Blog 39

The grammar rule that always confuses me is commas. I know it’s really basic and I should know how to use them but oh well. I hate commas. I feel like there is too many ways that you can use them so everyone should be confused like me.  It bothers me how some people use commas like it’s their job, and then some people don’t use them at all.  I researched how to use them on google and here’s what I found out. 

1.     Use commas to separate independent clauses when they are joined by any of these seven coordinating conjunctions: and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet.

2.     Use commas after introductory a) clauses, b) phrases, or c) words that come before the main clause.

3.     Use a pair of commas in the middle of a sentence to set off clauses, phrases, and words that are not essential to the meaning of the sentence. Use one comma before to indicate the beginning of the pause and one at the end to indicate the end of the pause.

4.     Do not use commas to set off essential elements of the sentence, such as clauses beginning with that (relative clauses). That clauses after nouns are always essential. That clauses following a verb expressing mental action are always essential.

5.     Use commas to separate three or more words, phrases, or clauses written in a series.

Hopefully I’m not the only one confused by this. http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/607/02/