Commas

Commas and Compound sentences NOT FINISHED 1299007119

A compound sentence consists of two or more independent clauses. Because the independent clauses in a compound sentence are grammatically equal structures, they are put together by one of the coordinating conjunctions such as but, yet, or, nor and so. By a set of correlatives

In general, when the independent clauses in a compound sentence are put together by a coordinating conjunction, they are separated by a comma.

The comma **precedes** the coordinating conjunction. A **common** **error** is to place the comma after the conjunction:

**//WRONG: she //****droped them off early but, they still missed their bus. ** **//RIGHT://** she droped **them off early, but they still missed their bus. **

**Commas in a series ** Commas in a series use commas to separate three or more words, phrases, or clauses in sequence. · Words- James, Sammy, and Johnny presented an interesting report. · Phrases- The novel is available in print, on audio tape, and on video cassette. · Clauses- The lawyer argued that the weather was bad, that the car had bad brakes, and that the other driver was speeding.

Use a comma **to set off quoted elements**. Because we don't use quoted material all the time, even when writing, this is probably the most difficult rule to remember in comma usage. It is a good idea to find a page from an article that uses several quotations, photocopy that page, and keep it in front of you as a model when you're writing. Generally, use a comma to separate quoted material from the rest of the sentence that explains or introduces the quotation:
 * Summing up this argument, Peter Coveney writes, "The purpose and strength of the romantic image of the child had been above all to establish a relation between childhood and adult consciousness." site credit.([])


 * use commas to avoid confusion**.
 * For most the year is already finished.
 * For most, the year is already finished.
 * Outside the lawn was cluttered with hundreds of broken branches.
 * Outside, the lawn was cluttered with hundreds of broken branches