Commas and Semicolons Made Easy Module
Punctuation is one of the most common difficulties writers have with their writing and
editing. While many view commas and semicolons as inconsequential or unimportant, quite
the opposite is true. A single comma can alter the entire meaning of a sentence. For example,
there is an example joke among many English instructors: Let’s eat, grandma. Let’s eat
grandma.
The first example sentence indicates that someone is instructing his or her grandma to eat
or declaring that it is time to eat. The next sample sentence without the comma indicates that
grandma WILL be eaten for dinner. The punch line for this set of sample sentences is:
Punctuation saves lives. While not all punctuation is a matter of life and death, punctuation
does have a profound bearing on the meaning of one’s sentences and, ultimately, one’s ability
to communicate effectively.
The comma is the most versatile, and therefore confusing, punctuation mark in the
English language. Many people were taught to use a comma when they would naturally pause
in a sentence, but that is incorrect. It is a decent way to guess if you have absolutely no idea
whether you need a comma, but it is not a rule and will not reliably lead you to the right
answer. You will end up using commas like taking target practice with a machine gun: with
enough shots, you are bound to hit something correctly all while placing a lot of incorrect
commas.
Often, commas and other punctuation are made much harder than they really are.
However, in order to get a firm grasp of how to use commas, we must revisit a few basics.
To begin, we must remember that for a sentence to be complete, it must have a verb and a
noun. This is referred to as an INDEPENDENT CLAUSE because it can stand alone as a
sentence.
Ex. I ran.
I is the noun and ran is the verb. Yes, this is very simple, but it conveys the point.
Now, if you have two independent clauses together, you might wish to connect them if
they are related in their subject matter. Also, you want to vary your sentences so your writing
does not sound like a Dick and Jane book.
Ex. I ran. She walked.
If you have two independent clauses, you may join them using a comma and FANBOYS.
For
And
Nor
But
Or
Yet
