(Comma needed: P.4 sentence interrupter) 

Gilman Punctuation Rules:
 

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Use commas to set off (a) appositive phrases, (b) short parenthetical expressions or (c) vocatives that interrupt the sentence.

a. appositives:

Examples:
John (,) the tallest member of the family (,) was a good athlete. Herb?s painting (,) a huge, colorful mural (,) was the most striking.
Squaw Valley (,) the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics (,) is a ski resort in California.
NOTE: Don?t use a comma for appositives like ?my son John?, ?William the Conqueror?, or ?the steamship Titanic?.

b. parenthetical expressions:

Set off short parenthetical expressions such as however, well, no, why, consequently, nevertheless, and   moreover which interrupt the flow of your sentence.
Examples: I am tired(;) however (,) I plan to finish the paper. The dog is very happy (;) moreover (,) he loves to chase Frisbees.

c. vocatives

Use commas to set off a vocative (nominative of direct address).
Examples:
It is up to you (,) Jane (,) to finish.
Please (,) John (,) come home.

Paranthetical Elements; Appositives; Vocatives (Darling et al)

Conquering the Comma (Powerpoint) (Purdue OWL)
Rules for Comma Usage (Darling et al)
Proofreading for Commas (Purdue OWL)

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Appositive Exercise (Purdue OWL)
Recognizing Phrase Functions  (Darling et al)

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No Comma: P.4)  

Gilman Punctuation Rules:
 

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When you use a familiar appositive, a comma is unnecessary..

Examples:

William the Conqueror
The steamship Titanic
my brother John

Paranthetical Elements; Appositives; Vocatives (Darling et al)

Conquering the Comma (Powerpoint) (Purdue OWL)
Rules for Comma Usage (Darling et al)
Proofreading for Commas (Purdue OWL)

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Appositive Exercise (Purdue OWL)
Recognizing Phrase Functions  (Darling et al)

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(Colon needed: P.5: introduce a list or an extended appositive)

Gilman Punctuation Rules:
 
  

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Use a colon (:) after an independent clause to introduce a list, an appositive, an amplification, or an illustrative quotation. (Strunk and White 7)

The candidate made many promises (:) to lower taxes (,) solve the energy shortage (,) and end unemployment.

"Even so, there was a directness and dispatch about animal burial (:) there was no stop over in the undertaker?s foul parlor, no wreath, no spray." (Strunk and White 8)

The squalor of the streets reminded him of a line from Oscar Wilde (:) " We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." (Strunk and White 8

Colons vs. Semicolons (Darling et al)

Conquering the Comma (Powerpoint) (Purdue OWL)
Rules for Comma Usage (Darling et al)
Proofreading for Commas (Purdue OWL)

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Using Colons (Darling et al)
Quizzes on Punctuation Marks (Darling et al)

 

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Gilman Punctuation Rules:
 
  


 

(Comma needed: P.5: separate expressions in a series.) 

Gilman Punctuation Rules:
 
 

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Use commas to separate three or more words, phrases, or clauses written in a series.

She could not choose between pizza with anchovies (,) mushrooms (,) or sausage.

Additional Uses of the Semicolon ;

In addition to using a semicolon to join related independent clauses in compound sentences, you can use a semicolon to separate items in a series if the elements of the series already include commas.

Members of the band include Harold Rostein, clarinetist; Tony Aluppo, tuba player; and Lee Jefferson, trumpeter.

See Colons vs. Semi-colons (Darling et al)

Conquering the Comma (Powerpoint) (Purdue OWL)
Rules for Comma Usage (Darling et al)
Proofreading for Commas (Purdue OWL)

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(Comma needed: P.6 separate coordinate adjectives)

Gilman Punctuation Rules:
 

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Use commas to separate two or more coordinate adjectives that describe the same noun.
 

Clues:
Can the adjectives be written in reverse order?
(If your answer is yes, add a comma.)
Can you add an and between the adjectives?
(if your answer is yes, add a comma.)

Examples:                
... a greedy, stubborn child...
... a white frame house...
... a purple wool shawl...
... an easy, happy smile...

Conquering the Comma (Powerpoint) (Purdue OWL)
Rules for Comma Usage (Darling et al)
Proofreading for Commas (Purdue OWL)

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