Posted by Jeff on June 03, 2006 at 13:29:16:
In Reply to: Re: Fiction Writing Tips - Punctuation posted by KL on June 01, 2006 at 14:20:40:
: : : Fiction Writing Tips - Punctuation. Anybody know any good internet sites that can help me with my punctuation. Especially commas.
: : I think the very best site on the internet for punctuation info is the Purdue University On-Line Writing Lab (OWL). They not only give you the rules, but also a number of good examples AND some discussion about each. Here is the link to some of their info about commas:
: : http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_comma.html
: Geez. So many rules. Doesn't anybody have a simple set of comma rules for us fiction writers? But thank's for the link to that site. Looks like a really good one.
: Thanks for the link to that site. Looks good.
The biggest comma mistake is putting in commas when it seems like there should be a pause. Commas can indicate a pause, but there are specific rules about when and where to use them. Here are the basic rules (simplified):
- If there are three or more items in a series, they should be separated by commas.
- If two or more full sentences are connected with coordinate conjunctions (for, and ,nor, but, or, yet, so), a comma should go before the conjunction.
- If an introductory word or words begin a sentence, a comma separates that phrase or clause from the sentence (often these introductory elements begin with subordinate conjunctions (after, when, if, because, since), prepositions (as, with, in, on, over), or participles (running, sleeping, dreaming).
- Word groups which describe nouns or pronouns should be set off by commas if it is "nonrestrictive". That is, if it can be removed from the rest of the sentence without altering the meaning of the sentence.
Hope that helps.