LibraryLover Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 Anyone know where I can I find a nice little concise guideline I can print out and sticky to my desk top? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aubrey Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 I've got something on my blog--I'm not sure if it's what you're looking for, but you could glance at it. :001_smile: (It's the last entry on the current page.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzanne in ABQ Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 I notice I use commas wrongly a lot of the time. I think I know the rules, but clearly I stumble. (Yeah, I homeschool!) Anyone know where I can I find a nice little concise guideline I can print out and sticky to my desk top? My college English professor simplified comma usage for me. He grouped the various uses of commas into 4 groups. They are as follow. Use a comma -- 1. to separate items (can be phrases or clauses) in a series. a, b, c, and d 2. after anything introductory: word - usually end in -ly phrase - usually prepositional clause - usually subordinating Not including for, but, or and Anything that is not the subject, does not describe the subject, and comes before the subject is introductory. Subordinators are not introductory (unless what follows is parenthetical) 3. before any conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet), but ONLY when the conjunction connects 2 main clauses. 4. to set off anything non-essential (word, phrase, or clause) Treat all appositivies as non-essential (an appositive renames the noun that comes before it) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoVanGogh Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 Use a comma --1. to separate items (can be phrases or clauses) in a series. a, b, c, and d The serial comma. Books and magazines tend to use it. Newspapers don't. I was a newspaper copy editor for several years and never, ever use the serial comma. They actually drive me nuts. I don't know what I am going to due when it comes time teach that to DS. :glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LauraGB Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 (edited) And then there is the the big, fist-swinging debate about the Oxford Comma... Commas are big hot button issues, you know... :D Edited December 22, 2009 by LauraGB forgot to click and paste my f in Oxford Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzanne in ABQ Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 The serial comma. Books and magazines tend to use it. Newspapers don't. I was a newspaper copy editor for several years and never, ever use the serial comma. They actually drive me nuts. I don't know what I am going to due when it comes time teach that to DS. :glare: How about if you just say, "Well, some style books use it, and some don't. I personally hate it." Then, let him decide for himself whether to use it. :) I like it (the serial comma) because it prevents ambiguity in some circumstances, but I try not to get too emotional about it. Math curriculum, though, don't get me started on that! (just kidding) :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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