To comma or not to comma!?

I have begged, borrowed and stolen many rules from many sources in order to teach COMMAS!? They are overused, underused and misused. Do you like all of my series?

So, here is a quick summary of a few of the MANY MANY MANY RULES!…Let’s dive in! 🙂

Rule #1: Use a comma to separate three or more things

EXAMPLE: He’s bundled in a wool coat, mitts, hat, scarf and snow-boots because it’s so cold.

You try: Katherine did the shopping cleaned the house and finished the laundry.

ALSO: If you’re repeating words for emphasis, a comma will separate the repeated words so it’s clear you haven’t made a typo.

EXAMPLE: I really, really like chocolate.

You try: Maggie has been a naughty naughty dog.

RULE #2: Before a quote

EXAMPLE: She told her students, “I would add the comma before the quote.”

Or

“I could add the comma at the end of the quote,” this amazing person said.

You try:  “I just have to get a new car “ she said as she stood in the garage. She then continued “I know I can find a good deal!”

Rule #3: Comma Use Around Interrupters

Interrupters are little thoughts in the middle of a thought, added to show emotion, tone or emphasis. When we use an interrupter in the middle of the sentence, it should be emphasized with commas. Without the use of commas, the flow of the sentence may be awkward for the reader. Interrupters are easily identified by saying the sentence out loud; you’ll naturally pause where the commas should be.

EXAMPLE: Queen Victoria was, as they say, a formidable woman.

The interrupter as they say needs a comma before and after it to emphasize its separation from the rest of the sentence.

You try: Having demonstrated a decided lack of ethics, the CEO was needless to say dismissed from the company.

You try: It does indeed look like rain.

Names can also be interrupters.

EXAMPLE: What, Susan, do you think?

You try: Where do you suppose Davey your shoes might have gone this time?

Here are some more common interrupters: in fact, to say the least, however, generally speaking, sadly, happily, and unfortunately.

Rule #4: Commas After Introductory Phrases

An introductory phrase is like a clause, but it doesn’t have its own subject and verb; it relies on the subject and verb in the main clause.

EXAMPLE: Fighting against reason, Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.

First, what kind of phrase is this?

REMEMBER?? A participial phrase: (acts like an ADJECTIVE! And starts with a what?? A participle: remember, a participle is a VERB that became an adjective: Splash and built now are adjectives. Despite the type of verb, these phrases modify the noun that immediately follows them.)

EXAMPLE: Splashing through the puddles, the girls looked like they were having a blast.

EXAMPLE: Built in the 1920s, the house had a stronger foundation than originally thought.

(remember, a participle is a VERB that became an adjective: Splash and built now are adjectives)

You try:

Finding a good book she decided to take a break and read!

Remembering what is a participle he finished his grammar homework quickly.

What about this example?
In the heat of the moment, many people make rash decisions.

REMEMBER?? A prepositional phrase (starts with a what??? A preposition!)

You try:

Without understanding why, Annie woke from a deep sleep with an urge to check on her children.

Between March and April the little boy grew three inches.

By flashlight in the woods we made our way along the path.

What about this example?
To experience the delights of high-altitude meadows, we drove a Jeep through mountain roads.

REMEMBER? An infinitive phrase (starts with a what??? An infinitive!)

You try:

To dance all night she must have maintained tip-top physical conditioning.

Rule #5: Use a Comma After Introductory Clauses

Remember: A clause is a group of words containing a subject and a verb.  A clause that can function as a sentence on its own is called an independent clause: e.g., My sister eats a lot of ice cream.

Dependent (subordinate): Cannot stand on its own

Independent: Can stand on its own

Introductory clauses are dependent clauses which are found at the beginning of the sentence (although they can be moved to the end of the sentence, too, without confusing the meaning of the sentence). After a dependent introductory clause, we use a comma to separate the introductory clause from the independent clause. The dependent introductory clause may start with an adverb or conjunction like although, if, or when.

EXAMPLE: As the man was walking into the store, he came face-to-face with his childhood sweetheart.

EXAMPLE: Because the rain was torrential, the day’s Little League games were postponed.

You try:

Although temperatures were freezing we stayed warm in front of the fireplace.

Before the ambulance arrived I performed CPR on the unconscious victim.

(The clause starts with either a subordinate conjunction, such as after, while, if, etc…. The clauses cannot stand on their own because they are incomplete thoughts)

You try:

If you are not ready to commit you are unlikely to experience success while trying to lose weight (“if” is a subordinate conjunction).

Common mistake: Using a Comma After Conjunction in Introductory Clause

Introductory clauses frequently begin with a conjunction (although, since, when, if, etc.) There should be no comma after the conjunction in the introductory clause.

EXAMPLE: Because, it was going to rain, we cancelled the picnic.

(The comma after because should be removed; the comma after rain is properly used as it separates the introductory clause from the independent clause.)

What’s wrong with these sentences? FIX THEM:

After, flunking her Victorian Literature class, Martha decided to do the assigned reading.

When and if, it gets delivered, please bring the package into my office immediately.

So, that the water didn’t get in, we attached rubber seals around the windows.

 

Rule #6: Use Comma After Introductory Clause With Date

Dependent introductory clauses which include a date should be offset by a comma. The date can be a year or the date of the month.

EXAMPLE: In 1989, he graduated from high school.

By the 1960s, most households had a television set.

You try:

During the 1800s canned foods were becoming popular.

Since November 15th we’ve raised more than a thousand dollars for charity.

A couple of side notes on comma usage

  • A comma can change a noun to a verb.
    • The panda eats shoots and leaves.
    • The panda eats, shoots, and leaves.
  • A comma can change the person to whom you are speaking into the person aboutwhom you are speaking, and determine the rest of the punctuation in the sentence.
    • Mary is the one today.
    • Mary, is the one today?
  • A comma can tell the reader to pause for a brief moment because what you’re about to say will add another mind-boggling idea:
  •     The gymnast leapt several feet into the air, and then he did a triple twist and a somersault.
  • Commas are also used to offset information (such as found in an appositive or an introductory clause).
    • Yesterday, we went to the park for a picnic.
    • Michael, my brother, is a nice guy.
Helpful sources
http://rwc.hunter.cuny.edu/reading-writing/on-line/clause.html
http://www.brighthubeducation.com/middle-school-english-lessons/18047-comma-rules-for-the-classroom/

Play day Sunday!

Today, Tatum was feeling better so I figured I would try the bouncy thing! It’s new for her, so maybe she’ll fit right in! …or maybe not…baboing!~

 

 

 

 

 

I want to walk!

I had my follow up with Dr. Waz on Tuesday to “get out of my boot” so I thought. I’m 8 weeks post-op, and I had high hopes.

Here’s the dealio: I’m to stay in my boot until 10 weeks. I do start PT next week for 2 days per week. The good news is that in my boot, I feel good, and my stride is pretty fast. However, just to be safe, I need to keep it stable. The swelling is pretty bad after a long day in the classroom, so they suggested compression socks. It is to be expected.

When the boot comes off, he wants me to be walking as much as possible. I can even start swimming if I don’t push off the side and aggressively flip. (I figured so!) I also need to do my PT, exercising with the bands to really strengthen the tendon.

HE ALSO STRESSED the FOUR MONTH MARK is when the most potential exists for re-rupture. It probably won’t be 6 months until I even run or do any forceful movements. (I figured so again!) This tendon is slowly growing back in strength and cannot be abused.

What were you doing at 8 weeks? How did it look? When I’m home, I do take off the boot and try to walk a bit. Today, I want to walk! (In my boot I guess.)

“Great hearts can only be made by great troubles.”

Can we be happy in our troubles? “Great hearts can only be made by great troubles.” (Spurgeon) The other morning, my devotion spoke volumes. Spurgeon tackles the topic of suffering by reminding us that as suffering increases, so does His love and grace for us.

2 Corinthians 1:5: “For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.”

Spurgeon: “There is a blessed proportion. The Ruler of Providence bears a pair of scales–in this side he puts his people’s trials, and in that he puts their consolations. When the scale of trial is nearly empty, you will always find the scale of consolation in nearly the same condition; and when the scale of trials is full, you will find the scale of consolation just as heavy. When the black clouds gather most, the light is the more brightly revealed to us. When the night lowers and the tempest is coming on, the Heavenly Captain is always closest to his crew. It is a blessed thing, that when we are most cast down, then it is that we are most lifted up by the consolations of the Spirit. One reason is, because trials make more room for consolation. Great hearts can only be made by great troubles. The spade of trouble digs the reservoir of comfort deeper, and makes more room for consolation. God comes into our heart–he finds it full–he begins to break our comforts and to make it empty; then there is more room for grace. The humbler a man lies, the more comfort he will always have, because he will be more fitted to receive it. Another reason why we are often most happy in our troubles, is this–then we have the closest dealings with God. When the barn is full, man can live without God: when the purse is bursting with gold, we try to do without so much prayer. But once take our gourds away, and we want our God; once cleanse the idols out of the house, then we are compelled to honour Jehovah. “Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord.” There is no cry so good as that which comes from the bottom of the mountains; no prayer half so hearty as that which comes up from the depths of the soul, through deep trials and afflictions. Hence they bring us to God, and we are happier; for nearness to God is happiness. Come, troubled believer, fret not over your heavy troubles, for they are the heralds of weighty mercies.”

When I am weak (lately), I have found that my strength cannot come from me. I have to use a crutch, and I have no problem leaning and hopping along with God. When I am empty, He can fill me. However, when I have no need, who can I turn to? I’m justfinethankyouverymuch. No, fine is what I don’t want to be. I want to be filled with Him.

This injury has allowed me the ability and the fragility I have needed to say, “Come in Dear Father and comfort me; fill me with your presence and strength.”