Editing for Punctuation
Lecture 2:
To Add a Comma, or Not To Add a Comma? That is the Question!
Perhaps the punctuation mark that ESL students struggle the most with is the comma (,) since it is used so differently in different languages. However, students can usually conquer the comma after looking at its most common uses.
Lists
One common use of commas is to separate three or more items in a list or series. In this case, a comma before the word and is optional. The examples below show both options:
Kwanzaa,Chanukah, and Christmas are all celebrated in December.
Kwanzaa,Chanukah and Christmas are all celebrated in December.
- You commonly see soft colors like pink, light purple,pale green, and yellow in Easter decorations.
You commonly see soft colors like pink, light purple,pale green and yellow in Easter decorations.
- On Thanksgiving it is customary to eat,eat, and eat some more.
On Thanksgiving it is customary to eat,eat and eat some more. 
Between Coordinate Adjectives
Coordinate adjectives are two or more adjectives that describe the same noun and are from the same classification such as adjectives which state general opinion (nice, sweet, ugly, handsome), or adjectives which describe texture (scratchy, rough, prickly), or adjectives which describe colors (red, white, blue).
Knowing when to use commas can be tricky with adjectives. Here are two methods you can use to TEST FOR COMMAS:
These are two tricks to use to see if your adjectives are coordinate and need commas.
1. Try changing their order in the sentence ....or
2. Try substituting the word and between them.
If you can change the order or connect them with and, and the sentence still sounds logical and correct, then you cannot use commas to separate the adjectives.
EXAMPLES
1. The Easter Bunny has soft, fluffy ears and a short white tail.
ANALYSIS:
The Easter Bunny has soft, fluffy (two textures = same category = YES comma) ears and a short white (one size + one color = different categories = NO comma) tail.
TEST FOR COMMAS
- Test with AND: The Easter Bunny has soft and fluffyears... (Sounds good = YES comma)
- Test with order changing: The Easter Bunny has fluffy, soft ears... (Sounds good = YES comma)
- Test with AND: The Easter Bunny has soft, fluffy ears and a short and white tail. (Sounds bad = NO comma)
- Test with order changing: The Easter Bunny has soft, fluffy ears and a white short tail. (Sounds bad= NO comma)
My daughter's Easter dress is white, lavender, and pink. (three colors = YES comma)
- Test with order changing: My daughter's easter dress is lavender, white, and pink. (Sounds the same as original sentence = YES comma)
2. The rich dark chocolate Easter egg was exquisite.
ANALYSIS:
You may not use commas between adjectives which describe other adjectives.
TEST FOR COMMAS
- Test with AND: The Easter egg was rich and dark and chocolate. (This doesn't make any sense. = NO comma)
- Test with order changing: The chocolate dark rich bunny Easter was exquisite. (This sounds ridiculous* = NO comma)
*"Dark" describes "chocolate," and "Rich" describes the type of "dark chocolate" was used in the Easter egg. You can't put and between rich and dark, and you cannot change the order of the adjectives: "The chocolate dark rich egg" sounds wrong. This means NO COMMAS are possible.
FANBOYS
In English we also use a comma after a coordinating conjunction that connects two clauses (a clause is a subject + verb construction). Now, you're probably scratching your head and wondering what a coordinating conjunction is? Well, most students remember the coordinating conjunctions with the following mnemonic device (a mnemonic device is a tool, like a rhyme or song, that students use to remember something): FANBOYS. In the sentences below, notice that each coordinating conjunction connects two " subject + verb " constructions. Also, pay attention to the comma!
| F | = for | April Fool’s Day surprises most immigrants to the United States, for it is the day of jokes and pranks. | | A | = and |
In December, the Jewish celebrate Chanukah, andChristians celebrate Christmas.
| | N | = nor | During Passover, Jewish people do not use their usual kitchen utensils and dishware, nor do they eat leavened bread. | | B | = but | I bought a card for my husband for Valentine’s Day, but I can’t seem to find it anywhere. | | O | = or | To celebrate Independence Day, many Americans have a barbeque at their homes, or they have a picnic at the beach. | | Y | = yet | World Friendship Day is celebrated on August 3rd, yet most people don’t do anything special that day. | | S | = so | I don’t know what to get my brother for Christmas, so I think I’ll just get him a gift certificate from his favorite store. |
We have to be careful in using a comma with these words, though, because they do not ALWAYS require a comma. Remember: We only use a comma with for, and, nor, but, or, yet and so when they connect two clauses. If they connect two of anything else (two nouns, two verbs, etc.), we don't need a comma. Look at the sentences below. They do not require a comma with the coordinating conjunction, but why? What word forms are the coordinating conjunctions connecting: nouns, verbs, adjectives or adverbs?
 Example: To celebrate Independence Day, many Americans have a barbeque at their homes ora picnic at the beach.
- In this sentence or is connecting two nouns: barbeque and picnic.
 Example: For some families, Christmas can be a fun yet expensive holiday.
- In this sentence yet is connecting two adjectives: fun and expensive.
We do not use a comma to punctuation the coordinating conjunctions when they are used like this.
Dependent Clauses at the Beginning of the Sentence
When you write, you will also need to use a comma to separate a dependent clause at the beginning of the sentence from the rest of the sentence. Remember that a clause contains a subject + verb construction, and dependent clauses start with words like because, when, before, although, and unless. If the dependent clause appears in the middle of the sentence, however, it does not need a comma. These examples show both possible ways of writing the sentence:
- Since my family moved to New Delhi , we haven’t celebrated most American holidays.
We haven’t celebrated most American holidays since my family moved to New Delhi.
- If you are a good boy, Santa Claus will bring you lots of gifts.
Santa Claus will bring you lots of gifts if you are a good boy.
- After we eat Thanksgiving dinner, my family likes to go for a long walk.
My family likes to go for a long walk after we eat Thanksgiving dinner.
Introductory Clauses or Phrases
In English you can use a comma after long introductory phrases in a sentence. It serves the purpose of separating the introductory phrase from the rest of the sentence and makes your writing easier to read and understand. For example:
- By the early 19th century, most Americans were celebrating George Washington's birthday as a national holiday.
- In order to remember the men and women who died in the attacks of September 11, 2001, the American Congress declared September 11th of each year “Patriot Day.”
Transitional Words
These words include however, therefore, moreover and consequently. For example:
- Over 3,000 people died in the attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C., on September 11, 2001. As a result, the President of the United States declared September 11th a national holiday to remember these men and women.
- Columbus Day is a recognized holiday around the world. However, many indigenous groups object to its celebration.
Certain Expressions
When you write, you need to use a comma before certain expressions. These expressions include such as, for example, especially and particularly. You also need to put a comma after the phrases for example and for instance. For example:
- At Christmastime many Americans like to put up decorations,such as a Christmas tree and a wreath.
At Christmastime many Americans like to put up decorations,for example, a Christmas tree and a wreath.
- On Thanksgiving people eat a lot of food, particularly turkey.
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