PDF Power Point on how to properly use commas.

1. Commas The bane of our existence

2. Common Comma Usage
• Use a comma before a coordinating
conjunction joining independent clauses
– Coordinating conjunctions
• and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet
– Independent clauses
• A clause that can stand on its own as a sentence
• Has subject AND verb

3. Independent Clauses
• EX: A good money manager controls
expenses and invests surplus dollars to
meet future needs.
– No comma before “and” because second
clause it dependent upon the subject in the
first clause.
– “A good money manager controls expenses”
is an independent clause.
– “invests surplus dollars to meet future needs”
needs a subject, which makes it dependent

4. Test Your Sentences
• Look at any sentence with a coordinating
conjunction in parts
1. Look before the conjunction
2. Look after the conjunction
3. If both can stand on their own as
sentences, then put a comma before the
conjunction.

5. Test Your Sentences
• EX: Roger had always wanted a
handmade violin but he couldn’t afford
one.
1. Look before the conjunction
Roger had always wanted a handmade violin
It stands on it’s own as a sentence.

6. Test Your Sentences
• EX: Roger had always wanted a
handmade violin but he couldn’t afford
one.
2. Look after the conjunction:
He couldn’t afford one.
It stands on it’s own as a sentence.

7. Test Your Sentences
• EX: Roger had always wanted a
handmade violin, but he couldn’t afford
one.
3. If both can stand on their own as
sentences, then put a comma before the
conjunction.
• Two subjects:
Roger & he

8. Test Your Sentences
• EX: He pushed the car beyond the
tollgate and poured a bucket of water on
the smoking hood.
1. Look before the conjunction
He pushed the car beyond the tollgate
It stands on it’s own as a sentence.

9. Test Your Sentences
• EX: He pushed the car beyond the tollgate
and poured a bucket of water on the
smoking hood.
2. Look after the conjunction
Poured a bucket of water on the smoking hood
It does not stand on it’s own as a sentence.

10. Test Your Sentences
• EX: He pushed the car beyond the tollgate
and poured a bucket of water on the
smoking hood.
3. If both can stand on their own as sentences,
then put a comma before the conjunction.
• The verb “poured”
is still using the
first subject “he.”

11. Common Comma Usage
• Use a comma after an introductory
clause or phrase
– Most common function as adverbs, telling us
• When, where, how, why, or under what
conditions the main action occurs
– A comma here tells the reader the intro
clause is over and the main part begins:
• When Irwin was ready to iron, his cat tripped on
the cord.

12. Introductory Phrase
• When Irwin was ready to iron, his cat
tripped on the cord.
• Without this comma, the sentence would be
more confusing:
–When Irwin was ready to iron his cat tripped on
the cord.
Certainly, Irwin wasn’t going to iron his cat.

13. Bibliography
Hacker, Diana. The Bedford Handbook. 8th
ed. New York: Bedford/St. Martins, 2010.
354-378. Print.