Commas are confusing because they are used in many ways. However, the basic principle to using commas is simple: Use commas to separate clauses and phrases within sentences that have their own meaning.
The "rules" for commas below are broadly, but not universally, accepted. However, a meticulous writer considers two central issues:
Roller Skates Shops
- Reader insight and
- Consistency.
The comma guidelines below will help readers understand your message in many cases. However, even if they are not necessary to enhance reader understanding, result them for consistency. Consistency is a characteristic of expert technical writing.
1. Series
The commas help the reader find each unique item (or group of items) in a series by separating them.
Example: School officials are dismayed by poor grades, low attendance, and high drug use.
2. Joining Sentences
You can join two perfect sentences with coordinating conjunctions. (The entire set of coordinating conjunctions is for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so. Together, these originate the acronym Fanboys.) The comma lets the reader know when one point is perfect and the next will begin. This comma use only applies when you have perfect sentences on either side of the conjunction.
Example: The screen inverter stopped working, and the motherboard began to smoke.
3. Initial Descriptions
An Initial record is before the field and describes the main verb in some way, such as when, where, how, and why. The comma at the end of the record signals the reader that the main point of the sentence is about to begin. For consistency, do this with even short Initial descriptions. In the following example, the Initial record is underlined.
Example:
Following the symposium, participants collaborated on projects.
4. Interjections
Technical and academic writing are no places for interjections. However, if you use an interjection, separate it from the rest of the sentence with commas. In the following example, the interjection is underlined.
Example: Hurrah, the scheme is ultimately complete.
5. Appositives
An appositive renames or restates the person or thing you just wrote. It is equal and indicates the identical information. Appositives are separated from the rest of the sentence with commas to indicate that the data is a restatement. In the following example, the appositive is underlined.
Example: A Do Not Resuscitate order, a form of industrialized directive, is often established while end-of-life care.
6. Asides, Interjected Comments, Parenthetical Expressions
While writing a sentence, you may want to comprise data that is not directly related to the main point of the sentence. To indicate that you are going "off topic," and to indicate when you are returning to the main topic, separate the data with commas. If you can put these expressions in parentheses, you can use commas, instead. The data is not necessary for insight the point you are trying to make and, therefore, can be safely separated from the rest of the sentence.
Example: The musical trends of the 20th Century, as thought about by a recognize of published sheet music, indicates a correlation between tempo and collective confidence in the national economy.
7. Providing Examples
When you are providing examples of some fact or concept, you originate a form of parenthetical expression. Thus, examples, too, are separated from the rest of the sentence with commas.
Example:
Alternative forms of transportation, such as bicycles and roller skates, are tasteless but not popular in suburban areas.
8. Adjective Pairs
When you have two or more adjectives or other descriptions immediately before the word they describe, you may need to separate them with commas. If you can change their order, and if you can put and between them without changing the meaning of the sentence, the adjectives are called coordinate adjectives and need to be separated by a comma. The full explanation is far more technical, but if your adjectives meet these two conditions, you will place the commas correctly. The comma indicates that one adjective does not chronicle the following adjective in some way but that the adjectives equally chronicle the thing that follows.
Example: An empowered, supported trainee will find education exciting.
9. Non-restrictive Phrases and Clauses
A non-restrictive phrase or clause does not tell the reader which thing or person you are describing. Rather, a non-restrictive phrase or clause provides an "off-topic" record that is not necessary to understand the main point of the sentence. separate all non-restrictive phrases and clauses from the rest of the sentence with commas. If the data is necessary for the reader to know which thing or person you are describing, do not use commas.
Example: The maple tree, which harvesters tap for their sap to make syrup, produces seeds in pairs.
Example: The Ceo of Widgets.com, who began his work as a shop clerk, has a net worth of million.
10. Dates
If you comprise the day, month, and year in the date, put commas nearby the year. If you do not comprise the day, you do not need the commas.
Example: On July 1, 2004, the publisher will publish the new book series.
11. Final descriptive phrases and clauses
A sentence may end with a final descriptive phrase or clause. If the descriptive phrase or clause relates only to the words immediately prior to the description, you do not need a comma. However, if the record relates to the entire sentence, use a comma to separate it. This shows that the record relates to the entire sentence, not just one part of the sentence. (In the following example, the underlined record relates to the entire data in the main sentence. Without a comma, the sentence would indicate that based on their website notice describes why they postponed the ceremony.)
Example: The city council postponed the ceremony, based on their website notice.
12. Quoted Text
In U.S. English, the final comma or period goes inside the ending quotation mark-even if it looks awkward or is not part of the quoted material.
Example: agreeing to firm researchers, choice results have a "noticeable result on stock prices," and the entire stock shop generally "finds a new balance."
Incorrect Comma Placement
Do not use commas in the following places within sentences.
- Before or (in either...or expressions), nor (in neither...nor expressions), but also (in not only...but also expressions) expressions, and before the second part of other, similar two-part expressions. Example: "The begin will occur either on Friday [no comma] or on Saturday."
- 2. between the field and predicate, unless the field ends with an expression (such as an appositive) that requires commas. Example: "A substitute for natural wood products shipped from Finland [no comma] expands the shop base."
- Between two parts of a combination predicate. Example: "Sound waves can yield heart palpitations in population within the wave cone [no comma] and originate pressure on sinus tissues.
- Between two objects of a verb. Example: "We use ocean currents to originate electricity [no comma] and air currents to originate electromagnetic fields.
0 comments:
Post a Comment