Notes on Using Commas with Non-Essential Words, Phrases, and Clauses

Notes on Using Commas with Non-Essential Words, Phrases, and Clauses.

Select the sentence with the correct punctuation.

1. "Scott can we go swimming, at the beach?"
2. "Scott, can we go swimming at the beach?"
3. "Scott, can we go swimming, at the beach?"

The speaker is asking Scott a question.

In this sentence, the speaker is asking Scott question. Use a comma after "Scott."

"Scott, can we go swimming at the beach?"

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Choose which sentence is correctly punctuated.

1. The farmer while riding, the tractor saw, the cow cross the road.
2. The farmer, while riding the tractor, saw the cow cross the road.
3. The farmer while riding the tractor saw, the cow cross the road.

2

Which part of the sentence could be left out, and the sentence would still make sense?

Use commas to set off information that is not important to the meaning of the sentence.

The farmer, while riding the tractor, saw the cow cross the road.

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

1. Good students, who do all of their homework, will get an award at the end of the year.
2. Good students who do all of their homework will get an award at the end of the year.
3. Good students, who do all of their homework will get an award, at the end of the year.

2

Try reading the sentences but leaving out the words between the commas. Does the sentence make sense? Does it still make the same point as before?

Choice (2) is correct because all of the words are essential to the meaning of the sentence.

Good students who do all of their homework will get an award at the end of the year.

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If we eliminate the separated words in sentence (1), the sentence loses its meaning: all good students would get an award, not just the ones who do their homework. In choice (3), omitting the part set off in commas leaves us with the sentence fragment "Good students at the end of the year."

Which sentence is properly punctuated?

1. It, was fortunately just a false alarm.
2. It was, fortunately just a false alarm.
3. It was fortunately, just a false alarm.
4. It was, fortunately, just a false alarm.

4

Which word could be left out of this sentence?

"Fortunately" just adds emphasis. It could be left out of the sentence, and the sentence would still make sense. Separate it from the rest of the sentence by commas.

It was, fortunately, just a false alarm.

______

Which sentence is properly punctuated?

1. Nancy was luckily, out of the house when the fire started.
2. Nancy was, luckily, out of the house when the fire started.
3. Nancy was, luckily out of the house when the fire started.
4. Nancy was luckily out of the house when the fire started.

2

Is there a word that can be taken out of the sentence?

"Luckily" is not needed to make the point of the sentence. However, it does add emphasis to the fact that Nancy was lucky. Separate "luckily" from the rest of the sentence with commas.

Nancy was, luckily, out of the house when the fire started.

______

Which choice best describes the following sentence?

During the summer, my favorite season I like to go swimming.

1. All of the words are essential for the point of the sentence to be clear.
2. Commas separate the nonessential words from the rest of the sentence.
3. Commas are needed to separate the nonessential words from the rest of the sentence.

3

Which words are not essential to make the meaning of this sentence clear?

If the words "my favorite season" were pulled out of this sentence, it would still make the same point. A comma is already placed before these words, but another is needed after them.

During the summer, my favorite season, I like to go swimming.

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Which choice best describes the following sentence?

All people who are overworked should take some time to relax.

1. All of the words are essential for the point of the sentence to be clear.
2. Commas separate the nonessential words from the rest of the sentence.
3. Commas are needed to separate the nonessential words from the rest of the sentence.

1

Does the meaning of the sentence change when certain words are taken out?

You might think that the words "who are overworked" can be taken out of this sentence as nonessential words. However, without those words, the meaning of the sentence changes slightly. It would mean that all people need to relax, not just those who are overworked.

All people who are overworked should take some time to relax.

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Joshua who plays the piano will make a great addition to our band.

This sentence needs:

1. a comma after Joshua
2. a comma after piano
3. both of the above
4. nothing, it is correct as it is

3

Is it really important to know that he plays the piano?

The fact that Joshua plays the piano is nice, but not necessarily needed for the sentence. Therefore it should read:

Joshua, who plays the piano, will make a great addition to our band.

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Which sentence is correct?

1. Picking up the mail, is the first thing I do after getting off the bus.
2. Picking up the mail is the first, thing I do after getting off the bus.
3. Picking up the mail is the first thing I do after getting off the bus.
4. Picking up the mail is the first thing I do, after getting off the bus.

3

Are there any attached or non-essential words in this sentence?

There are no attached words or unnecessary phrases in this sentence.

Picking up the mail is the first thing I do after getting off the bus.

Cells, the most important part of a living element, are interesting to study and important to understand.

1. This sentence is correct because it isolates the word "cells," an attached word to the sentence.
2. This sentence is correct because it separates items in a list.
3. This sentence is correct because it isolates a nonessential part of the sentence.
4. This sentence is not correct because the commas are misplaced.

3

Review the comma usage rules.

This sentence is correct because "the most important part of a living element" is not essential to the sentence. It is correct, but the point of the sentence is that cells are "interesting to study and important to understand."