英文中逗号使用详解

英文中逗号使用详解Knowingwhen,where,howmany,and/orwhytoplacecommasintextcanbethemostpersnicketytaskinvolvedwithprecisewriting,editing,andproofreadingwork.Therearenumerousstyleguidesthatcanhelpwithcommaplacement;however,mostofthemagreeonafewcommon-sensebasics.RulesforCommaUse1.Usecommasbeforecoordinatingconjunctions(and,but,for,not,or,so,etc.)joiningindependentclausesunlesstheycanbeeasilyunderstood:•Yes:Mikejumpedupanddown,andputtheballthroughthehoop.•No:SusansingsandSallydances.2.Usecommastoseparatewords,phrases,andclausesinasentence:•Jimatebeans,onions,andtortillas.•Johntoredowntheoldhouse,draftednewdesignplans,andbuiltanewhouse.•Duringtheholidayseason,thousandsofpeopletaketimeawayfromwork.3.Usecommasbetweencoordinateadjectives(adjectivesthatseparatelymodifythesamenoun):•Mattatethejuicy,redapple.•Sarahwalkeddownthelong,emptyhallway.4.Usecommastosetoffaparentheticalcomments(anaside)ifitisbriefandcloselyrelatedtotherestofthesentence:•Theelves,forexample,arethehappiestofthetoy-makinglot.•SantaClause,tobesure,isalsoaveryhappyindividualthistimeofyear.5.Usecommastosetoffnon-restrictive(unessential)appositives:•Yes:MarkTwain,theAmericanauthor,wasfamousforhissarcasm.•No:TheAmericanauthorMarkTwainwasfamousforhissarcasm.6.Usecommastosetoffnon-restrictiveclausesbeginningwithWho,Whom,Whose,Which,andThat:•Yes:Aliens,whodonotfollowourlaws,maketheirownrules.(Asin,noaliensfollowourlaws.)•No:Alienswhodonotfollowourlawsmaketheirownrules.(Asin,notallaliensmaketheirownrules;onlythosewhodonotfollowourlaws!)7.Usecommastosetoffnon-restrictiveadverbialphrasesandclauses:•Yes:Themovietakesplaceinthemountains,whereitisoftencold.(Thefocusisonthemountains,notthetemperature;that'sjustanaside.)•No:Themovietakesplaceinthemountainareaswhereitiscold.(Thefocusisspecificallyonthemountainareaswhereitiscold.)8.Usecommasafteralongintroductoryphraseorclause:•Aftermanyyearsofenduringendlesshardship,Marythrewinthetowel.•Althoughheateeverythingonhisplate,hewasstillhungry.9.Usecommastosetoffalternativeorcontrastingphrases:•ItisJuan,notMarco,whowantedtogoswimming.10.Usecommasinadatewhoseorderismonth,day,andyear:•Mrs.ClausewasbornonDecember25,1805,andstilllivesattheNorthPole.Ifyoustillneedsomehelpwithoften-confoundingcommas,youcanseekoutspecifichelpfromtheseoften-usedstyleguides:•TheChicagoManualofStyle•MLAHandbookforWritersofResearchPapers•PublicationManualoftheAmericanPsychologicalAssociation•TheCSEManualforAuthors,Editors,andPublishersOnelasttip-ifindoubt,readitoutloud!Youcanoftenhearwhereacommabelongs!