₦airaland Forum

A common error with commas is to sprinkle them where they don’t belong. Here are five examples of this type of comma error.

1.
Incorrect: The laptop on the table, is mine.
Correct: The laptop on the table is mine.

Do not separate a subject from its verb. The subject is “The laptop on the table.”

2.
Incorrect: Motel rooms, that are dirty, ought to be illegal.
Correct: Motel rooms that are dirty ought to be illegal.

Do not set off a restrictive clause. The clause “that are dirty” is essential to the meaning of “motel rooms.” No commas are needed.

3.
Incorrect: The dog understood at once, what his handler wanted.
Correct: The dog understood at once what his handler wanted.

Do not separate a verb from its direct object or complement. The clause “what his handler wanted” is the object of the verb understood.

4.
Incorrect: Jethro wanted to be either a brain surgeon, or a fry cook.
Correct: Jethro wanted to be either a brain surgeon or a fry cook.

Do not use a comma to separate paired elements joined by coordinate conjunctions. The paired elements are “a brain surgeon” and “a fry cook.” No comma is needed.

5.
Incorrect: The famous author lives in a small town, because she doesn’t like the noise of a big city.
Correct: The famous author lives in a small town because she doesn’t like the noise of a big city.

Do not set off an introductory independent (main) clause from a following dependent clause. “The famous author lives in a small town” is the main clause.

Note: if the dependent clause comes first, a comma is needed: “Because she doesn’t like the noise of a big city, the famous author lives in a small town.”



Maeve Maddox

Instructive!

I don't think I have made any of those mistakes.

How to use coma correctly, simply follow the flow of your breathe.

You simply apply coma anywhere you had to take a breathe.

herzern:
Educative.

ehhhrr..... Av bin looking for u....

We get talk

Tanx.olodo like me just dey use am anyhow.

herzern:
Seriously bruh?
Wah discussion is that??

errrr.... First where is ur NCAN ID card

herzern:
Do yhu know my rank in NCAN??
How dare yhu ask for my ID Card??

[quote author=herzern post=51782270]I wanna contest for the next NCAN ELECTION