This document discusses using commas to set off nonessential elements in sentences. It provides examples of essential elements that should not be set off with commas, as well as nonessential elements like appositives that should be set off with commas. It includes a quiz with examples of sentences and identifies whether commas should be used or not based on whether the element is essential or nonessential information.

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

2. Commas, Part 2

3. Using commas to set off nonessential elements If an element (word or phrase) is essential, do not set it off with commas. If an element is nonessential, set it off with commas.

4. Essential elements (do not use commas) Women who are pregnant should not drink or smoke.

5. Essential elements (do not use commas) Women who are pregnant should not drink or smoke. Bay College students who transfer to MSU tend to be science majors and hardcore partiers.

6. Nonessential elements (use commas to set them off) Nancy Jefferson, who is pregnant , does not drink or smoke.

7. Nonessential elements (use commas to set them off) Nancy Jefferson, who is pregnant , does not drink or smoke. Jack Fowler, who transferred from Bay College to MSU , is a science major and a hardcore partier.

8. Nonessential elements (use commas to set them off) Appositives: nouns or pronouns that rename another noun or pronoun (set them off with commas) Barry Smith, my closest neighbor , writes children’s books.

9. Nonessential elements (use commas to set them off) Appositives: nouns or pronouns that rename another noun or pronoun (set them off with commas) Barry Smith, my closest neighbor , writes children’s books. My oldest sister, Carla , is an FBI agent; however, my youngest sister, Anna , is a federal prison inmate.

10. Nonessential elements (use commas to set them off) Appositives: nouns or pronouns that rename another noun or pronoun (set them off with commas) Shakespeare’s play Hamlet has been made into a movie several times.

11. Nonessential elements (use commas to set them off) Appositives: nouns or pronouns that rename another noun or pronoun (set them off with commas) Shakespeare’s play Hamlet has been made into a movie several times. Bob Nelson’s debut novel, The Jackrabbit , was a miserable failure in terms of sales.

12. Quick Quiz Should there be commas or no commas around the blue element? In other words, is it essential (no commas) or nonessential (commas)? My husband Larry rarely leaves the house.

13. Quick Quiz Should there be commas or no commas around the blue element? In other words, is it essential (no commas) or nonessential (commas)? My husband, Larry , rarely leaves the house. (commas)

14. Quick Quiz Should there be commas or no commas around the blue element? In other words, is it essential (no commas) or nonessential (commas)? Men who know how to cook their own food and wash their own clothes make the best husbands.

15. Quick Quiz Should there be commas or no commas around the blue element? In other words, is it essential (no commas) or nonessential (commas)? Men who know how to cook their own food and wash their own clothes make the best husbands. (no commas)

16. Quick Quiz Should there be commas or no commas around the blue element? In other words, is it essential (no commas) or nonessential (commas)? People who wear funny hats get on my nerves.

17. Quick Quiz Should there be commas or no commas around the blue element? In other words, is it essential (no commas) or nonessential (commas)? People who wear funny hats get on my nerves. (no commas)

18. Quick Quiz Should there be commas or no commas around the blue element? In other words, is it essential (no commas) or nonessential (commas)? Carol Roberts my best friend in high school just got a job at Google.

19. Quick Quiz Should there be commas or no commas around the blue element? In other words, is it essential (no commas) or nonessential (commas)? Carol Roberts, my best friend in high school , just got a job at Google. (commas)

20. Quick Quiz Should there be commas or no commas around the blue/green element? In other words, is it essential (no commas) or nonessential (commas)? I have two dogs. My dog Skippy who is afraid of the dark sleeps with a night-light.

21. Quick Quiz Should there be commas or no commas around the blue/green element? In other words, is it essential (no commas) or nonessential (commas)? I have two dogs. My dog Skippy , who is afraid of the dark , sleeps with a night-light. (no commas around Skippy but commas around “who is afraid of the dark”)

22. Quick Quiz Should there be commas or no commas around the blue/green element? In other words, is it essential (no commas) or nonessential (commas)? Aunt Bunny who lives in Florida is a little goofy. Her husband John however is perfectly normal because he lives in Iowa.

23. Quick Quiz Should there be commas or no commas around the blue/green element? In other words, is it essential (no commas) or nonessential (commas)? Aunt Bunny, who lives in Florida , is a little goofy. Her husband, John , however , is perfectly normal because he lives in Iowa. (commas in all cases)

24. Quick Quiz Should there be commas or no commas around the blue element? In other words, is it essential (no commas) or nonessential (commas)? Cats although seemingly useless are good for catching rodents. Dogs on the other hand are multi-purpose.

25. Quick Quiz Should there be commas or no commas around the blue element? In other words, is it essential (no commas) or nonessential (commas)? Cats, although seemingly useless , are good for catching rodents. Dogs, on the other hand , are multi-purpose. (commas)