What is a ”series”?

             A “series” is a list of 3 or more items, the last two of which are joined by and, or, or nor. 

                         _____________, ______________, and ___________

The important things to remember about using commas in series are these:

1.      A series includes 3 or more items of the same type (words or groups of words).

2.      The series is connected by and, or, or nor before the last item.

3.      A comma separates items in the series, including the final item preceded by and, or, or nor.

 What are “coordinate adjectives”?

         “Coordinate adjectives” are adjectives placed next to each other that are equal in importance.

 Two tests to determine whether adjectives are coordinate are the following:

         1.      See whether “and” can be smoothly placed between them.

         2.      See whether the adjectives’ order can be reversed.

Look at this example.

            

In this example, a comma belongs between happy and lively because they are coordinate adjectives.

Test to make certain:

            First, try the “and” test.

                

                        And placed between the 2 adjectives sounds smooth.

            Second, try reversing the adjectives.

                

                        When the adjectives are reversed, the sentence still makes sense.

Thus, happy and lively are coordinate adjectives in the example and should be separated by a comma.

                

 

CAUTION: Not all adjective pairs are coordinate adjectives.  Thus, not all adjectives should be separated from one another by a comma.

Look at this example.

                

In this example, no comma belongs between the two adjectives young and golden because they are not coordinate adjectives.

How can we know?

            First, try the “and” test.

                

                      And placed between the two adjectives does not fit smoothly.

            Second, try reversing the adjectives.

           

                      When the two adjectives are reversed, they do not make sense.

Thus, young and golden are not coordinate adjectives and should not be separated by a comma.

               

            1.  Know the seven joining words (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).

2. Can distinguish between simple sentences with compound elements (no comma) and compound sentences (comma).

Specifically  . . . use a comma:

Usually, it is NOT necessary to use a comma after short introductory prepositional phrases.

Use a comma even after a short “to” + verb phrase that answers why.

Be careful!  Not all introductory “to” phrases tell why.

1.      Separate “interrupter” words like however, nevertheless, yes, no, of course, from the rest of the sentence.

          

2.      Separate a “rename” (an appositive) from the rest of the sentence with a comma.

3.      Separate adjective phrases from the essential parts of the sentence.

In each instance above, “Mary Roberts ran down the street” comprises the essential part of the sentence.  The adjective phrases are nonessential and should be separated from the rest of the sentence with commas.

4.      Separate nonessential adjective clauses from the rest of the sentence.

There are two kinds of adjective clauses:

            - one that is needed for the sentence to be complete (ESSENTIAL)

            - one that is NOT needed for the sentence to be complete (NONESSENTIAL)

The essential adjective clause should NOT be separated from the sentence with commas.

The nonessential adjective clause (like other nonessential elements) SHOULD be separated with commas.

Look at example A.  If we remove the adjective clause “who robbed the bank,” the sentence reads, “The man was caught today.”  Without the adjective clause (“who robbed the bank”), we do not know which man was caught.  Thus, the adjective clause is needed to complete the sentence’s meaning.  In other words, this adjective clause is essential.  As the rule notes, do not use commas around essential adjective clauses.

Now look at example B.  If we remove the adjective clause “who robbed the bank,” the sentence reads, “Sam Spider was caught today.”  Without the adjective clause (“who robbed a bank”), we do know which man was caught (Sam Spider).  Thus, the adjective clause is NOT needed to complete the sentence’s meaning.  In other words, this clause is nonessential.  Following the rule, you should separate this adjective clause from the rest of the sentence.

                      

REMEMBER, there are 4 nonessential elements that should be separated from the rest of the sentence with commas:

1.      “interrupter” words like of course, however

2.      “renamers” (appositives)

3.      nonessential adjective phrases

            4.      nonessential adjective clauses