such words.
EX: Jim, bring your sleeping bag for the
camping trip.
EX: The problem with your solution,
Mary, is that it ignores several economic factors.
EX: Yes, the manager is in and will see
you now.
I’ll add more
comma rules later. These need to soak in first.
The last rule
that I can give you is, “WHEN IN DOUBT, LEAVE IT OUT!” Omitting a
comma is never as
bad as putting in one in the wrong place.
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