Commas

Question 1

What are the four basic circumstances that require commas?

Answer 1

1. Before conjunctions joining independent clauses
2. Between adjacent parallel items
3. Around parenthetical elements
4. In sequences where needed to prevent misreadings

Question 2

In the forties girls studied home nursing and boys took shop

Answer 2

In the forties girls studied home nursing, and boys took shop

(The comma prevents boys from looking like the second object of the girls’ study. It prevents the conjunction from seeming to connect smaller sentence elements.)

Rule: Use commas before conjunctions joining independent clauses.

Question 3

He never worked for his father had left him a fortune

Answer 3

He never worked, for his father had left him a fortune.

(The comma prevents the misreading of for his father as a prepositional phrase. It prevents the conjunction from seeming to connect smaller sentence elements.)

Rule: Use commas before conjunctions joining independent clauses.

Question 4

I have now seen all Shakespeare’s major plays performed but Hamlet remains for me the most gripping.

Answer 4

I have now seen all Shakespeare’s major plays performed, but Hamlet remains for me the most gripping.

(The comma prevents the misreading of but as a preposition. It prevents the conjunction from seeming to connect smaller sentence elements.)

Rule: Use commas before conjunctions joining independent clauses.

Question 5

What are the two exceptions to the rule that requires commas to be placed before coordinating conjunctions joining independent clauses?

Answer 5

1. a SEMICOLON should generally replace the comma when the conjunction joins heavily punctuated clauses;
2. the conjunction needs no preceding punctuation if the clauses are short and closely related and there is no chance of misreading.

Question 6

On the New York Stock Exchange yesterday the industrials were up 9.5 the tranpsorts were down 4.35 and the utilities were unchanged

Answer 6

On the New York Stock Exchange yesterday the industrials were up 9.5, the transports were down 4.35, and the utilities were unchanged.

Rule: Use a a comma BETWEEN ADJACENT PARALLEL ITEMS

In a series of coordinate words, phrase, or clauses in which a conjunction precedes only the final item, a comma should follow every item except the last.

Question 7

The intelligent conscientious worker

Answer 7

The intelligent, conscientious worker

Rule: Use commas between adjacent parallel items. Commas should separate consecutive COORDINATE ADJECTIVES modifying the same noun.

intelligent and conscientious are parallel here: they are coequal adjectives qualifying the noun worker. (Intelligent not qualify the unit made up of the second adjective and the noun).

Question 8

the average city dweller

old broken bucket

Answer 8

• the average city dweller*
• old broken bucket*

No commas is required because the modifiers are non-coordinate: average modifies the unit made up of the second adjective and the noun.

The adjectives in both examples are not parallel; rather, they work together to modify the nouns.

Question 9

Which adjectives rarely coordinate with other adjectives?

Answer 9

Adjectives denoting color, age, size, or material are rarely coordinate with other adjectives.

Question 10

What is a good test to determine weather adjectives are coordinate?

Answer 10

Ask yourself if they sound IDIOMATIC if you reverse their order or read and between them.

the delicate, subtle flavor

the subtle, delicate flavor

the delicate and subtle flavor

Question 11

steady but hardly rapid progress

Answer 11

steady, but hardly rapid, progress

Treat the contrasting adjective phrase but hardly rapid as a parenthetical (not a parallel) element and thus requires enclosing commas.

When parenthetical elements are not involved, a comma should not separate a modifier from the word it modifies.

Question 12

What function do pairs of commas serve?

Answer 12

They mark the words they set off as outside of the mainstream of the sentence–as either

1. nonessential
2. disruptive of the flow

Enclosing commas help readers bridge the gap between structually related parts that come before and after.

Question 13

The current five-year expansion program, culminating in approximately 100 building materials supermarts by the end of fiscal 1980 is continuing on schedule.

Answer 13

The current five-year expansion program, culminating in approximately 100 building materials supermarts by the end of fiscal 1980, is continuing on schedule.

The nonessential culminating phrase separates subject (program) from verb (is continuing) and the single commas in the original only reinforces the separation; whereas, a second comma after 1980 brings the two together by setting off the intervening words.

Question 14

A mother, willing to sacrifice her baby for a good cause, is a rarity.

Answer 14

A mother willing to sacrifice her baby for a good cause is a rarity.

Do not enclose the restrictive adjective phrase with commas; it is essential to the meaning of the sentence.

RULE: Commas do not belong around a modifier that DEFINES or RESTRICTS the meaning of the word it modifies

Question 15

Which modifiers are most likely to raise restrictive-nonrestrictive questions?

Answer 15

• Appositives
• Adjective Phrases/Clauses
  
  • Participial Phrases
  • Relative Clauses

Question 16

The chipmunk or ground squirrel hibernates in winter.

Answer 16

The chipmunk, or ground, squirrel hibernates in winter.

Rule: Appositives consisting of a synonym preceded by or are invariably NONRESTRICTIVE.

Question 17

Punctuate and the rule governing…

Stonehenge that mysterious assemblage of giant stones was the next stop on the tour.

Answer 17

Stonehenge, that mysterious assemblage of giant stones, was the next stop on the tour.

RULE: Appositives that follow proper nouns are almost invariably NONRESTRICTIVE

Question 18

Puncuate and ID the governing rule:

The Yucatan which offers beaches as well as ruins is a popular vacation area

Answer 18

The Yucatan, which offers beaches as well as ruins, is a popular vacation area.

RULE: Modifiers (as in the relative clause here) or appositives that follow proper nouns are almost always NONRESTRICTIVE.

Proper nouns usually retain their identity no matter how you describe them.

Question 19

Punctuate and ID the governing rule:

The Woolworth Tower located in downtown Manhattan was once the tallest building in the world.

Answer 19

The Woolworth Tower, located in downtown Manhattan, was once the tallest building in the world.

Rule: Modifiers that follow proper nouns, such as the participial phrase here, are almost always NONRESTRICTIVE and must be set off with commas.

Consider: proper nouns usually retain their identity however you described them, so modifiers are generally non-defining.

Question 20

Punctuate and ID the governing rule:

I remember Judy Garland singing “Over the Rainbow.”

Answer 20

I remember Judy Garland singing “Over the Rainbow.”

No commas needed because the adjective phrase (singing…) LIMITS the noun to a particular circumstance.

Question 21

ID the rules governing punctuation of adverbial phrases and clauses.

Answer 21

• Adverbial phrases/clauses can be RESTRICTIVE or NONRESTRIVE, but their punctuation depends on their position within a sentence.
  
  • INTRODUCTORY:
    
    • Long adverbial phrases/clauses that precede the subject of a sentence must be followed by a comma regardless of R/NR.
  • DISRUPTIVE:
    
    • Commmas set off disruptively placed adverbial phrases/clause regardless of R/NR
  • END OF SENTENCES
    
    • R/NR rule applies to adverbial modifiers at the end of sentences.
      *

Question 22

I woke up this morning at exactly seven when my neighbor began playing the trumpet.

Answer 22

I woke up this morning at exactly seven, when my neighbor began playing the trumpet.

Since the exact time of waking is stated, the when clause provides only supplementary information.

RULE: The (adverbial) when clause is nonrestrictive and must be set off with a comma.

Question 23

I woke up this morning when my neighbor began playing the trumpet.

Answer 23

I woke up this morning when my neighbor began playing the trumpet.

(Here the [adverbial] when clause DEFINES the moment of waking. It is restrictive and should not be set off with a comma.)

Question 24

Is the adverbial phrase here restrictive or nonrestrictive?

Please be on time as you promised.

Answer 24

Nonrestrictive.

Please be on time, as you promised.

Question 25

We ran all the way to grandmother’s house over the bridge and through the woods.

Answer 25

We ran all the way to grandmother’s house, over the bridge and through the woods.

Nonrestrictive adverbial phrase.

Question 26

Please do as you promised.

Answer 26

Please do as you promised.

Restrictive modifying adverbial clause defines the request; no comma should be used.

Question 27

How does a comma introducing the adverbial clause affect the meaning of the following sentence?

A talent scout discovered her in 1959 (,) when she was performing in a small club in Chicago.

Answer 27

Without the comma the when clause limits the time of the discovery to that period during 1959 when the entertainer was working at the Chicago club; with the comma the clause merely gives supplementary information about the entertainer’s place of employment when she was discovered.

Question 28

What does a comma do to the meaning of the following sentence?

Our capital investments began to pay off (,) most dramatically after we automated the Hudson plant.

Answer 28

The comma makes the worthwhile return on the investment the point of the sentence; omitting the comma shifts the emphasis to a particularly successful investment.

Question 29

How does a comma affect meaning in…

I also read the novel (,) because a friend had recommended it.

Answer 29

The comma marks the reason for reading the novel incidental; left unpunctuated, the sentence primarily concerns the reason for reading it.

When a comma does not separate a positive verb from a clause or phrases introduced by since, because, or the like, the emphasis is on the explanation the phrase or clause contains.

BUT when the explanation follows a negative verb, the absence of punctuation leaves the sentence ambiguous.

Question 30

ID the problem and revise:

We did not lose the contract because of our references from former employers.

Answer 30

Ambiguous: Does the sentence mean that our references kept us from losing the contract or that we lost the contract for some other reason than our references?

Instead, use a positive verb and but the not before the explanation:

I was not because of our references from former employers that we lost the contract.

RULE: When a comma does not separate a positive verb from a clause or phrases introduced by since, because, or the like, the emphasis is on the explanation the phrase or clause contains.

BUT

When the explanation follows a negative verb, the absence of punctuation leaves the sentence ambiguous.

Question 31

Identify and fix the problem with…

They did not publicize the impending distributors’ strike because they wanted to avoid a run on supplies

Answer 31

… strike, because they ….

Rule: When a clause introduced by because or as follows a negative statement, make sure that neither the punctuation nor the wording leaves room for ambiguity.

Question 32

ID and fix the problem with

Environmentalists are not primarily responsible for the troubles of the nuclear power industry as the article implies.

Answer 32

… as the article implies they are.

Rule: When a clause introduced by because or as follows a negative statement, make sure that neither the punctuation nor the wording leaves room for ambiguity.

Question 33

ID and fix the problem with

Women are not silly creatures, as Ibsen’s play suggests.

Answer 33

As Ibsen’s play suggests, women are not silly creatures.

Rule: When a clause introduced by because or as follows a negative statement, make sure that neither the punctuation nor the wording leaves room for ambiguity.

Question 34

ID and offer two ways to fix the problem:

Employees are not shirking their responsibilities, as the editorial suggests.

Answer 34

Ambiguous: Is the editorial defending or accusing the employees?

As the editorial suggests, employees are not shirking their responsibilities.

Or

Employees are not shirking their responsibilities as the editorial states that they are.

Question 35

Name TK types of by-the-way sentence elements that, like nondefining modifiers, require enclosing commas.

Answer 35

1. exclamations
2. interjections (well, yes, oh)
3. direct address names (darling, stupid, Senator, Mom
4. transitional expressions (on the other hand, to begin with)
5. interpolated asides (perhaps, incidentally, I believe, I understand)

Question 36

Their performance was hilarious (,) however serious the intent.

Answer 36

Their performance was hilarious, however serious the intent.

Rule: Commas should set off contrasting or alternative phrases that refine or embellish another word but does not contribute essential information.

Question 37

Her family was well off (,) perhaps even rich by some standards.

Answer 37

Her family was well off, perhaps even rich by some standards.

Rule: Commas should set off contrasting or alternative phrases that refine or embellish another word but does not contribute essential information.

Question 38

He does the job satisfactorily (,) though certainly not impressively.

Answer 38

He does the job satisfactorily, though certainly not impressively.

Rule: Commas should set off contrasting or alternative phrases that refine or embellish another word but does not contribute essential information.

Question 39

A poor (,) but happy (,) person is hard to find.

Answer 39

A poor but happy person is hard to find.

Rule: A contrasting phrase is essential, though, if it limits the sense of the first adjective.

Question 40

Studies suggest that strict (,) but loving (,) parents are preferable to parents whom children perceive as indulgent (,) but uncaring.

Answer 40

Studies suggest that strict but loving parents are preferable to parents whom children perceive as indulgent but uncaring.

Rule: A contrasting phrase is essential (commaless) if it limits the sense of the first adjective.

Question 41

We will be there (,) weather permitting (,) by six on Saturday.

Answer 41

We will be there, weather permitting, by six on Saturday.

Rule: Always use enclosing commas for absolute constructions – noun + modifying participle phrases that are syntactically independent of the rest of the sentence

Question 42

I prefer a more conservative program (,) conditions being what they are.

Answer 42

I prefer a more conservative program, conditions being what they are.

Rule: Always use enclosing commas for absolute constructions – noun + modifying participle phrases that are syntactically independent of the rest of the sentence

Question 43

What is an interrupter?

How are interrupters punctuated?

Answer 43

• a subordinate element, restrictive or nonrestrictive, that DISRUPTS THE SENTENCE FLOW.
• interrupters must be set off by COMMAS.
  
  • the commas enable readers to link what precedes the interpolations and what follows.

Question 44

She was interested in but also apprehensive about the new project

Answer 44

She was interested in, but also apprehensive about, the new project.

The complementary phrase but also apprehensive … is a common type of interrupter–one that separates words that function as a unit (here preposition and object).

When two sentence elements conclude with the same word, commas around the second allow readers to carry over the first to the ending both share.

Question 45

Sightseeing on the Bowery can be a fascinating yet rather sobering experience.

Answer 45

Sightseeing on the Bowery can be a fascinating, yet rather sobering, experience.

The complementary phrase yet rather sobering is a common type of interrupter–one that separates words that function as a unit (here adjective and noun).

When two sentence elements conclude with the same word, commas around the second allow readers to carry over the first to the ending both share.

Question 46

They had contempt for and refused to cooperate with the other tenants.

Answer 46

They had contempt for, and refused to cooperate with, the other tenants.

The interrupting phrase and refused to must be enclosed in commas.

But

It is often better to reword to avoid such broken links (here between preposition and object). For instance:

They had contempt for the other tenants and refused to work with them.

Question 47

Their deceit should come as no surprise to anyone who has ever doubted (,) even for a moment (,) that honesty is the best policy.

Answer 47

Their deceit should come as no surprise to anyone who has ever doubted, even for a moment, that honesty is the best policy.

Set disruptive sentence elements (interrupters) off with commas.

Most such parenthetical interpolations are out-of-order or nonrestrictive modifiers, or both.

Question 48

The wheel (,) that squeaks (,) gets the grease.

What syntactical function does “that squeaks” serve?

Answer 48

The wheel that squeaks gets the grease.

A relative clause that serves as a r_estrictive adjective modifier_

Restrictive because it does not disrupt the sentence flow, since it is an essential, defining part of the subject it modifies.

Question 49

What is a good test to determine whether a phrase is disruptive and thus must be enclosed in commas?

Answer 49

Read it aloud.

If you naturally pause before and after the element in question, add commas.

Question 50

Running toward us (,) the man was shouting something and waving a newspaper.

Answer 50

Running toward us, the man was shouting something and waving a newspaper.

(A comma usually follows an adjective phrase that begins a sentence.)

Rule: You generally need a comma after an adjective and adverbial phrase or clause, restrictive or not, that begins a sentence.

Introductory modifiers such as these are not disruptive, but they can be considered as out of the normal order; i.e., position dictates punctuation.

Question 51

The man (,) running toward (,) us was shouting something and waving a newspaper.

Answer 51

The man running toward us was shouting something and waving a newspaper.

(Commas do not enclose a restrictive participial phrase in its normal position after the word it modifies.)

Question 52

Running toward us (,) was a man shouting something and waving a newspaper.

Answer 52

Running toward us was a man shouting something and waving a newspaper.

(A comma does not follow a participial phrase that comes first in an inverted sentence and complements the subject.)

Question 53

I expected them to be selected (,) and prepared for this eventuality.

Answer 53

I expected them to be selected, and prepared for this eventuality.

(Without the comma, readers might link selected and prepared instead of expected and prepared.)

Rule: Since words of the same form joined by a coordinating conjunction appear to be parallel sentence elements, you have to use a comma before the conjunction if they are not.

Question 54

Melissa was talking about dancing (,) and demonstrating the various steps she had learned.

Answer 54

Melissa was talking about dancing, and demonstrating the various steps she had learned.

(Without the comma, readers might link dancing and demonstrating instead of talking and demonstrating.

Rule: Since words of the same form joined by a coordinating conjunction appear to be parallel sentence elements, you have to use a comma before the conjunction if they are not.

Question 55

(a) punctuate, and (b) rewrite for style and clarity:
* Melissa was talking about dancing (,) and demonstrating the various steps she had learned.*

Answer 55

a. use a preventative comma to avoid a misreading of “demonstrating” as a gerund in parallel with “dancing” rather than a compound participle with “talking”.
b. Melissa was talking about CHOREOGRAPHY and demonstrating the various steps she had learned.

Using “choreography” instead of “dancing”, allows you to skip the preventative comma, because you are eliminating the suggestion of a link between gerunds and allowing “demonstrating” and “talking” to stand out more clearly as parallels.

Rule: Introducing an unconventional comma is rarely the most satisfactory way to prevent misreading; the comma may separate words that belong together as well as those that do not.

Question 56

Identify the problem, and fix the sentence:

The obsession leads the candidate to solicit and accept money from those most able to provide it, and to adjust his behavior in office to the need for money.

Answer 56

The obsession leads the candidate to solicit and accept money from those most most capable of _providing_ it and to adjust his behavior in office to the need for money.

The preventative comma separates the parallel elements to solicit and to adjust, when it’s perfectly easy to reword the sentence to avoid the suggestion of a junction between provide and adjust.

Rule: Before inserting a preventative comma that is objectionable, not simply optional, look for a better solution.

Question 57

He says that what provisions there are (,) are hardly enough for six weeks, but I doubt that (,) that’s true.

Answer 57

He says that what provisions there are, are hardly enough for six weeks.

Rule: A comma between consecutive uses of the same word sometimes, though not always, facilitates reading.

BUT it is often better to reword:

He says that the provisions we have are hardly enough for six weeks, but I doubt that he’s right.

Question 58

The first guests to arrive brought champagne the second flowers and the third dessert the first had spent a lot of money the others very little.

Answer 58

The first guests to arrive brought champagne; the second, flowers; and the third, dessert; the first had spent a lot of money, the others very little.

Use a comma to indicate an ellipsis (an omission of words that readers understand) if the structure might otherwise be unclear.

Question 59

The fewer members who know about this plan the better our chances will be for the wider the publicity the greater the risk.

Answer 59

The fewer members who know about this plan, the better our chances will be; for the wider the publicity the greater the risk.

Rule: A comma should separate the two parts of idiomatic expression like the more … the merrier (first clause) unless they are short or verbless (second clause).

Question 60

• I said yes*
• The answer was no*

Answer 60

• I said yes.*
• The answer was no.*

Do not use quotation marks around yes and no in sentences like the above.

Question 61

Kelleher tried to contact the mayor (,) but was informed that she had stopped accepting unsolicited calls.

Answer 61

No commas for compound predicates unless there’s a chance of a misreading.

CMOS 6.23: A comma is not normally used to separate a two-part compound predicate joined by a coordinating conjunction.

Question 62

He stood up and opened his mouth (,) but failed to remember his question.

Answer 62

No commas for compound predicates unless there’s a chance of a misreading.

CMOS 6.23: A comma is not normally used to separate a two-part compound predicate joined by a coordinating conjunction.

Question 63

She recognized the man who entered the room (,) and gasped.

Answer 63

In this case, the two elements in the compound predicate must be separated with a comma to prevent a misreading.

Here, the preventative comma makes “gasped” parallel with “recognized” rather than with “entered.”

Question 64

She filled in the last square in Sunday’s puzzle (,) and then yawned.

Answer 64

No comma in compound predicates where the second element is introduced by “and then.”

CMOS 6.23: In compound predicates, when “then” is used as a shorthand for “and then,” a comma usually precedes the adverb. Otherwise, no comma.

She filled in the last square in Sunday’s puzzle, then yawned.

Question 65

What is the difference between single commas versus pairs?

Answer 65

• Single commas SEPARATE; they keep words apart
• A pair of commas sets of a PARENTHETICAL UNIT
  
  • they enclose sentence elements that are
    
    • DISRUPTIVE
    • NONESSENTIAL or
    • OUT-OF-PLACE
  • they help readers connect what comes before and after.

Question 66

When is it appropriate to use commas to separate correlative pairs–both…and, neither…nor, either…or?

Answer 66

Do not separate correlative conjunctions with commas unless the correlatives precede independent clauses.

Question 67

I go to Los Angeles about six times a year (,) not because I enjoy the city (,) but because I have a business there.

Answer 67

Enclose the not clause in commas.

A not…but construction contrasts parallel sentence elements. Treat the not element as a parenthetical and enclose it in commas.

But

If the negative seems as important as the affirmative, you can omit both commas, or use a comma only before not, indicating that your main point is what you do, not why you do it.

Question 68

They have a pedigreed black cat with wonderful green eyes (,) and a multicolored dog of mixed ancestry.

Answer 68

No comma.

Although the comma keeps readers from linking eyes and dog, it remains objectionable because it also separates a pair (cat and dog).

You can avoid the problem by recasting the sentence:

They have a mongrel dog and a pedigreed black cat with wonderful green eyes.

Question 69

The restaurant is located opposite Central Park (,) and slightly west of the Plaza.

Answer 69

No comma between parallel subordinate elements–these should flow together.

Question 70

School curriculums have traditionally been the domain of politicians and educators not judges

Answer 70

School curriculums have traditionally been the domain of politicians and educators, not judges.

Commas are necessary to set off ANTITHETICAL PHRASES (not judges).

Question 71

“Beat Movement” poet, Allen Ginsberg, will give free readings of his work at 12:30 p.m. Thursday.

Answer 71

Either

“Beat Movement” poet Allen Ginsberg will give…

or, better (to avoid the long “occupational” title),

The “Beat Movement” poet, Allen Ginsberg, will give…

Question 72

She has been widely quoted on her training in The Method at The Actors Studio where
she studied in the 1960s.

Answer 72

Insert a comma: …Actors Studio, where she…

The clause that follows Actors Studio is nonrestrictive–that is, it add information and can be omitted without destroying the meaning of the sentence.