You can also use a comma with a shorter phrase when you want to emphasize it or add a pause for literary effect. Sep 21, 2015 this chart from grammar girl presents the ultimate writing guide for students gives examples of the 15 most common ways to use a comma. If you spend just a little bit of time studying these punctuation rules, though, youll get a jump start to stronger grammar skills. Use a comma before which when it introduces a nonrestrictive phrase. My estate goes to my husband, son, daughterinlaw, and nephew. Oct 29, 2012 last weeks grammar tip focused on the rules for using who vs. Below, youll find guidance for the trickiest comma questions. After supper i need to read a book practice the piano and brush my teeth. The elements of an address or place name are separated by commas.
A great kids book that can make learning grammar rules fun wow i never thought i would put those words together in a sentence. These are a very few of the common errors i see in student writing. Pop quizzes are scattered throughout to reinforce the explanations, as well as grammar girl. Most newspapers and magazines drop the oxford comma in a simple series, apparently feeling its unnecessary. Jan 3, 2019 cheat sheets to give you quick tips on grammar, punctuation, and english spelling. The following list contains some of the most critical punctuation rules. A couple of years ago, she created a weekly podcast to tackle some of the most common mistakes people make while communicating. Acknowledgments xiii about the author xv foreword by mignon fogarty grammar girl xvii introduction xix. Fiction and nonfiction books generally prefer the oxford comma. Mignot fogarty, better known as grammar girl provides the public with an accessible reference on punctuation. He skates so fast, despite his size, that he will probably break the world record.
Clauses which are essential are called restrictive. Grammar girl mignon fogarty on the biggest changes in language. Mignon fogarty is the founder of quick and dirty tips and the author of seven books on language, including the new york times bestseller grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing. Buy our book smashing grammar 2019 written by the founder of grammar monster, smashing grammar includes a glossary of grammar essentials from apostrophes to zeugma and a chapter on easily confused words from affecteffect to whetherif.
The use or omission of the comma is well established, and writers need only to apply the rules. Grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing mad marvs place. That last comma before the and is called a serial comma, oxford comma, or harvard comma. The basics commas, the peskiest of punctuation marks, have six main uses. There are wonderfully funny drawings on each page to emphasize exactly what each sentence means so readers can grasp exactly what is wrong. Some people say to always use it and other people say to only use it when leaving it out would cause confusion. Understanding these comma basics is the key to correct comma usage.
However, omission of the oxford comma can sometimes lead to misunderstandings. Grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing book. The serial comma is the comma before the last and in a series. It is not a rule that you put a comma in wherever you would naturally pause in a sentence. Commas commas are used to separate parts of a sentence. Most newspapers and magazines drop the oxford comma in a simple series, apparently. Commas punctuation rules the blue book of grammar and.
Each entry starts with a simple explanation and basic examples before moving to real. In other circumstances, the final comma is optional. Her grammar girl website and podcast have made her a usage guru for. Jan 01, 2008 to the delight of word nerds everywhere, grammar girl s quick and dirty tips for better writing came out yesterday. Commas can be tricky, but they dont have to trip you up. Youas an understood subject multiple subjects and verbs in a sentence. If im identifying my cousin as the girl who lost, there are no commas setting off the words who lost. This week, we will learn the rules to guide us on when to use that vs. Some writers think of a comma as a soft pausea punctuation mark that separates words, clauses, or ideas. One of my favorite old grammar books, titled punctuate it right, has a wonderful. Grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing by mignon. Find books like grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing from the worlds largest community of readers.
These nonessential clauses are called nonrestrictive. Use commas to separate words and word groups in a simple series of three or more items. Add commas to the following sentences where needed. I meant to return that book to you but forgot it on the kitchen table. Grammar girl, is determined to wipe out bad grammarbut shes also determined to make the process as painless as possible. Usage basic punctuation rules utah valley state college writing center correct punctuation is essential for clear and effective writing. A misplaced comma can change your emphasis and sometimes your meaning. Mignon fogarty, author of grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing invaluable reference work for professional proofreaders, editors, and writers because it is the only book that presents chicago, ap, apa, and mla conventions side by side. Plenty of grammar books highlight the rules for correct use of commas, so i dont. Dont use a comma before which when its part of a prepositional phrase, such as in which. Use commas to enclose clauses not essential to the meaning of a sentence.
Grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing. I think of grammar as rules for the game of writing. The rules about serial commas are an example of such guidelines. Grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing by. Written with the wit, warmth, and accessibility that the podcasts are known for, grammar girl s quick and dirty tips for better writing covers the grammar rules and wordchoice guidelines that can confound even the best writers. See more ideas about grammar, grammar and punctuation, grammar tips. I get complaints from purists, but usage girl doesnt have the same ring to it as grammar girl, and my books and podcasts arent for purists anywaytheyre for. Of all the punctuation marks in english, this one is perhaps the most abused and misused. Fanboys use a comma and a coordinating conjunction for, and, nor, but, or, yet, soa. There are several uses of the comma that can best be described as conventional or mechanical.
Writers must decide oxford or no oxford and not switch back and forth, except when omitting the oxford comma could cause confusion as in the cheese and crackers example. If there is any possible confusion, use the final comma. The best punctuation book, period by june casagrande. Girls quick and dirty tips for better writing covers the grammar rules and wordchoice guidelines that can confound even the best writers. Sep 02, 2007 commas with appositives the definition of an appositive is a word or word group that defines or further identifies the noun or noun phrase preceding it. A comma can appear before a that clause when it is the second comma of a pair before and after extra information inserted as a nonrestrictive phrase. With the trademark wit, warmth, and approachability that the podcasts are known for, grammar girl s quick and dirty tips for better writing covers the grammar rules and word choice guidelines that can confound even the best writers. This handout will help you know when and how to use commas. We feel that maintaining the distinction between that and which in essential and nonessential phrases and clauses is useful, even though the principle is sometimes disregarded by experienced writers. While a period ends a sentence, a comma indicates a smaller break. Use a comma after an introductory clause or phrase. Dont use a comma before which when it introduces an indirect question. No commas with which, that and who grammar monster.
Sentencessentence combining, punctuation, comma rules, comma rules information, comma rules videos, comma rules exercises, grammar mugs resources college of arts and sciences aslogo240. Note that most of these questions can be answered visually. For beginners to more advanced students, this guide covers it all. To book a lecture event with mignon fogarty for your company or organization, contact macmillan speakers. Online sensation grammar girl makes grammar fun and easy in this new york times. The girl in tans story tried to convey to her mother, that she did not have to be a child prodigy. Grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing mignon fogarty. Mignon fogarty is the founder of the quick and dirty tips network and creator of grammar girl, which has been named one of writers digests 101 best websites for writers multiple times. This chart from grammar girl presents the ultimate writing guide for students. Most authorities, including the associated press stylebook and the chicago manual of style, recommend a comma after the first digit of a fourdigit. Grammar girl presents the ultimate writing guide for students.
Truss may remind you of that one english teacher back in high school who intimidated you, but when you look back, you realize you learned more in their class than in any others. As a rule of thumb, if the phrase is longer than about four words, use the comma. Placement with periods, commas, question marks, and semicolons. Read these tips about comma usage and learn when a comma isnt needed. Books similar to grammar girls quick and dirty tips for. They tell readers to pause between words or groups of. The grammar girl podcast has also won best education podcast multiple times in the podcast awards, and mignon is an inductee in the podcasting hall of fame. The ultimate writing guide for students trade paperback. There are lots of rules about comma usage, and often the factors that determine whether you should use one are quite subtle.
I need to call sally tom brad and kelly about the party. Mary promised that she would be a good girl, that she would not bite her brother. When an appositive is essential to the meaning of the noun it belongs to, dont use commas. Just like the previous sentence, this one doesnt need a comma because forgot it on the kitchen table is missing the subject and doesnt make sense by itself. Use a comma to separate two adjectives when the order of the adjectives is interchangeable. She is an inductee in the podcasting hall of fame, and the show is a fivetime winner of best education podcast in the podcast awards. Elderberry is a kind and generous woman or a generous and kind woman. She is a selfidentified grammar stickler, and she is deeply troubled by those who dont know the difference between a serial comma and the kama sutra. When multiple answers are grammatically correct and express the same essential information, the shortest one will virtually always be correct. On december 12, 1890, orders were sent out for the arrest of sitting bull. In dates, the year is set off from the rest of the sentence with a pair of commas. See more ideas about grammar, grammar tips and grammar and punctuation.
Some of the items represent style choices instead of rules, such as how to use a comma in a list, but when youre making a simple list, you have to make choices. Comma rules exercises wilmu student writing resources. Some people say to always use it and other people say to only use it when leaving it out. My three favorite foods are pasta pizza and ice cream. Fogarty not only offers the grammar rules, but clear and sticky examples that should.
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