Comma Class Notes + Other Grammar Notes

Rule 1. To avoid confusion, use commas to separate words and word groups with a series of three or more.
Example: My $10 million estate is to be split among my husband, daughter, son, and nephew. Omitting the comma after son would indicate that the son and nephew would have to split one-third of the estate.

Rule 2. Use a comma to separate two adjectives when the word and can be inserted between them.
Examples: He is a strong, healthy man.
We stayed at an expensive summer resort. You would not say expensive and summer resort, so no comma.

Rule 3. Use a comma when an -ly adjective is used with other adjectives.
NOTE: To test whether an -ly word is an adjective, see if it can be used alone with the noun. If it can, use the comma.
Examples: Felix was a lonely, young boy.
I get headaches in brightly lit rooms. Brightly is not an adjective because it cannot be used alone with rooms; therefore, no comma is used between brightly and lit.

Rule 4. Use commas before or surrounding the name or title of a person directly addressed.
Examples: Will you, Aisha, do that assignment for me?
Yes, Doctor, I will.
NOTE: Capitalize a title when directly addressing someone.

Rule 5a. Use a comma to separate the day of the month from the year and after the year.
Example: Kathleen met her husband on December 5, 2003, in Mill Valley, California.

Rule 5b. If any part of the date is omitted, leave out the comma.
Example: They met in December 2003 in Mill Valley.

Rule 6.

Use a comma to separate the city from the state and after the state in a document. If you use the two-letter capitalized form of a state in a document, you do not need a comma after the state.

NOTE: With addresses on envelopes mailed via the post office, do not use any punctuation.
Example: I lived in San Francisco, California, for 20 years.

I lived in San Francisco, CA for 20 years.

Rule 7. Use commas to surround degrees or titles used with names. Commas are no longer required around Jr. and Sr. Commas never set off II, III, and so forth.
Example: Al Mooney, M.D., knew Sam Sunny Jr. and Charles Starr III.

Rule 8. Use commas to set off expressions that interrupt sentence flow.
Example: I am, as you have probably noticed, very nervous
about this.

Rule 9. When starting a sentence with a weak clause, use a comma after it. Conversely, do not use a comma when the sentence starts with a strong clause followed by a weak clause.
Examples: If you are not sure about this, let me know now.
Let me know now if you are not sure about this.

Rule 10. Use a comma after phrases of more than three words that begin a sentence. If the phrase has fewer than three words, the comma is optional.
Examples: To apply for this job, you must have previous experience.
On February 14 many couples give each other
candy or flowers.

OR

On February 14, many couples give each other candy or flowers.

Rule 11. If something or someone is sufficiently identified, the description following it is considered nonessential and should be surrounded by commas.
Examples: Freddy, who has a limp, was in an auto accident. Freddy is named, so the description is not essential.
The boy who has a limp was in an auto accident. We do not know which boy is being referred to without further description; therefore, no commas are used.

Rule 12. Use a comma to separate two strong clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction--and, or, but, for, nor. You can omit the comma if the clauses are both short.
Examples: I have painted the entire house, but he is still
working on sanding the doors.
I paint and he writes.

Rule 13. Use the comma to separate two sentences if it will help avoid confusion.
Example: I chose the colors red and green, and blue
was his first choice.

Rule 14. A comma splice is an error caused by joining two strong clauses with only a comma instead of separating the clauses with a conjunction, a semicolon, or a period. A run-on sentence, which is incorrect, is created by joining two strong clauses without any punctuation.
Incorrect: Time flies when we are having fun, we are always having fun. (Comma splice)

Time flies when we are having fun we are always having fun. (Run-on sentence)
Correct: Time flies when we are having fun; we are always having fun.

OR

Time flies when we are having fun, and we are always having fun. (Comma is optional because both strong clauses are short.)

OR

Time flies when we are having fun. We are always having fun.

Rule 15. If the subject does not appear in front of the second verb,
do not use a comma.
Example: He thought quickly but still did not answer correctly.

Rule 16. Use commas to introduce or interrupt direct quotations shorter than three lines.
Examples: He actually said, "I do not care."
"Why," I asked, "do you always forget to do it?"

Rule 17. Use a comma to separate a statement from a question.
Example: I can go, can't I?

Rule 18. Use a comma to separate contrasting parts of a sentence.
Example: That is my money, not yours.

Rule 19. Use a comma when beginning sentences with introductory words such as well, now, or yes.
Examples: Yes, I do need that report.
Well, I never thought I'd live to see the day . . .

Rule 20. Use commas surrounding words such as therefore and however when they are used as interrupters.
Examples: I would, therefore, like a response.
I would be happy, however, to volunteer for the Red Cross.

Rule 21. Use either a comma or a semicolon before introductory words such as namely, that is, i.e., for example, e.g., or for instance when they are followed by a series of items. Use a comma after the introductory word.
Examples: You may be required to bring many items, e.g., sleeping bags, pans, and warm clothing.

OR

You may be required to bring many items; e.g., sleeping bags, pans, and warm clothing.
NOTE: i.e. means that is; e.g. means for example


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Series - use commas to separate items in a series

Ex. The candy store sold candy buttons, candy necklaces, bottle caps, and lollipops.

Subject/verb - Never separate subject and verb with a comma.

Incorrect - Thomas Jefferson, died in the early 19th century.
Correct - Thomas Jefferson died in the early 19th century.

Introductory Clauses - are always followed by a comma.

Ex. After the holidays with my in-laws, I was happy to go home.
Ex. If the weather is good, we may take a walk down to the lake.

Interjections - asides and similar expressions that disturb the flow of thought, however mild, all take commas.

Ex. "So, you just decided to quit your job."
Ex. "You thought the worst was over, well, you thought wrong."



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A definitive collection of hyphenation rules does not exist. Therefore, the writer or editor should consult a manual of style or dictionary of his or her preference, preferably for the country in which he or she is writing. The rules of style that apply to dashes and hyphens have evolved to support ease of reading in complex constructions; editors often accept deviations from them that will support, rather than hinder, ease of reading. Spaces should not be placed between a hyphen and either of the words it connects except when using a suspended hyphen (e.g. nineteenth- and twentieth-century writers
Source(s):
Wikipedia

There are two answers to this.
A hyphen is placed between two words (with no spaces) when it is an adjective like "time-saving," "state-of-the-art." If you use terms without the hyphen, it does not have the same meaning "It takes a lot of time saving for the future." (that sentence does not use the hyphen.
A dash is often used in place of commas - depending on the sentence. "The party - considered a boring event by many - was highly attended."
Some prefer to use a comma, but it depends on the context. Words like no one are not adjectives, that's why they're not hyphenated.
Source(s):
I am a reporter - this has come up in many instances and is simply a matter of when to use the hyphen and dash.
Look up adjectives and examples of hyphenated words.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080811095756AAL8Hie


all-important
chain-link
cottony-feeling
ebony-skinned
forest-green
half-melted
half-truth
heat-sensing
highest-ranking
good-bye
golden-haired
golden- skinned
left-hand
less-cushiony
low-dancing
low-hanging
right-hand
single-minded
still-pale
tapestry-adorned
toe-heel step
wide-brimmed
wide-bottomed

not-so-unusual
out-of-place
state-of-the-art


No problem, my dear.

Any time a word interrupts a sentence, it can be set off with two commas. In this sentence, the word perhaps doesn't interrupt the main sentence. The way I know this is because if you remove the word, the sentence doesn't quite make sense without using additional words or alternative punctuation.

The word 'perhaps' would be an interrupter in the following case:

"Who could I call?"

"James, perhaps, but I'm not sure he would know the answer."

In the above case, the word perhaps could be removed without changing the sentence, so it is considered an interrupter.

A transitive word allows one thought to flow into the next to show that they are related. Most often, they are used to show the continuation of a thought with two sentences, but also sometimes within a sentence. Now, since you asked about it, I went looking for a link that would explain it, and I found out that in this case, the word 'perhaps' is not a transitional word. Since it's not an interrupter, and not a transitional word, I'm no longer sure what it is. I'm going to post a question to Winnie and see what she says. I'm still sure that the comma isn't needed after the word 'perhaps', but I'm not sure why now, so I'll let you know as soon as I hear back from her. *Smile*

~Joy