RandomWritingStuff

Comma knowledge should be common knowledge

When to use one

• When same subject follows and, but it's not closely related
• When a different subject follows and
• When a subject (same or different) follows but
• When a different subject follows or

When not to use one

• If no subject follows and, but, or
• When same subject follows and, and the clauses are closely related in meaning
• When the subjects before and after or are the same (even when 2nd is a pronoun of the first subject)
• When you aren't sure what to do
• Just because it seems right

When to use one

• In a simple series, but not before and (no Oxford comma)
• After introductory phrase of more than 3 words (make exceptions for clarity)
• said Jeff, who is always right ...
• he landed, knowing it would hurt...

Avoid these

• up; in order; due; since; that
• really, very, pretty much
• In my opinion, I believe
• Phrases to get to the point
• Due to the fact that ...

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger -- Proverbs 15:1

Comprehending numbers

• Limit to 2 or 3 per sentence
• $2.5 million, not $2,500,000
• Spell numbers under 10
• Use numerals 10 and
• Numerals for measurements

Punctuation

• Put marks inside "..."
• Avoid using !

Beware of overstatement

Compound modifiers

• 2 words combined to modify
• life-changing moment
• blue-collar job; full-time career
• Don't hyphenate -ly adverbs
• Don't - words known as 1 thing

its, their, they ...
oh, the confusion

its (not it's)

• board voted its mind
• CU honored its students
• team lost its leader
• dog found its way home

their

• board members voted their mind
• CU orgs honored their students
• players lost their leader
• dogs found their way home
• Fluffy and Muffy found their way home

they (what is the antecedent)

• they (board members) voted their mind
• they (CU orgs) honored their students
• they (players) lost their leader
• they (dogs) found their way home
• they (Fluffy and Muffy) found their way

it (what is the antecedent)

• it (board) voted its mind
• it (CU) honored its students
• it (team) lost its leader
• it (dog) found its way home