COMMAS: WHEN AND WHEN NOT TO USE THEM

By: Kelsey Quaile

IF YOU HAVE TROUBLE USING COMMAS…JUST REMEMBER PELICAN!

Parenthetical elementsElliptical constructionsLists and seriesIntroductory elementsCompound sentencesAntithetical elementsNon-essential elements

Nigel from Finding Nemo

PARENTHETICAL ELEMENTS

Give extra information/detail Not needed for understanding sentence

meaning Should be surrounded by commas

Example: Dory, the forgetful fish, can speak whale!

ELLIPTICAL CONSTRUCTIONS

“Sometimes commas are used to indicate omitted material in a sentence that can be understood from context” From the Duke Writing Studio website

Example:Goldfish only live for a few months; sea

turtles, over 100 years!

LISTS AND SERIES

Used in a series of three or more elements Commas present between elements that

aren’t already separated by conjunctions Final comma in the list is optional

Example:The main characters are Nemo, Marlin, and

DoryOr…The main characters are Nemo, Marlin and

Dory.

INTRODUCTORY ELEMENTS

Words/phrases/dependent clauses that start sentences

Need to be followed by a comma Also applies to exclamations and direct

address

Examples:After the shark encounter, the ship

exploded!Watch out, the seagulls are coming! I’ve missed you, Dad!

COMPOUND SENTENCES

Linking independent clauses by using a coordinating conjunction

FANBOYS For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So

Comma placed before FANBOYS

Example:Nemo has a wimpy fin, so he has a hard

time swimming.

ANTITHETICAL ELEMENTS

Used to express contrast Phrases that refer to the same thing or have

the same function

Example: Nemo’s mother was eaten by a barracuda,

not a shark.

NON-ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS

Essential vs. Non-essential AKA: Restrictive vs. Non-restrictive Typically “that” vs. “which” Commas are not used with essential “that” Commas are used with non-essential “which”

Examples: The address that Dory remembered was

written on the scuba-diver’s goggles. The address, which Dory remembered, was

written on the scuba-diver’s goggles.

THERE ARE, OF COURSE, OTHER TIMES TO USE COMMAS…

…but they didn’t fit into the PELICAN acronym!

Quotations Comma usually placed before quote

Interrupters Commas usually placed around interrupters

Conjunctive adverbs However, although, nevertheless, whereas, etc. When linking to independent clauses, a semi-

colon is placed before and a comma is placed after a conjunctive adverb.

QUICK REVIEW!

Where should commas be placed in the following sentences? Which rules are being used?

Marlin with the help of Dory searched for Nemo throughout the film.

In the end they find Nemo and they have made many friends along the way.

Marlin and Dory face sharks whales jellyfish crabs and sea turtles during their journey.

Unbelievable the fish escape from the dentist’s office!

The goggles gave Marlin and Dory the directions that lead them to Sydney.

COMMA USAGE HANDOUTS

http://twp.duke.edu/uploads/media_items/commas.original.pdf

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/owlprint/607/