The Comma - part one.
pause...30 total reviews
Comment from Jay Squires
This is a really helpful article, Gareth. In the first one (Separating items), I also use a comma before the "and". It's called the Oxford comma. A fun example for what can happen if you don't use the comma before the "and" is: "I'd like to thank my parents, Tiffany and God." Or, "I love baking my family and friends."
Another fun example of why commas are important is: "Let's eat grandpa." Or this classic, using the jargon (and f-bombs of the kids today), "Class canceled. all day to do whatever i fucking want! I love fucking college guys!"
All but the last one might help your daughter see the need for commas in a new light.
would sense on its own - The room went dark. [I think you left out the "make" before "sense"]
Thanks for your delightful article, Gareth. Six worthy--sayeth the guy with none left!
reply by the author on 22-Feb-2021
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This is a really helpful article, Gareth. In the first one (Separating items), I also use a comma before the "and". It's called the Oxford comma. A fun example for what can happen if you don't use the comma before the "and" is: "I'd like to thank my parents, Tiffany and God." Or, "I love baking my family and friends."
Another fun example of why commas are important is: "Let's eat grandpa." Or this classic, using the jargon (and f-bombs of the kids today), "Class canceled. all day to do whatever i fucking want! I love fucking college guys!"
All but the last one might help your daughter see the need for commas in a new light.
would sense on its own - The room went dark. [I think you left out the "make" before "sense"]
Thanks for your delightful article, Gareth. Six worthy--sayeth the guy with none left!
Comment Written 22-Feb-2021
reply by the author on 22-Feb-2021
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Yep, I love the Oxford comma and employ it with abandon! lol They haven't got around to teaching it to the little ones yet!
Comment from Debra White
Hello :)
Your piece is really well written and clearly directs the reader how to correctly use the comma. Your tone is engaging, making the subject more interesting than perhaps anticipated by some readers!
Your daughter should be very proud of herself! As small and unassuming as they appear, commas can be, and often are, tricky.
Currently, I'm working with year3 children in school and commas snuck into our SPAG lessons the other day when we were talking about direct speech, inverted commas and other associated punctuation. (.,!?)
Thanks for sharing, I've taken notes to help me in class ;)
Best wishes, Debra
For your consideration, I noticed a word missing in the following sentence: 'Here, only the part of the sentence following the comma (the main clause) would (make) sense on its own'
reply by the author on 22-Feb-2021
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Hello :)
Your piece is really well written and clearly directs the reader how to correctly use the comma. Your tone is engaging, making the subject more interesting than perhaps anticipated by some readers!
Your daughter should be very proud of herself! As small and unassuming as they appear, commas can be, and often are, tricky.
Currently, I'm working with year3 children in school and commas snuck into our SPAG lessons the other day when we were talking about direct speech, inverted commas and other associated punctuation. (.,!?)
Thanks for sharing, I've taken notes to help me in class ;)
Best wishes, Debra
For your consideration, I noticed a word missing in the following sentence: 'Here, only the part of the sentence following the comma (the main clause) would (make) sense on its own'
Comment Written 22-Feb-2021
reply by the author on 22-Feb-2021
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Many thanks for catching the missing word. My daughter has a good grasp of storytelling. She should have, she owns well over a thousand books! lol My house is coming down with books as we're all avid readers. Many thanks. G
Comment from Jannypan (Jan)
Bravo for your young daughter and for the teacher! Your info was well-presented. I knew the rules, but sometimes when writing and/or reading one forgets just where the comma goes and just leaves it out. I like commas--the more the better. Thanks for sharing.
Respectfully, Jan
reply by the author on 22-Feb-2021
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Bravo for your young daughter and for the teacher! Your info was well-presented. I knew the rules, but sometimes when writing and/or reading one forgets just where the comma goes and just leaves it out. I like commas--the more the better. Thanks for sharing.
Respectfully, Jan
Comment Written 22-Feb-2021
reply by the author on 22-Feb-2021
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It gets tricky in longer sentences sometimes but this guide is just the basics. My wee one nailed it! lol G
Comment from Katherine M. (k-11)
I'm glad you're home-schooling your daughter. I actually learnt a lot from this (I think). Don't get me wrong, I love your sleep tight series, but this was such fun to read.
reply by the author on 22-Feb-2021
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I'm glad you're home-schooling your daughter. I actually learnt a lot from this (I think). Don't get me wrong, I love your sleep tight series, but this was such fun to read.
Comment Written 22-Feb-2021
reply by the author on 22-Feb-2021
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She's very smart, despite all her difficulties. i maybe should have added she has ADHD, sensory processing disorder and autism as well as some other syndromes. but she can nail her math and English! lol
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Coming from a mentally afflicted family, I feel for you. It must take a lot of patience.
Comment from aryr
This was very interesting, G. You must be proud of your daughter. At nine years old I am so glad she was able to accept and meet the challenge of the comma. You presented it in an easily explained way. Great job.
reply by the author on 22-Feb-2021
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This was very interesting, G. You must be proud of your daughter. At nine years old I am so glad she was able to accept and meet the challenge of the comma. You presented it in an easily explained way. Great job.
Comment Written 22-Feb-2021
reply by the author on 22-Feb-2021
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She's great when not in meltdown! lol Much appreciated. G
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Then don't let her meltdown, dad's know better. LOL.
Comment from Ric Myworld
Sometimes, the seemingly simplest of rules are difficult to follow. And many times, they are easier for nine-year-old children to comprehend, than for old people stuck in their meandering ways, like me. LOL. Thanks for sharing.
reply by the author on 22-Feb-2021
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Sometimes, the seemingly simplest of rules are difficult to follow. And many times, they are easier for nine-year-old children to comprehend, than for old people stuck in their meandering ways, like me. LOL. Thanks for sharing.
Comment Written 22-Feb-2021
reply by the author on 22-Feb-2021
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Sometimes they leave me a dribbling wreck! lol many thanks as always, Ric. G
Comment from Sugarray77
Thanks so much G for underpinning our basic understanding of punctuation with a refresher. i read it carefully to be sure I had it down, and I am glad to say, I did understand it. Now, to be truthful, I sometimes mess up. LOL. Thank you. It was a fun read.
Melissa
reply by the author on 22-Feb-2021
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Thanks so much G for underpinning our basic understanding of punctuation with a refresher. i read it carefully to be sure I had it down, and I am glad to say, I did understand it. Now, to be truthful, I sometimes mess up. LOL. Thank you. It was a fun read.
Melissa
Comment Written 22-Feb-2021
reply by the author on 22-Feb-2021
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I think all the style manuals and such like confuse matters. I've always said the best thing to do is buy a school textbook for the basics. Much appreciated. G
Comment from RodG
I commend you for taking the time to teach your granddaughter these four rules. Your essay brings back memories of when I had to teach ALL the rules to squirmy, uninterested sophomores. Your examples give us clear directions. Thanks for sharing. Rod
reply by the author on 22-Feb-2021
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I commend you for taking the time to teach your granddaughter these four rules. Your essay brings back memories of when I had to teach ALL the rules to squirmy, uninterested sophomores. Your examples give us clear directions. Thanks for sharing. Rod
Comment Written 22-Feb-2021
reply by the author on 22-Feb-2021
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Many thanks, Rod. G
Comment from muffinmama
Congratulate yourself for being an effective teacher! Many people don't know what to do with commas because grammar and punctuation are hardly taught these days.
Re the first use (the list): When I was a kid, we were taught never to put a comma before the last item in a list as the "and" served as the comma.
Life went along just fine and I never questioned that rule. Then one day, I read a dedication in a book which said, "I dedicate this book to my parents, Ayn Rand and God." My lists now always include a comma before the last item!
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reply by the author on 22-Feb-2021
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Congratulate yourself for being an effective teacher! Many people don't know what to do with commas because grammar and punctuation are hardly taught these days.
Re the first use (the list): When I was a kid, we were taught never to put a comma before the last item in a list as the "and" served as the comma.
Life went along just fine and I never questioned that rule. Then one day, I read a dedication in a book which said, "I dedicate this book to my parents, Ayn Rand and God." My lists now always include a comma before the last item!
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 22-Feb-2021
reply by the author on 22-Feb-2021
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Yeah you have to be careful using a comma before the and as it can completely change how a sentence reads. It can get tricky in longer sentences as well. lol
Comment from Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
You are so right, I am terrible at commas, but I like what you've done here. Mostly I do what you are saying, but sometimes struggle and question myself. It's those times that I'm picked up and told to either delete, or add a comma. I'll copy this over to my word docs for reference next time I falter. (((It's so simple, if a nine-year-old can suss it out, so can I!)))
Now there is a sentence I'm not sure about. Are the commas in the right place? Thanks for this, Gareth. :)) Sandra xx
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reply by the author on 22-Feb-2021
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You are so right, I am terrible at commas, but I like what you've done here. Mostly I do what you are saying, but sometimes struggle and question myself. It's those times that I'm picked up and told to either delete, or add a comma. I'll copy this over to my word docs for reference next time I falter. (((It's so simple, if a nine-year-old can suss it out, so can I!)))
Now there is a sentence I'm not sure about. Are the commas in the right place? Thanks for this, Gareth. :)) Sandra xx
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 22-Feb-2021
reply by the author on 22-Feb-2021
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Many thanks, Sandra. G
