Posted by KL on September 13, 2006 at 14:08:39:
In Reply to: Re: Fiction Writing Tips - Punctuation posted by KL on June 01, 2006 at 14:20:40:
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.