BC305CommasPrint.docx

1、BC305CommasPrintA. COMMAS1. USE A COMMA BEFORE A COORDINATE CONJUNCTION THAT JOINS TWO INDEPENDENT CLAUSES (I.E., A COMPOUND SENTENCE). When two complete thoughts are connected by and, or, but, for, nor, yet, so, place a comma before the conjunction and, or, but, for, nor, yet, so. Make certain that

2、 the conjunction is connecting two complete thoughts-that is, either thought can stand alone without the rest of the sentence. Such a sentence is referred to as a compound sentence. Joe is tall, and Bill is short. (Note: To avoid an argument, we will place a comma before the coordinate conjunction e

3、ven in very short compound sentences.) David will type the report, and Susan will distribute the report. Do you wish to pay for the item now, or shall we charge it to your account? I will be gone on Tuesday, but Ms. Hamilton will be glad to help you. I will not go outside, for it is raining very har

4、d. I will not go to town, nor will I watch television. I studied very hard, yet I did not make a good grade on the exam. I have finished washing the car, so you should pay me $10. Note: An extremely short compound sentence might not require a comma; however, for consistency, we will put a comma befo

5、re the coordinate conjunction in all compound sentences. In this class we will refer to and, or, but as being “pure” coordinate conjunctions and for, nor, yet, so as being “semi-pure” coordinate conjunctions. A compound sentence joined by a “pure” coordinate conjunction may “flip” (reverse) Clause A

6、 and Clause B and will usually still make sense. John went to town, and Joe went home. Joe went home, and John went to town. With the possible exception of the semi-pure coordinate conjunction yet, this fact does not normally hold in compound sentences joined by “semi-pure” coordinate conjunctions.2

7、. USE COMMAS AFTER INTRODUCTORY DEPENDENT CLAUSES (IDCs). An introductory dependent clause is a group of words containing a subject and a verb that occurs at the beginning of a sentence. However, this clause is not a complete thought and cannot stand alone. It requires a main (independent) clause to

8、 make the sentence complete. Introductory dependent clauses usually begin with recognizable words (subordinate conjunctions). The most common words are when, as, and if. Other common examples of words used as subordinate conjunctions that introduce introductory dependent clauses are after, although,

9、 as, as long as, because, before, despite, even though, now that, once, provided, rather than, since, so that, though, unless, until, whenever, whether, and while. When Dr. Ellis arrives, I will ask her to call your office. As I may have mentioned earlier, the contract has already expired. If you pr

10、efer, we will have the order shipped directly to you. Although two months have passed, we still have not heard from you. Before you order supplies, you should contact our purchasing department. Because you are a valued customer, you will receive a discount. After I study the report, I will write her

11、 a memo.While we were reviewing your account, I noticed that your contract renewal is scheduled for next month. Whether you are looking for a specific item or gift ideas in general, you will find our clerks eager to help.Note: Most dependent clauses do not “trigger” a comma when they are placed at t

12、he end of a sentence; however, the subordinate conjunctions as, though, and although are exceptions to this rule. These exceptions are discussed in Rule 16. The first word in an introductory dependent clause (IDC) is always a subordinate conjunction. This fact does not mean, however, that the first

13、word of all dependent clauses must function only as a subordinate conjunction and nothing but a subordinate conjunction. For example, the word “as” may function as a subordinate conjunction or as a preposition (which we will study momentarily in Rule 3c). Examine the following two sentences: As you

14、know, I enjoy playing golf. As a boy, I enjoyed playing golf. The word “as” in the first sentence is a subordinate conjunction introducing the dependent clause as you know, . . . . The word “as” in the second sentence is a preposition introducing the prepositional phrase as a boy, . . . . This disti

15、nction is important in order to be able to distinguish clauses from phrases, which (as you will learn) is necessary in order to write well, especially when constructing compound- complex sentences. Is “as you will learn” a prepositional phrase or a dependent clause? An introductory dependent clause

16、(IDC) is structured as follows: When it rains, I stay in my room. (Note the comma after an introductory dependent clause.) A terminal dependent clause (TDC) is structured as follows: I stay in my room when it rains. (Notice that there is normally no punctuation before a terminal dependent clause.)3.

17、 USE COMMAS WITH INTRODUCTORY PHRASES. (a) An introductory infinitive phrase (a verb preceded by “to”) when used as a modifier is followed by a comma. To get our proposal completed, we had to work for three months after closing hours. (b) An introductory participial phrase (a verb form used as an ad

18、jective and ending with either ed or ing) is followed by a comma. Dressed in black, the movie star was very eye-catching. Leaving her umbrella at the office, the secretary got wet while running to catch her bus. (c) An introductory prepositional phrase or phrases consisting of five (5) or more words

19、 or an introductory prepositional phrase containing a verb form is always followed by a comma. A preposition is a word that links the “object” of the preposition to another word in the sentence. Jack and Jill went up the hill. (“Up” is a preposition connecting “went” and “hill.”) Little Jack Horner

20、sat in a corner. (“In” is a preposition connecting “sat” and “corner.”) The following are very commonly used prepositions: about behind down off to above below during on toward across beneath except onto under after beside for out underneath against between from outside until along beyond in over up

21、 among but inside past upon around by into since with at concerning like through within before despite of throughout without Most of the time, prepositional phrases do not occur at the beginning of a sentence; however, when a prepositional phrase (or phrases) does occur at the beginning of a sentenc

22、e and consists of five (5) or more words or contains a verb form, the prepositional phrase (or phrases) is always set off by a comma: At the beginning of our employment with Brown and Company, we were required to complete a training course. After giving considerable thought to your suggestion, we ha

23、ve decided to adopt the proposal. If a comma is not needed for clarity following an introductory prepositional phrase of fewer than five words, the comma may be omitted; however, many writers use commas after all introductory prepositional phrases to avoid having to analyze each situation. 4. USE CO

24、MMAS BETWEEN THREE OR MORE WORDS (OR RELATED ELEMENTS) IN A SERIES. The last word in a series will always be preceded by either of these two words: and, or. A comma will usually be placed before and and or in a series. Some offices, however, may prefer that this comma be omitted. Use the style prefe

25、rred in your office. In this class (this office), we will place a comma before and and or in a series. Letters arrived for Mary, Todd, Steven, and James. There are three subjects I especially enjoy-accounting, statistics, and economics. Please have Mary, Todd, or Steven prepare the report. Please as

26、k someone to answer the phone, sort the mail, and file all correspondence. 5. USE COMMAS WITH PARENTHETICAL EXPRESSIONS. A parenthetical expression is a word or group of words that interrupts the natural flow of the sentence. These expressions are often used to add emphasis or show contrast. When re

27、moved from the sentence, the expressions do not change the meaning of the sentence. Parenthetical expressions may occur at the beginning of the sentence, within the sentence, or at the end of the sentence. When the word or phrase occurs in the middle of the sentence, place a comma before and after t

28、he expression. If the expression occurs at the beginning of the sentence (referred to as an introductory expression) or at the end of the sentence, use only one comma. Some common examples of parenthetical expressions are as follows: as a rule furthermore in other words for instance for example of c

29、ourse on the other hand in fact needless to say however naturally nevertheless I do not believe, however, that it will rain today. In other words, Sue will not complete the audit until next week. I do not believe, however, that the merger will be approved. You will want to take advantage of our sale

30、, of course. I do not believe it will rain tonight. I think, though, that it will snow tomorrow. 6. USE COMMAS WITH APPOSITIVES. An appositive is a word or group of words (a phrase) that explains, renames, or identifies someone or something that immediately precedes it in the sentence. Appositives a

31、re usually set off by commas from the rest of the sentence. Some examples of appositives are shown below: His new textbook, BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS, has now been published. Please see our sales manager, Sally Stanfield. Mr. Henry Jackson, the Secretary of State, will deliver our commencement address. Appositives must give more than your locationthey must tell you who you are (rename or describe you) with an appropriate degree of specificity. An appositive will always consist of more than a prepositional phrase, although an appositive may contain a prepositional phrase. We apprecia