Post by Kyvestra on Aug 27, 2013 10:44:33 GMT -6
The Comma
a little guide to further understanding
a little guide to further understanding
The comma is perhaps one of the most basic and most frequently used symbols of the English language. A misuse of this little guy can result in a deadly mistake. For example, it can turn a simple request into a cannibalistic threat, as I will demonstrate later.
Now, as a note, I'm always willing for people to help me perfect this guide, as this is the first time I'm trying something like this. :3 So if you have some critique, feel free to shout it out!
For now, this guide is no longer a WIP, but I will be editing in parts as things come to mind or as they are suggested.
Also, my guide will require some basic knowledge of grammar, such as knowing what verbs, nouns, and subjects are. I will explain as much as possible, so some might be review.
When you're reading this guide, think of me as your teacher, your grammar magician. You are the padawan, the grasshopper, the apprentice. Watch carefully and learn, and I will show you the wonders of language! *flies around on a flying carpet*
Section 1: Where to use your comma?
I know exactly what you're thinking right now. It's in the italics below. From now on, the italics are what you're thinking. *Jedi Master mind control hand wave*
So, that's wonderful, Master Kyvestra. Commas are great.
Now how do I use them?
Good question, young padawan. You would use a comma wherever you would put a pause in a sentence when speaking. In other words, they separate clauses. Commas can also be used to indicate lists or sequences, as well as conventions in quoting someone.
So let's start with some simple sentences, demonstrating the importance of commas.
Separating Clauses in Sentences: Let's eat Grandma
One of the functions of a comma is to separate clauses from each other. Clauses are the basic "blocks" of a sentence. There are basically two types of clauses: independent clauses, which can stand on their own as a sentence, and dependent clauses, which would make no sense on their own, and are thus dependent on another clause, the independent ones. Aptly named, no?
Below are two sentences. Say them each aloud carefully, with a pause where the comma is. This can be a good technique for determining where a comma lies when writing a sentence.
1. Let's eat, Grandma.
2. Let's eat Grandma.
3. Let's, eat Grandma.
Now, in #1, you're inviting your grandmother to come eat supper with you. In #2, you're telling people to go feast upon your poor granny's flesh. And #3 makes little to no sense.
Why is this, you ask? I'll tell you. In #1, the "let's eat" can stand on its own as a sentence. The "grandma" is a dependent clause specifying who you're talking to. Without the "grandma," the sentence still makes sense, but it's a more general invitation for everyone to come and eat.
In #2, you're taking away that poor comma. D: As a result, the verb (eat) has its subject (whoever receives the action) changed to "grandma." Therefore, you're making a general invitation for everyone to come and eat YOUR GRANDMA.
For #3, the sentence needs some serious context, and even then, it may not make sense. It would only work if, for example, someone else proposed that "you all" would do something, like, "Let's go frolic in a meadow." Then, this sentence would make sense, because the "let's" would be agreeing, and then "eat grandma" could be a command telling your dearest grandmother to eat so she could come frolic with you. It still doesn't make much sense, even with context.
So overall, #1 is probably what you meant. I hope that you didn't mean #2, and #3 should not be used without context, if at all.
See? I told you commas were important.
Lists: Tigers and Lions and Bears (Oh my!)
Another place commas are used is when making a list.
But Master Kyvestra, you got the order wrong. It's, "Lions and Tigers and Bears, oh my!"
Shush, grasshopper. That's incorrect grammar, you know.
When making a list, it's actually grammatically incorrect to say, "Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!" You see, only one "and" should be used when making a list, and that is to be used before the very last thing you're listing. (Unless you're trying to make onomatopoeia, hyperbole, or using poetic licence. In which case, you know that word and maybe shouldn't be reading this guide.)
1. Lions and tigers and bears!
2. Lions, tigers, and bears!
3. Lions, tigers, bears!
Alrighty, here we go again! #1 is the classic line from the Wizard of Oz. Our next contestant is #2, and it's the one that's actually grammatically correct! Number three.... doesn't really make sense again.
Master Kyvestra, why'd you just ruin the movie for me?! Aha, well, I didn't. Instead, I simply ruined one line of the movie! (Note to people who know what onomatopoeia is and are still reading: I actually don't think I did, as I believe this is an example of hyperbole.)
In #1, we have two "ands," which is one "and" too many. So instead, it should be transformed into #2: where all "ands" are replaced with commas following each one of the objects listed, except for the last one, which has an "and" in front of it and a period at the end- or, in this case, an exclamation point. This is simply a convention: I don't know how it started, but it's a convention, and it's aesthetically pleasing as well.
As for #3... Let's see here. "Lions, tigers, bears." Do what? This is just a list. Again, it would need context. Perhaps your dear mother was making a zoo of your living room and wrote on a note for you to go to the supermarket and buy, "Lions, tigers, bears." I don't know. It still doesn't make a lot of sense, nor is it grammatically correct anyway.
Quotations: A Brief Note
Since there is no quotation guide up yet, and quoting someone involves commas, I will include a brief rundown of quotations. So I request that you direct your attention to my Jumbo-tron!
"When you're going to use 'said' or a verb similar to it after quoting someone, you include a comma instead of a period," Sally said. "However, if you're using a question mark or exclamation mark, you use that punctuation."
"You also start a new line, with an indent if possible, when quoting someone new," John added. "Also, note that after the sentence where you put 'name said.' you simply start another quote, with no comma involved."
"You can also quote like this."
John nodded. "Or like this. Note that if the action is not one of communication, you do not put a comma, instead you put a period or other punctuation."
Sally replied, "That is correct. Note that you can have the 'name said' in front of the quote with a comma when you're starting a new quote, but only if there's no quote with a comma before it."
"So then this would be correct!" John added a moment later, "Question marks work there too."
"I think we've covered the basics." Sally paused to ponder.
John nodded. "I think we have. Good evening, Eventiders!"
Section 2: Slightly more advanced grammar and comma mistreatment.
You mean people are always misusing commas. Even I've treated them badly above, but for a good cause, I hope. Here, I'll cover some more complex grammar with the correct uses of commas in slightly more advanced sentences.
Ellipse Abuse: Dot dot dot
{At the suggestion of Buri. :3}
Ellipses (...) are not at ALL similar to commas. I mean, look! One's a triplet of periods and the other's a dot with a little curvy bit attached.
But Master Kyvestra, don't they have similar uses?
Not really. Like, at all.
Most of the time, ellipses should ONLY BE USED WHEN OMITTING LONG PARTS FROM QUOTES.
As in:
"They see me mowin' my front lawn, I know they're all thinkin' I'm so white and nerdy."
Can be changed to:
"They see me mowin' my front lawn..."
You see, there the ellipse (...) is used to quote that sentence without putting in the rest of it, which can be used for even more lengthy things.
Here's a good example from the online site grammarbook:
Original sentence from Lincoln's Gettysburg Address:
"Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal."
Rewritten using ellipses:
"Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth...a new nation, conceived in liberty..."
This also works when omitting paragraphs, not just parts of sentences.
Additionally, ellipses can also be used in roleplay when your character is talking. For example:
"I'm not so sure..." Sally said.
In that case, the ellipse indicates that Sally is trailing off in a sort of uncertain manner.
Going back to our first example, "Let's eat... grandma," would still be an invitation to others to come eat your grandma (since you're saying these aloud), with maybe a little more thought about whose flesh you're dining on tonight. "Let's... eat grandma," shows similar consideration about what you're doing, but still the overall outcome of eating your granny. Or, you could be omitting a larger part of the sentence, but you're still eating your grandmother either way. You don't like your granny, do you? You're such a mean person. Tsk, tsk.
Ellipses can also be used as a dramatic reveal sort of thing.
1. Welcome to... McArnold's Resturant!
2. Welcome to, McArnold's Resturant!
3. Welcome to McArnold's Resturant!
The first one creates a sort of pause in the sentence, as if asking for a drumroll before the big reveal of whatever you're talking about. This is useful for dramatic announcements.
#2 Doesn't make much sense. Would you pause there when talking? No. Are two clauses being separated there? No. Are you listing something there? No. Even if you were, there would be no comma there. You'd either do something like #1, with the drawn out show-biz dramatic pose or simply continue on in your sentence like in #3. In this case, it's all about effect.
Above all, ellipses CANNOT be used as commas. It doesn't work that way! We have commas to be commas, not ellipses to be commas! So stop the ellipse and comma abuse!
Separating Clauses in Sentences: It Got Blown Up (Again)
You may have seen sentences where there's a comma in the middle, then a phrase, then another comma- but it's not a list.
That's right, Master Kyvestra! How did you know? And where do they come from? How do they work? What were the first 65 orders?
I'm glad you asked! *wink*
This is basically the same as the other Separating Clauses in Sentences lesson. It's just rearranging clauses, and separating them with commas.
1. As you know, there were two Death Stars, both of which were blown up.
2. There were two Death Stars, as you know, both of which were blown up.
3. There were two Death Stars, both of which were blown up, as you know.
See? All of the above 3 are correct, actually. In each sentence, there are three clauses:
~"As you know" (dependent)
~"There were two Death Stars" (independent)
~"Both of which were blown up" (dependent- I'm actually not sure on this one, so anyone who knows, feel free to pipe up. It seems dependent because it doesn't make sense on its own.)
In the example sentence, you just rearrange the clauses, which is fine- it still makes perfect sense!
Section 3: Kyv, stop showing off now.
Okay, so here's some really complex stuff, if you want to play with language!
The Power of Commas & The Wonders of Language: The King of Run-on Sentences
Two hundred and seventy words. Booyah. And it's all grammatically correct (except for perhaps a little incident with a semicolon), if a little unedited. See, with commas, you can do stuff like this with language! Try writing one. It's really fun, and will let you practice your commas!
As I walked into my dimly lit garage, a light breeze blew by, ruffling my dark brown hair as I skirted around my black Subaru to go and grab my shiny, light teal bike, as I had decided to go for a ride earlier in the day, and now I mounted up my bike, fumbling a bit as I started pedaling down my grey, concrete driveway (shutting the garage door by remote), and into the shimmering black asphalt road, taking a sharp right turn to glide easily down a steep hill, the wind kicking up again as I rounded another corner on my bike, before finally arriving at the park lane, which was sheltered by little oak trees and several larger ones, in which I stopped to pay a dollar for a scoop of vanilla ice cream from a few sunburned yet hopeful children before wheeling my bike over to the shade of one of the old, knotted oaks and propping it up against the worn trunk of the tree while eating my cone of ice cream as quickly as possible, lest it melt, and then hopping eagerly back onto my bike and after finishing the cone, I began to pedal again, passing a woman walking a small, energetic spaniel and an older man who smiled at me, and of course I smiled back, as was polite and required of me, before continuing on my way back up the now dreadful hill and rounding the corner before pedaling easily up into the driveway and dismounting my bike before opening the garage door and wheeling it in after a wonderful ride.
Credit to grammarbook for helping me review when I was uncertain. :3
Originally created for the Aro'kai forums at arokai.proboards.com.