Hello RIL-ers! I hope everyone is having a wonderful new year.

Here is a resource that I am sure will be helpful to all writers. It is called “The Comma Sheet.” It explains rules of comma usage in detail (with examples). Keep in mind that some of the rules are American and may have a conflict with the British system. Nevertheless, I think this is a wonderful resource and will benefit all beginning writers. I came across it in one of my English classes taught by Dr. Karma Waltonen. Dr. Waltonen teaches literature and writing courses at the University of California Davis. She was kind enough to send me the file when I requested it.

Please read it. I am sure it will help the seasoned writers as well. It is always a good idea to have a grammar review since we tend to take grammatical rules for granted sometimes.

Best,

Noor

THE,SHEET

USES OF THE COMMA

1-Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction joining independent clauses (word groups that could stand alone).

Nearly everyone has heard of love at first sight, but I fell in love at first dance.

2-Use a comma after an introductory clause or phrase.

Near a small stream at the bottom of the canyon, we discovered an abandoned shelter.

3-Use a comma between all items in a series

Uncle David willed me all of his property, houses, and warehouses.

4-Use a comma between coordinate adjectives not joined with and. Do not use a comma between cumulative adjectives.

Coord adj: Roberto is a warm, gentle, affectionate Father. (can be connected with and or scrambled)

Cumu adj: Ira ordered a rich chocolate layer cake.

5-Use a comma to set off nonrestrictive elements. Do not use commas to set off restrictive elements.

Non-rest: For camp the children needed sturdy shoes, which were expensive.

Restric: For camp the children needed clothes that were washable.

6-Use commas to set off transitional and parenthetical expressions, absolute phrases, and elements expressing contrast.

Transition: Natural foods are not always salt free; for example, celery contains a great deal of sodium.

Parenth: Evolution, as far as we know, doesn’t work this way.

Absolute: Her tennis game at last perfected, Krista won the cup.

Contrast: Celia, unlike Robert, had no loathing for dance contests.

7-Use commas to set off nouns of direct address, the words yes and no, interrogative tags, and mild interjections.

Direct Ad: Forgive us, Dr. Spock, for reprimanding Jason.

Yes and No: Yes, the load will probably be approved.

Interr. Tags: The film was faithful to the book, wasn’t it?

Mild Interj: Well, cases like these are difficult to decide.

8-Use commas with expressions such as he said to set off direct quotations.

Convictions are more dangerous foes of truth than lies, wrote philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche.

9-Use commas with dates, addresses, titles, and numbers. A zip code, however, is not preceded by a comma.

On December 12, 1890, orders were sent out for the arrest of Sitting Bull in Custer, WY 87071.

10-Use a comma to prevent confusion.

Patients who can, walk up and down the halls several times a day.

UNNECESSARY COMMAS

1-Do not use a comma between compound elements that are not independent clauses.

The Director led the cast members to their positions on the stage, and gave an inspiring pep talk.

2-Do not use a comma after a phrase that begins an inverted sentence (when a subject follows a verb).

At the bottom of the sound, lies a ship laden with treasure.

3-Do not use a comma before the first or after the last item in a series.

This job that appears so, glamorous, carefree, and easy, carries a high degree of responsibility.

4-Do not use a comma between cumulative adjectives, between an adjective and a noun, or between an adverb and an adjective.

We found an extremely, old, maroon, hatbox in the closet.

5-Do not use commas to set off restrictive elements or mildly parenthetical expressions.

Drivers, who , basically, think they own the road, make cycling a dangerous sport.

6-Do not use a comma to set off a concluding adverb clause that is essential to the meaning of the sentence.

Essential: Don’t visit Paris at the height of the tourist season, unless you have booked hotel reservations.

Non-Ess:The lecture seemed to last only a short time, although the clock said it had gone on for over an hour.

7-Do not use a comma to separate a verb from its subject or object (unless specifically called for, let the sentence flow).

Zoos large enough to give the animals freedom to roam, are becoming more popular.

COMMON CAUSES OF IMPROPER COMMA USE

1-You insert a comma whenever you breathe.

2-You oversimplify the rules by focusing on words.

3-You do not readily understand the difference between independent and subordinate clauses.

4-You are confused about the difference between restrictive and nonrestrictive word groups.