Commas, Incorporated

Commas, Incorporated

What are they used for? Why are they so confusing?

When / Why?

• basics: dates (November 11th, 2020), lists, and degrees (Lawrence, PhD.)

• multiple adjectives for the same noun: The chaotic, hilarious children were amusing.

• side-bar or non-essential information: The first queen, Mia, ruled over the island.

• Addressing someone: Get over here, Petra.

Beware the Comma Splice

You can't join two independent clauses with no conjunction and a comma.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following uses commas INCORRECTLY?

• Anika Peterson plays the guitar, piano, and lyre.

• Carter Wong, an amazing skateboarder, is a 2020 X Games gold medalist.

• Simi Kaur listen to me when I'm talking to you.

• I'll never forget where I was March 15th, 2020.

Multiple Choice

True or False: you can link independent clauses together without conjunctions.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Which of these uses commas correctly?

• I'm considering going home, it's too late.

• While I'm happy you're home, you need to wash the dishes.

• I went to get a donut, after the test.

• Before you go you, need to hear this.

Multiple Choice

What's wrong with the sentences below?

"Go eat grandma."

"No, I want oatmeal Sasha."

• There are no commas before the speaker.

• There isn't enough cannibalism.

• The comma after "no" isn't needed.

• Comma, comma, comma, comma, comma, chameleon.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is INCORRECT use of commas?

• Michael Phelps, M.G.'s idol, is taking on cross-country skiing.

• My neighbor, a snoop, seems to know all the tea in the neighborhood.

• Simon, you really have to stop talking to your dog.

• TJ a terrible liar, ripped his homework and blamed it on his cat.

Multiple Choice

Challenge: Which of these uses commas correctly?

Hint: paired commas = nonessential information.

• Suzanne Collins novel, The Hunger Games, has been made into a movie.

• The Giver, a dystopian novel, is thought-provoking.

• The first Marvel superhero The Human Torch was published in 1939.

• The things that bring me joy, also bring me heartache.

Multiple Choice

Which answer does NOT need commas?

Hint: there is no cannibalism here.

• "I need to eat Martin."

  "You just had a snack two minutes ago."

• "We're going to learn to cut and paste students!"

• "Kia and her quartet play tomorrow."

• "My three favorite things are eating my family and cooking."