More Uses for the Comma: Part 2, A few rules

Last blog, we began our discussion of the comma. Let's pick this up in this posting.

This week, I'd like to point out that I used Lynn Quitman Troyka's book, "Quick Access: a reference for writers" to facilitate my discussion. The full citation is at the end of this blog.

Troyka uses a helpful table to assist students in using the comma. Most of the following information is drawn from her table, Comma Pattern (1998, 127).

Commas that link coordinating conjunctions that link independent clauses require a comma. Look at the following list of words:
"and, or, but for, nor, so and yet." If you use any of these words to link an independent clause (that is a sentence containing a noun and a verb), to another independent clause then you must use a comma. For example:
This wasn't the first time that she cheated on her husband, nor would it be the last time.

Commas are used after an introductory phrase:
Example:
After returning from the prince's ball, Cinderella put on her old gown.
Or an introductory phase:
Example:
In the Prince's hand, he held one tiny crystal slipper.
On the night of the ball, Cinderella had received a beautiful gown and crystal slippers from her Fairy Godmother.
Or an introductory word:
Example:
However, the prince had not forgotten about Cinderella.

Commas with items in a series:
Pattern: item, item, item
Example:
Her stepsisters made Cinderella scrub the floor, the chimney, the door and entrance hall.

Commas with coordinate adjectives:
Pattern: Coordinate adjective, coordinate noun
Example:
The prince made a televised appearance to his subjects using appealing, dramatic language.

No commas are necessary with cumulative adjective
Examples:
The cruel wicked stepsisters were not moved by the Prince's plight.
This is why the Prince made them dance in red hot iron shoes after he finally found Cinderella.

Commas with non restrictive elements
Pattern: Non restrictive element + independent clause
Examples:
A few days after the ball, the prince came to call on Cinderella's stepmother. (Non restrictive element in red)
OR
The beginning of an independent clause + non restrictive element + end of the independent clause (the independent clause is in red here:)
The golden era of Whaling, which lasted from approximately the late 16th century until the mid 19th century, helped fuel the beginnings of industrialization in America.

No commas with restrictive elements
Example:
The fans who attend special conventions meet celebrities from their favourite television shows.

Commas with quotations:
Example
"Look," he said, "I see land ahead."

These are some of the many uses of the comma. In our next blog, we will discuss sentence construction itself and the uses of the semi-colon, the colon and quotation marks.

Reference:
Troyka, Lynn Quitman. 1998. Quick access: reference for writers. Scarborough: Prentice-Hall.

KB