This slidecast was created by Todd McCann English Instructor Bay College Escanaba, Michigan [email_address]

Punctuation affects meaning A woman without her man is nothing.

A woman without her man is nothing.

Punctuation affects meaning A woman without her man is nothing. A woman: without her, man is nothing.

A woman without her man is nothing.

A woman: without her, man is nothing.

Commas, Part 1 Using commas to join two or more independent clauses with coordinating conjunctions (fanboys) Using commas to separate items (three or more coordinate words, phrases, or clauses) in a series Using commas to set off introductory elements

Using commas to join two or more independent clauses with coordinating conjunctions (fanboys)

Using commas to separate items (three or more coordinate words, phrases, or clauses) in a series

Using commas to set off introductory elements

Commas, Part 1 Using commas to join two or more independent clauses with coordinating conjunctions (fanboys) The fanboys… for and nor but or yet so

Using commas to join two or more independent clauses with coordinating conjunctions (fanboys)

The fanboys… for

and

nor

but

or

yet

so

Commas, Part 1 Using commas to join two or more independent clauses with coordinating conjunctions (fanboys) Kenny drove all the way to Kentucky in search of happiness, but he did not find it. Independent clause Independent clause f a n b o y s , .

Using commas to join two or more independent clauses with coordinating conjunctions (fanboys)

Kenny drove all the way to Kentucky in search of happiness, but he did not find it.

Commas, Part 1 Using commas to join two or more independent clauses with coordinating conjunctions (fanboys) Kenny drove all the way to Kentucky in search of happiness, but he did not find it. Caution: Just because there is a fanboy in the sentence, that does not mean it automatically needs a comma: Kenny drove all the way to Kentucky in search of happiness but did not find it.

Using commas to join two or more independent clauses with coordinating conjunctions (fanboys)

Kenny drove all the way to Kentucky in search of happiness, but he did not find it.

Caution: Just because there is a fanboy in the sentence, that does not mean it automatically needs a comma:

Kenny drove all the way to Kentucky in search of happiness but did not find it.

Commas, Part 1 Using commas to separate items (three or more coordinate words, phrases, or clauses) in a series You will need a tent, a sleeping bag, and a fishing pole. Use the comma before the final item

Using commas to separate items (three or more coordinate words, phrases, or clauses) in a series

You will need a tent, a sleeping bag, and a fishing pole.

Commas, Part 1 Using commas to set off introductory elements After we ate the children went swimming.

Using commas to set off introductory elements

After we ate the children

went swimming.

Commas, Part 1 Using commas to set off introductory elements After we ate the children went swimming. After we ate, the children went swimming. , . Dependent clause Independent clause

Using commas to set off introductory elements

After we ate the children

went swimming.

After we ate, the children went swimming.

Commas, Part 1 Using commas to set off introductory elements Dependent markers (you will need an introductory element comma if a clause begins with one of these words): If When Before After Because Although Since Unless Until While

Using commas to set off introductory elements

Dependent markers (you will need an introductory element comma if a clause begins with one of these words):

If

When

Before

After

Because

Although

Since

Unless

Until

While