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(Comma needed: P.4 sentence interrupter)

Gilman Punctuation Rules:

Use commas to set off (a) appositive phrases, (b) short parenthetical expressions or (c) vocatives that interrupt the sentence.

a. appositives:

Examples:
John (,) the tallest member of the family (,) was a good athlete. Herb?s painting (,) a huge, colorful mural (,) was the most striking.
Squaw Valley (,) the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics (,) is a ski resort in California.
NOTE: Don?t use a comma for appositives like ?my son John?, ?William the Conqueror?, or ?the steamship Titanic?.

b. parenthetical expressions:

Set off short parenthetical expressions such as however, well, no, why, consequently, nevertheless, and moreover which interrupt the flow of your sentence.
Examples: I am tired(;) however (,) I plan to finish the paper. The dog is very happy (;) moreover (,) he loves to chase Frisbees.

c. vocatives

Use commas to set off a vocative (nominative of direct address).
Examples:
It is up to you (,) Jane (,) to finish.
Please (,) John (,) come home.

Paranthetical Elements; Appositives; Vocatives (Darling et al)

Conquering the Comma (Powerpoint) (Purdue OWL)
Rules for Comma Usage (Darling et al)
Proofreading for Commas (Purdue OWL)

Appositive Exercise (Purdue OWL)
Recognizing Phrase Functions (Darling et al)

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No Comma: P.4)

Gilman Punctuation Rules:

When you use a familiar appositive, a comma is unnecessary..

Examples:

William the Conqueror
The steamship Titanic
my brother John

Paranthetical Elements; Appositives; Vocatives (Darling et al)

Conquering the Comma (Powerpoint) (Purdue OWL)
Rules for Comma Usage (Darling et al)
Proofreading for Commas (Purdue OWL)

Appositive Exercise (Purdue OWL)
Recognizing Phrase Functions (Darling et al)

Jump to:
Usage
Punctuation & Capitalization
Form
Content

(Colon needed: P.5: introduce a list or an extended appositive)

Gilman Punctuation Rules:

Use a colon (:) after an independent clause to introduce a list, an appositive, an amplification, or an illustrative quotation. (Strunk and White 7)

The candidate made many promises (:) to lower taxes (,) solve the energy shortage (,) and end unemployment.

"Even so, there was a directness and dispatch about animal burial (:) there was no stop over in the undertaker?s foul parlor, no wreath, no spray." (Strunk and White 8)

The squalor of the streets reminded him of a line from Oscar Wilde (:) " We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." (Strunk and White 8

Colons vs. Semicolons (Darling et al)

Conquering the Comma (Powerpoint) (Purdue OWL)
Rules for Comma Usage (Darling et al)
Proofreading for Commas (Purdue OWL)

Using Colons (Darling et al)
Quizzes on Punctuation Marks (Darling et al)

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Gilman Punctuation Rules:

(Comma needed: P.5: separate expressions in a series.)

Gilman Punctuation Rules:

Use commas to separate three or more words, phrases, or clauses written in a series.

She could not choose between pizza with anchovies (,) mushrooms (,) or sausage.

Additional Uses of the Semicolon ;

In addition to using a semicolon to join related independent clauses in compound sentences, you can use a semicolon to separate items in a series if the elements of the series already include commas.

Members of the band include Harold Rostein, clarinetist; Tony Aluppo, tuba player; and Lee Jefferson, trumpeter.

See Colons vs. Semi-colons (Darling et al)

Conquering the Comma (Powerpoint) (Purdue OWL)
Rules for Comma Usage (Darling et al)
Proofreading for Commas (Purdue OWL)

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Usage
Punctuation & Capitalization
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(Comma needed: P.6 separate coordinate adjectives)

Gilman Punctuation Rules:

Use commas to separate two or more coordinate adjectives that describe the same noun.

Clues:
Can the adjectives be written in reverse order?
(If your answer is yes, add a comma.)
Can you add an and between the adjectives?
(if your answer is yes, add a comma.)

Examples:
... a greedy, stubborn child...
... a white frame house...
... a purple wool shawl...
... an easy, happy smile...

Conquering the Comma (Powerpoint) (Purdue OWL)
Rules for Comma Usage (Darling et al)
Proofreading for Commas (Purdue OWL)

Jump to:
Usage
Punctuation & Capitalization
Form
Content