{"id":577,"date":"2020-06-23T14:30:50","date_gmt":"2020-06-23T14:30:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/writing-workshop\/?post_type=chapter&#038;p=577"},"modified":"2024-04-24T23:51:28","modified_gmt":"2024-04-24T23:51:28","slug":"using-commas","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1coreq\/chapter\/using-commas\/","title":{"raw":"Using Commas","rendered":"Using Commas"},"content":{"raw":"<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">Learning Objectives<\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Recognize the standard uses of commas<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\nNow that we\u2019ve reviewed the concept of a complete sentence, let\u2019s turn to commas.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_847\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"227\"]<img class=\"wp-image-847 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5208\/2020\/06\/24222820\/comma-2426854_1920-227x300.png\" alt=\"A drawing of a comma.\" width=\"227\" height=\"300\" \/> <strong>Figure 1<\/strong>. Reading sentences that contain commas aloud can be helpful in determining if your comma usage is correct. More often than not, incorrect usage will result in a sentence that doesn't sound quite right when spoken aloud.[\/caption]\r\n\r\nWhat's tricky about commas? There are so many different rules. It can be hard to decide which rule applies to the situation. Take this sentence:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>My sister, loves to eat ice cream.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nHow can we decide if that comma is being used correctly?\r\n\r\nOne way to begin is to ask yourself whether the words surrounded by commas can be removed from the sentence. In this case, if we remove \u201cMy sister,\u201d we are left with \"loves to eat ice cream.\"\r\n\r\nThat\u2019s not a complete sentence, so that\u2019s a clue that the comma there is wrong.\r\n\r\nLet's look at a different example:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>My brother loves bike riding, swimming, and surfing.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nIf we remove swimming (between the two commas), we are left with \"My brother loves bike riding and surfing.\" That is a complete sentence, so that\u2019s a clue that the commas here are correct.\r\n\r\nNow practice by checking to see if you can remove what\u2019s surrounded by commas and still have the sentence work.\r\n<div class=\"textbox tryit\">\r\n<h3>Try It<\/h3>\r\nhttps:\/\/assess.lumenlearning.com\/practice\/19096541-6550-492d-bf87-fc70d85794ab\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet\u2019s try some more practice a different way. Take a look at these pieces of sentences using commas and decide whether you need to insert a full sentence or something else. Then, complete the sentence in your own way.\r\n\r\nhttps:\/\/assess.lumenlearning.com\/practice\/3783306a-ba2c-44c7-b7fd-44982e9041a8\r\n\r\nhttps:\/\/assess.lumenlearning.com\/practice\/2850140a-a5dd-48af-a36e-228211029575\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\nOur examples above are commas involving lists (wash your hands, cover our mouth, and stay home) or commas with compound sentences and conjunctions. (The dog is happy, and she will get a treat\u2014two sentences combined with the conjunction <em>and<\/em>.)\r\n\r\nRemoving words also works with transition words and introductory phrases.\u00a0Take this sentence:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>After class, I feel so tired out.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nWhat is that comma doing there? Is it correct? Try removing what comes before the comma.\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>I feel so tired out.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nThat still works as a sentence and it tells us the comma is correct. Take another sentence:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>In the middle of the Covid-19 quarantine, I found myself struggling to keep my focus, and staying happy.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nHere we have two commas. Let\u2019s think about the first one. If we remove \"In the middle of the Covid-19 quarantine,\" we are left with \"I found myself struggling to keep my focus and staying happy.\"\r\n\r\nThat works as a sentence.\u00a0However, if we remove \"I found myself struggling to keep my focus,\" we are left with \"In the middle of the Covid-19 quarantine and staying happy.\"\r\n\r\nThat does not work as a sentence. There is a problem with the second comma. We can just remove it.\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>In the middle of the Covid-19 quarantine, I found myself struggling to keep my focus and staying happy.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nNow the sentence works if we remove the words before the comma.\r\n<div class=\"textbox tryit\">\r\n<h3>Try It<\/h3>\r\nhttps:\/\/assess.lumenlearning.com\/practice\/59a18cbe-b163-4cd2-9b55-0d62f7808307\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"textbox exercises\">\r\n<h3>Writing Workshop: Commas<\/h3>\r\nTake a look at these parts of sentences and decide what you need to insert after the comma.\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li>During my last semester in college, __________________.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>\u00a0If I eat my favorite foods,\u00a0 __________________.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>My favorite foods are pizza, ice cream, and _____.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>I need to drink coffee in the morning, but ______.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">Learning Objectives<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Recognize the standard uses of commas<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>Now that we\u2019ve reviewed the concept of a complete sentence, let\u2019s turn to commas.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_847\" style=\"width: 237px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-847\" class=\"wp-image-847 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5208\/2020\/06\/24222820\/comma-2426854_1920-227x300.png\" alt=\"A drawing of a comma.\" width=\"227\" height=\"300\" \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-847\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Figure 1<\/strong>. Reading sentences that contain commas aloud can be helpful in determining if your comma usage is correct. More often than not, incorrect usage will result in a sentence that doesn&#8217;t sound quite right when spoken aloud.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>What&#8217;s tricky about commas? There are so many different rules. It can be hard to decide which rule applies to the situation. Take this sentence:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>My sister, loves to eat ice cream.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>How can we decide if that comma is being used correctly?<\/p>\n<p>One way to begin is to ask yourself whether the words surrounded by commas can be removed from the sentence. In this case, if we remove \u201cMy sister,\u201d we are left with &#8220;loves to eat ice cream.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s not a complete sentence, so that\u2019s a clue that the comma there is wrong.<\/p>\n<p>Let&#8217;s look at a different example:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>My brother loves bike riding, swimming, and surfing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If we remove swimming (between the two commas), we are left with &#8220;My brother loves bike riding and surfing.&#8221; That is a complete sentence, so that\u2019s a clue that the commas here are correct.<\/p>\n<p>Now practice by checking to see if you can remove what\u2019s surrounded by commas and still have the sentence work.<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox tryit\">\n<h3>Try It<\/h3>\n<p>\t<iframe id=\"assessment_practice_19096541-6550-492d-bf87-fc70d85794ab\" class=\"resizable\" src=\"https:\/\/assess.lumenlearning.com\/practice\/19096541-6550-492d-bf87-fc70d85794ab?iframe_resize_id=assessment_practice_id_19096541-6550-492d-bf87-fc70d85794ab\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"border:none;width:100%;height:100%;min-height:300px;\"><br \/>\n\t<\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s try some more practice a different way. Take a look at these pieces of sentences using commas and decide whether you need to insert a full sentence or something else. Then, complete the sentence in your own way.<\/p>\n<p>\t<iframe id=\"assessment_practice_3783306a-ba2c-44c7-b7fd-44982e9041a8\" class=\"resizable\" src=\"https:\/\/assess.lumenlearning.com\/practice\/3783306a-ba2c-44c7-b7fd-44982e9041a8?iframe_resize_id=assessment_practice_id_3783306a-ba2c-44c7-b7fd-44982e9041a8\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"border:none;width:100%;height:100%;min-height:300px;\"><br \/>\n\t<\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>\t<iframe id=\"assessment_practice_2850140a-a5dd-48af-a36e-228211029575\" class=\"resizable\" src=\"https:\/\/assess.lumenlearning.com\/practice\/2850140a-a5dd-48af-a36e-228211029575?iframe_resize_id=assessment_practice_id_2850140a-a5dd-48af-a36e-228211029575\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"border:none;width:100%;height:100%;min-height:300px;\"><br \/>\n\t<\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Our examples above are commas involving lists (wash your hands, cover our mouth, and stay home) or commas with compound sentences and conjunctions. (The dog is happy, and she will get a treat\u2014two sentences combined with the conjunction <em>and<\/em>.)<\/p>\n<p>Removing words also works with transition words and introductory phrases.\u00a0Take this sentence:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>After class, I feel so tired out.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>What is that comma doing there? Is it correct? Try removing what comes before the comma.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>I feel so tired out.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>That still works as a sentence and it tells us the comma is correct. Take another sentence:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>In the middle of the Covid-19 quarantine, I found myself struggling to keep my focus, and staying happy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Here we have two commas. Let\u2019s think about the first one. If we remove &#8220;In the middle of the Covid-19 quarantine,&#8221; we are left with &#8220;I found myself struggling to keep my focus and staying happy.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>That works as a sentence.\u00a0However, if we remove &#8220;I found myself struggling to keep my focus,&#8221; we are left with &#8220;In the middle of the Covid-19 quarantine and staying happy.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>That does not work as a sentence. There is a problem with the second comma. We can just remove it.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>In the middle of the Covid-19 quarantine, I found myself struggling to keep my focus and staying happy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Now the sentence works if we remove the words before the comma.<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox tryit\">\n<h3>Try It<\/h3>\n<p>\t<iframe id=\"assessment_practice_59a18cbe-b163-4cd2-9b55-0d62f7808307\" class=\"resizable\" src=\"https:\/\/assess.lumenlearning.com\/practice\/59a18cbe-b163-4cd2-9b55-0d62f7808307?iframe_resize_id=assessment_practice_id_59a18cbe-b163-4cd2-9b55-0d62f7808307\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"border:none;width:100%;height:100%;min-height:300px;\"><br \/>\n\t<\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"textbox exercises\">\n<h3>Writing Workshop: Commas<\/h3>\n<p>Take a look at these parts of sentences and decide what you need to insert after the comma.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>During my last semester in college, __________________.<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0If I eat my favorite foods,\u00a0 __________________.<\/li>\n<li>My favorite foods are pizza, ice cream, and _____.<\/li>\n<li>I need to drink coffee in the morning, but ______.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t <section class=\"citations-section\" role=\"contentinfo\">\n\t\t\t <h3>Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t <div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <div id=\"citation-list-577\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <div class=\"licensing\"><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">CC licensed content, Original<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>Using Commas. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Audrey Fisch for Lumen Learning. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Lumen Learning. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\">CC BY: Attribution<\/a><\/em><\/li><\/ul><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">CC licensed content, Shared previously<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>Drawing of a comma. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Gerd Altmann. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Pixabay. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/illustrations\/comma-characters-font-hatch-2426854\/\">https:\/\/pixabay.com\/illustrations\/comma-characters-font-hatch-2426854\/<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em>Other<\/em>. <strong>License Terms<\/strong>: https:\/\/pixabay.com\/service\/license\/<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t <\/section>","protected":false},"author":29,"menu_order":4,"template":"","meta":{"_candela_citation":"[{\"type\":\"original\",\"description\":\"Using Commas\",\"author\":\"Audrey Fisch for Lumen Learning\",\"organization\":\"Lumen Learning\",\"url\":\"\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Drawing of a comma\",\"author\":\"Gerd Altmann\",\"organization\":\"Pixabay\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/illustrations\/comma-characters-font-hatch-2426854\/\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"other\",\"license_terms\":\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/service\/license\/\"}]","CANDELA_OUTCOMES_GUID":"0035334a-2d1f-4652-8e2d-cb970ddf8e3a, 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