Comma Use in a Series
Learning Objective: - Use commas correctly in a series.
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LESSON
Commas(,) A punctuation mark used to group and separate information in sentences. group and separate information in sentencesA group of words, phrases, or clauses that expresses a complete thought. A complete sentence has these characteristics: a capitalized first word, a subject and a predicate, and end punctuation, such as a period (.), question mark (?), or exclamation mark (!).. Their purpose is to help the reader understand what the writer is trying to say. While there are several different ways to use commas, known as the "Comma Rules," this lesson will focus on one of them: using commas in a series.
Writers use commas to separate items in a list or when showing a series of information. Each comma helps the reader to see a break between the items in the list, which helps the reader to keep track of how many items are included. For example:
I need to take my notebook, paper, and pens to class.
In this sentence, you can see that the writer is listing three items he or she needs to take to class and has separated each item with a comma. What would happen if the writer had NOT included commas?
I need to take my notebook paper and pens to class.
Without the commas, the reader may become confused about the meaning of the sentence or what the writer is trying to say. Does the writer need notebook paper or a notebook and paper? It is not clear to the reader that this is a list. This is one reason why using commas in a series is essential to communicating clearly.
Special Note: The traditional rule for using commas in a series is to include a comma between the last two items. Note the comma between paper and and pens in the example:
I need to take my notebook, paper, and pens to class.
Some writers prefer to leave out the last comma, and this has become an acceptable practice that you will see in many readingsA piece of writing to be read. A reading can either be a full work (i.e., a book) or partial (i.e., a passage).. However, it is an exception to the rule and can sometimes be wrong if the last two items in the series cannot be clearly identified as separate. Using the comma is always correct, so unless you have mastered the use of the comma, it is easier to follow the traditional rule.
+ PRACTICAL APPLICATIONCommas in a series separate information for readers and make the writer's meaning clear. Writers should always strive to make their writing easy for readers to understand so that they do not need to stop and figure out the intended meaning.
For example, consider the sentence:
Her husband John Susan and Katie all went to dinner.
Without the commas, the reader does not know if there are three or four people who went to dinner. Readers can interpret it as Her husband John, Susan, and Katie all went to dinner, or Her husband, John, Susan, and Katie all went to dinner. The placement of the commas changes the meaning.
+ EXAMPLENote where commas can be placed in the following sentences to clarify their meaning.
- Edgar Allen Poe wrote many famous works including Tamerlane Annabel Lee and The Raven.
This sentence may be confusing to readers for two reasons: 1) It contains no commas and 2) the titles of the works are not placed in quotation marks, as is required for titles of poems. To correct this, you must include both.
Correct: Edgar Allen Poe wrote many famous works including "Tamerlane," "Annabel Lee," and "The Raven." (Note that commas and end punctuation go inside the quotation marks.)
- Many of his works deal with popular topics like death loss fear and the unknown.
This sentence simply needs to include the missing commas between items.
Correct: Many of his works deal with popular topics like death, loss, fear, and the unknown.
- Several mysteries surround Poe's death including how he died why he died and what happened after he died.
This sentence can be confusing without commas between the items in the series because each item is made of a group of words. Without commas, it is difficult to see which words need to be grouped together.
Correct: Several mysteries surround Poe's death including how he died, why he died, and what happened after he died.
+ YOUR TURNInsert commas between items in the series.
- Many people fall victim to social pressures because they want to be accepted fit in and be popular.
Many people fall victim to social pressures because they want to be accepted, fit in, and be popular.
- Examples of social pressures include behaviors such as smoking drinking and using drugs.
Examples of social pressures include behaviors such as smoking, drinking, and using drugs.
- Becoming addicted to drugs acquiring diseases and battling alcohol problems can be the effects of feeling social pressure.
Becoming addicted to drugs, acquiring diseases, and battling alcohol problems can be the effects of feeling social pressure.
- Such pressures come to people in the form of television social media radio family friends and various forms of advertising.
Such pressures come to people in the form of television, social media, radio, family, friends, and various forms of advertising.
- The good news is that resources are available to help people battle social pressures, including support groups religious communities and programs that teach people how to feel confident in making their own decisions.
The good news is that resources are available to help people battle social pressures, including support groups, religious communities, and other programs that teach people how to feel confident in making their own decisions.
+ METACOGNITIVE QUESTIONHow can including commas make reading easier for the audience?
Including the commas makes it easier for the reader to see where the separations are between items. When the writer includes commas, the reader does not have to work as hard to determine the meaning of the sentence.
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