What's the deal with commas?

It’s complicated. Remember, however, to use phaser on high for that first “n” in Shatner. :-)

ha ha, “n” placement is alsno a problem with me :)

In simplistic terms, you can use them where there is a pause. You obviously wouldn’t pause in the middle of a word.

I do put it where I pause, but I get counted off for that. Now I just don’t put any in my papers at all. That’s so that I don’t go into the negative point values again.

Do not always put a comma where you pause in the sentence – it’s a good place to start but not always correct.

Place a comma:
1) after an introductory word or phrase

Generally, commas are perceived as difficult.
In fact, they are quite simple.
Once you figure them out, they will become second nature.

2) before a conjunction (FANBOYS) that separates two complete thoughts (including a subject and a verb)

I like to read and write. I like to read, and write.
You like to read but don’t like to write. You like to read, but don’t like to write.
You need to know about commas, so I am telling you about them. You need to know about commas so I am telling you about them.

3) NO COMMA SPLICES! (don’t use a comma alone to separate two complete thoughts)

I know you are confused with commas, it isn’t unreasonable. I know you are confused with commas; it isn’t unreasonable.
Comma splices are common, they are evil. Comma splices are common, and they are evil. Comma splices are evil because they are common. Comma splices are common, but they can be corrected.

4) Conjunctive adverbs (not FANBOYS – however, therefore, moreover)

I consider myself good at English, however I don’t enjoy it. I consider myself good at English, however, I don’t enjoy it. I consider myself good at English. However, I don’t enjoy it. I consider myself good at English; however, I don’t enjoy it.

5) commas in a series
There are many rules for commas, semicolons, and colons. There are many rules for commas, semicolons, and, colons.

6) adjectives not joined by “and”
The strange and erratic comma placement was silly. The strange, erratic comma placement was silly.

7) interrupters and emphasis
Mrswho, a girl confused about commas, was needing some help. Fluther, a site where people answer questions, is very helpful.

rules from http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/commas.html

We now have an acronym – abNCcai. . . er, nevermind :)

I hope this helped!

Use it also to differentiate between “that” and “which,” if you want to be elegant.

The pen that I stole from my uncle is junk. The pen, which I stole from my uncle, is junk.

And for real class, google “Oxford comma.”

Thank you Baloo 72! I shall refrence that as I write the Macbeth essay I ought to have done by now. CURSE YOU FLUTHER!

@gailcalled
I’m a big fan of the Oxford comma. It seems to be lacking something when you leave it off.

@gailcalled Sorry, I got lazy. The “that” and “which” rule was supposed to be part of number seven. When information is not necessary to a sentence (called parenthetical elements) it should be set off by commas. The pen is junk. The pen (which I stole from my uncle) is junk. The pen, which I stole from my uncle, is junk. The pen that I stole from my uncle is junk. ”[T]hat I stole from my uncle” is necessary in describing which pen, so it is not set off in commas.

I think the Oxford comma should only be left out in journalism contexts. It is acceptable to leave it out when writing short lists, but it can become very ambiguous in long lists. “I like to eat spaghetti, yogurt, and macaroni and cheese” means something different from “I like to eat spaghetti, yogurt, macaroni, and cheese.”

@Baloo72; You seem very young to be fascinated by all this. That bodes well for your intellectual future, however.

The traditional approach, which many writers now ignore, uses “that” with restrictive clauses and “which” with nonrestrictive clauses. (That’s some more fancy nomenclature.)

@gailcalled I grew up in a family with two English teachers – I never had much hope. :)

I suggest you read some article in a newspaper or book to know about the usage of commas.

The main thing about punctuation is to learn some basic rules, recognize the usage by Reading and then use it while you write, there is no way around this.

So, learn some basic rules…..read…...and then write.

1. Ask your teacher to point you toward good resources on the subject.
2. Follow Strunk and White (see sections 2–5).

Commas are pretty easy on their own, but complicated sentences end up making comma usage (and verb forms, and other punctuation) exceedingly complicated. If you stick mostly to easy sentences, you should be able to master the rules for those sentences—and then move on to more complicated sentences.

@bob: I hope that everyone here notices that you are telling by showing, as is right for a writer. (Where ya been, BTW?)