“Comma On!” You’ve Got to Know These Comma Rules

1. “Comma On!” You’ve Got to Know These Comma Rules The purpose of this mini-lesson is to teach, review, reinforce and re-enlist the comma.

2. The Comma Splice When you join two independent clauses with a comma (sans conjunction) Jose decides to take a census, Don Simon agrees with him. WRONG! READY YOURSELF FOR ANIMADVERSION! Jose decides to take a census; Don Simon agrees with him.

3. However (the ultimate conjunctive adverb) This is the moment when you really start to use semi-colons. Take it away Andrea Lee: “I turned twelve, fifteen, then eighteen without being baptized, a fact that scandalized some of the congregation; however, my parents, who openly discussed everything else, never said a word to me.” OMG Andrea Lee! You’re making a sentence maelstrom in my mind!

4. Other Conjunctive Adverbs accordingly, furthermore, moreover, similarly, also, hence, namely, still, anyway, nevertheless, then, besides, incidentally, next, thereafter, certainly, indeed, nonetheless, therefore, consequently, instead, now, thus, finally, likewise, otherwise, undoubtedly, further, meanwhile.

5. But be careful… However can also be used to interrupt an independent clause/complete sentence. Exp: Studying English, however, is more important than breathing. *The key is understanding what an ind. clause is and how many you have in sentence.

6. The Subordinate Are Complex When Miriam walks into the room, Mrs. H.T. Miller’s emotions undulate. or “And when she came to a florist’s shop, the sound was still with her.” “The man, TruMAN Capote.” -Red Hot Chili Peppers

7. Dependent Markers after, although, as, as if, because, before, even if, even though, if, in order to, since, though, unless, until, whatever, when, whenever, whether while.