Advice to Young Writers

Part Eight: On Commas and Apostrophes

THE COMMA

Information here is paraphrased from The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Grammar and Style, 2nd Edition

Punctuation helps readers identify clusters of words between and within sentences.  Between sentences, the most common mark of punctuation is the period; within sentences, the most common mark is the comma.

Commas tell us how to read and understand sentences because they tell us where to pause.  A correctly placed comma helps move readers from the beginning of a sentence to the end.  A misplaced comma can create more confusion than a conversation with a teenager.  (Or so I’ve heard.)  Following are the guidelines that govern comma usage:

1.     Use a comma after introductory and concluding expressions:

·        Use a comma after an introductory prepositional phrase. Ex: Along the route from the house to the woods, Hansel and Gretl left a trail of old lottery tickets.

·        Use a comma after an introductory participial phrase.  Ex: Excited by their approach, the witch called her agent and decided to take a meeting.

·        Use a comma after an introductory subordinate (dependent) clause. Ex: When Hansel and Gretl arrived, they were astonished to find the TV contract already prepared.

·        Use a comma after the greeting of an informal letter. Ex: Dear Sam,

         Use a comma after phrases that show contrast.  Ex: The neighbors return home at all hours, often drunk as skunks.

·        Use a comma at the close of any letter.  Ex: Yours truly, OR Sincerely,

Basically, commas are like spicy chilies or little children: A little goes a long way.  The last thing you want are excess commas hovering over your writing like the Goodyear blimp over the Orange Bowl.

2.     Use a comma after interrupting words and expressions:

·        Use a comma to set off interrupting words and expressions.  Ex: Windows, as you know, is the best $89 solitaire game you can buy.

·        Use a comma to set off words of direct address (words that tell to whom a remark is addressed).  Ex: Mr. Happy, did you know that “kitty litter” is throwing cats out a car window?

·        Use commas with names and titles.  Ex: Mr. Gary Goldstein, Editor

·        Use a comma to set off words in apposition (words that give additional information about the preceding word or expression).  Ex: A light sleeper, my landlord is the first to awake when he hears chains rattle. OR My landlord, a light sleeper, is the first to awake when he hears chains rattle.

·        Use a comma to set off a nonessential clause (a clause that can be omitted without changing the sentence’s basic meaning). Ex: Philosophy, a science that lets us be unhappy more intelligently, is being offered this semester at the local university.

3.     Use a comma to separate items in a series. Ex: We bought marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate to make S’Mores.

4.     Use a comma to set off parts of a sentence:

·        Use a comma to separate parts of a compound sentence. 

·        Use the comma before the coordinating conjunction (and, but, for, or, nor, yet, so).  Ex: The faucet stopped working, and the sink still leaks.

·        Use a comma to set off a direct quotation. Ex: He said, “Lawyers are the larval form of politicians.” OR “Lawyers,” he said, “are the larval form of politicians.”

·        Use a comma to separate parts of an address.  Ex: She lives at 763 Main Street, Farmingdale, New York 11735.

5.     Use commas to prevent misreading:

·        Use a comma to clarify any potentially confusing sentences.  Ex: To get through a tunnel must be dug.  Revised: To get through, a tunnel must be dug.

Of course, you’re usually much better off just revising the sentences so there is no possibility of misreading your words.

6.     Use commas with numbers:

·        Use a comma between the day of the month and the year. Ex: December 7, 1941 or July 20, 1969.

·        Use commas to show thousands, millions, and so on.  Ex: 1,000; 10,000; 100,000; 1,000,000

A Note on Apostrophes

Fortunately, apostrophe rules are far simpler than comma rules.

Apostrophes are basically used for two reasons: to form possessives and contractions.

In English, we show possessives by adding “-‘s” to the end of a word:

          Susan’s book

          Ralph’s motorcycle

          The dog’s tail

We just add an apostrophe only when the word is plural or already ends in “-s”:

          The girls’ dresses

          The Landrums’ house

          The cats’ dishes

Apostrophes are also used in contractions to show where the missing letter(s) were:

          Cannot becomes can’t (dropping the “n” and “o”)

          We will becomes we’ll (dropping the “w” and “i”)

          She has becomes she’s (dropping the “h” and “a”)

In addition, apostrophes are used in contractions with numbers:

          I love dancing to music from the ‘50s.

 (Notice that we do NOT use an apostrophe here to create the plural: 50’s. No, we use it to show that we’re dropping the “1” and “9” from 1950s: ‘50s.)

A recent trend has developed in apostrophe usage: younger writers often use apostrophes to create plurals. This tendency needs to be nipped in the bud; it is just plain wrong.

It is NOT: The Cullen’s were an incredible family.  There is no possessive nor contraction here.

It should be: The Cullens were an incredible family.

No apostrophe.

Got it?  :)

Write well and write bravely!! You can do it!!

Happy Writing!!

~Cassandra :D

xxxooo