When to Use When to Use Commas and Commas and Semi ColonsSemi Colons

You will be responsible for knowing and applying the rules for commas and semicolons

USE A COMMA:USE A COMMA:

1. 1. with a coordinating conjunction with a coordinating conjunction to connect two independent to connect two independent clauses.clauses.

Betty is the homecoming queen, Betty is the homecoming queen, and Bill is the king.and Bill is the king.

2. 2. to separate introductory to separate introductory phrases, words, or clauses phrases, words, or clauses from the main part of the from the main part of the sentence.sentence.

After the Vietnam War ended, a After the Vietnam War ended, a number of veterans were number of veterans were hospitalized.hospitalized.

USE A COMMA:USE A COMMA:

3. 3. to separate non essential to separate non essential clauses, phrases, and clauses, phrases, and appositives from the rest of appositives from the rest of the sentence. the sentence.

The scout leader, overweight The scout leader, overweight and out of shape, trudged up and out of shape, trudged up the hill.the hill.

44. DO NOT set off essential . DO NOT set off essential information with commas .information with commas .

Twain’s novel Twain’s novel Huckleberry FinnHuckleberry Finn is on the censored list.is on the censored list.

USE A COMMA:USE A COMMA:

5. 5. to separate direct quotations from to separate direct quotations from the phrase identifying the speaker.the phrase identifying the speaker.

John said, "The fishing is great in Bear John said, "The fishing is great in Bear Lake.“Lake.“

6. 6. to separate the names of smaller to separate the names of smaller geographic units from the names of geographic units from the names of larger units. larger units.

Denver, Colorado, is called the Mile Denver, Colorado, is called the Mile High City.High City.

USE A COMMA:USE A COMMA:7. 7. to separate items in a date. Omit the to separate items in a date. Omit the

comma when just the month and year comma when just the month and year or month and day are given. or month and day are given.

Kennedy was assassinated November Kennedy was assassinated November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas.22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas.

8. 8. to separate names of titles or to separate names of titles or degrees that follow the name. degrees that follow the name.

Harold Johnson, Ph.D., will speak in the Harold Johnson, Ph.D., will speak in the Commons on Tuesday.Commons on Tuesday.

USE A COMMA:USE A COMMA:9. 9. to separate short, tightly, interrelated to separate short, tightly, interrelated

clauses in a series.clauses in a series.

John phoned, Mary stopped by, and Phil John phoned, Mary stopped by, and Phil left a message.left a message.

10. 10. to mark allowable omissions of to mark allowable omissions of repeated words, especially verbs. repeated words, especially verbs.

Your analysis is superb; your execution, Your analysis is superb; your execution, appalling.appalling.

USE A COMMA:USE A COMMA: 11. 11. to provide clarity and prevent to provide clarity and prevent

misreading, even if none of the other misreading, even if none of the other rules apply.rules apply.

We left him, assured that he would fail.We left him, assured that he would fail.(We were sure that he would fail.)(We were sure that he would fail.)

We left him assured that he would fail.We left him assured that he would fail.(He was sure that he would fail.)(He was sure that he would fail.)

12. 12. to separate three or more items or to separate three or more items or phrases in a series.phrases in a series.

Golfing, swimming, and bowling are my Golfing, swimming, and bowling are my favorite activities.favorite activities.

USE A COMMA:USE A COMMA:

13. 13. to separate a series of two or more to separate a series of two or more adjectives not connected by a conjunction if adjectives not connected by a conjunction if the order of the adjectives can be reversed the order of the adjectives can be reversed and still retain the same meaning. (use test)and still retain the same meaning. (use test) Your friend is a clever, sensitive personYour friend is a clever, sensitive person

14. 14. to separate interrupters or parenthetical to separate interrupters or parenthetical and transitional words from the rest of the and transitional words from the rest of the sentence. sentence.

Most of them, however, do try to act friendly Most of them, however, do try to act friendly and courteous.and courteous.

USE A COMMA:USE A COMMA:

15. 15. to separate contradictory phrases to separate contradictory phrases from the rest of the sentence.from the rest of the sentence. It was Betty, not Joan, who was It was Betty, not Joan, who was

elected queen of the prom.elected queen of the prom.

16. 16. to separate names used in direct to separate names used in direct address or other isolates such as address or other isolates such as yesyes, , nono, and , and thank youthank you from the rest from the rest of the sentence.of the sentence.

Tell me, John, did you vote for Joan?Tell me, John, did you vote for Joan? No, I am not voting for myself.No, I am not voting for myself.

USE A COMMA:USE A COMMA:

17. 17. to separate tag questions from the rest of the to separate tag questions from the rest of the sentence. sentence.

You did that on purpose, didn't you?You did that on purpose, didn't you?

1818. . to separate words and abbreviations that to separate words and abbreviations that introduce an example or an illustration, including introduce an example or an illustration, including namelynamely, , that isthat is, , toto witwit, , i.e.i.e., , e.g.e.g., , for examplefor example, and , and for instancefor instance..

Many of my friends, for example, Fred, Dean, and Many of my friends, for example, Fred, Dean, and Pete, like to golf.Pete, like to golf.

Questions and AnswersQuestions and Answers

Does anyone have Does anyone have a question about a question about the rules of the rules of comma usage?comma usage?

PLEASE ASK!!!PLEASE ASK!!!

LET’S PRACTICE!!!LET’S PRACTICE!!!

I have told one million lies in my life and that is the I have told one million lies in my life and that is the Gospel truth.Gospel truth.

……lifelife,, and that… and that… As a child I was the kind of kid my mother told me not As a child I was the kind of kid my mother told me not

to play with.to play with. As a childAs a child,, I was… I was…

Denver which is the capital of Colorado has an altitude Denver which is the capital of Colorado has an altitude of one mile.of one mile. DenverDenver,, which is the capital of Colorado which is the capital of Colorado,, has… has…

The city which is the capital of Colorado has an altitude The city which is the capital of Colorado has an altitude of one mile.of one mile.

No commas (restrictive)No commas (restrictive)

LET’S PRACTICE A LITTLE LET’S PRACTICE A LITTLE MORE!!!MORE!!!

Linda asked “Do you think she’ll ever speak to him Linda asked “Do you think she’ll ever speak to him again?”again?”

Linda askedLinda asked,, “Do you… “Do you… Paxton Florida is the home of the mighty Bobcats.Paxton Florida is the home of the mighty Bobcats.

PaxtonPaxton,, Florida Florida,, is the… is the… The No Child Left Behind Act was signed in on January The No Child Left Behind Act was signed in on January

2 2002.2 2002. ……January 2, 2002.January 2, 2002.

July 1990 is the date for the Progress “90” celebration.July 1990 is the date for the Progress “90” celebration. No comma (2 items in the date)No comma (2 items in the date)

LET’S KEEP GOING!!!LET’S KEEP GOING!!!

The commencement speaker was Juliet Brown Ph.D.The commencement speaker was Juliet Brown Ph.D. ……Juliet BrownJuliet Brown,, Ph.D. Ph.D.

He shot pool he drank Anchor Steam beer and he He shot pool he drank Anchor Steam beer and he rarely went home.rarely went home. He shot poolHe shot pool,, he drank Anchor Steam beer he drank Anchor Steam beer,, and he and he

rarely went home.rarely went home. To the winners we give prizes; to the losers To the winners we give prizes; to the losers

consolation; and to the spectators a good show.consolation; and to the spectators a good show. ……to the loserto the loser,, consolation; and to the spectators consolation; and to the spectators, , a a

good show.good show.

ALMOST THERE!!!ALMOST THERE!!!

The morning after a policeman came to the The morning after a policeman came to the door.door.

The morning afterThe morning after,, a policeman… a policeman… Jeff collected a change of clothing shoes and Jeff collected a change of clothing shoes and

golf gear before he set off for the day.golf gear before he set off for the day. ……a change of clothinga change of clothing, , shoesshoes,, and golf gear… and golf gear… A large green bug settled on the torn autumn A large green bug settled on the torn autumn

leaf.leaf. A largeA large,, green bug… green bug…

WE’RE IN THE HOME WE’RE IN THE HOME STRETCH!!!STRETCH!!!

The order however was not filled that The order however was not filled that day.day.

The orderThe order,, however however,, was not… was not… PneumoniaPneumonia begins with a begins with a pp not an not an nn..

……with a with a pp,, not an not an nn.. Thank you Susan.Thank you Susan.

Thank youThank you,, Susan. Susan.

LAST ONES!!!LAST ONES!!!

You’re going aren’t you?You’re going aren’t you? You’re goingYou’re going,, aren’t you? aren’t you?

Many of my friends for example Rachel, Many of my friends for example Rachel, Jennifer, and Allen, enjoy going to the Jennifer, and Allen, enjoy going to the movies.movies.

Many of my friendsMany of my friends,, for example for example,, Rachel Rachel,,……