What are some common comma misuses?

6 Common Comma Usage Mistakes

  • Adding A Comma Before “That” In A Clause.
  • Not Using a Comma Between Two Independent Clauses That Are Connected By A Coordinating Conjunction.
  • Using A Comma Before A Verb In Relative Clause.
  • Comma Splice and Run-On Sentence.
  • Using A Comma in An Essential Adjective Clause.

What is comma misuse?

What’s a Comma Error? A comma error occurs when a comma is needed but is not present, or when a comma is used but is not grammatically necessary. Many people tend to use commas like salt: they sprinkle them in randomly to add flavor to their writing.

How commas change meaning examples?

The absence or presence of a comma can change the entire meaning of a sentence. For example, there’s a cannibalistic difference between “Let’s eat grandma” and “Let’s eat, grandma.” The same holds true for apostrophes, hyphens, colons, and other punctuation marks.

What are the 8 rules for commas examples?

Commas (Eight Basic Uses)

  • Use a comma to separate independent clauses.
  • Use a comma after an introductory clause or phrase.
  • Use a comma between all items in a series.
  • Use commas to set off nonrestrictive clauses.
  • Use a comma to set off appositives.
  • Use a comma to indicate direct address.
  • Use commas to set off direct quotations.

Can you put a comma in the wrong place?

When commas are used incorrectly, readers may become confused or even misread the information. Causing a reader to pause in order to interpret a group of words causes frustration, stops the flow of the narrative, and may cause the reader to toss the work.

How do you avoid comma mistakes?

The 10 most common punctuation mistakes and how to avoid them in your writing

  1. Don’t add commas wherever you pause to breathe in a sentence.
  2. Don’t produce comma splices.
  3. Don’t use a comma after a coordinating conjunction.
  4. Don’t use a comma in compound predicates.
  5. Don’t use apostrophes to form the plural of a noun.

What is passive voice misuse example?

Passive voice misuse Chester’s favorite activity is kicking. The bank robbery took place just before closing time. There is nothing we can do about it. There were a great number of dead leaves covering the ground.

What is comma misuse within clauses?

A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are joined only by a comma instead of an acceptable form of punctuation, such as a comma with a coordinating conjunction, a semicolon, or a period. A run-on sentence occurs when two or more independent clauses fuse together without punctuation to separate them.

Can the misuse of punctuation create ambiguity in the meaning?

Lack—or overuse—of punctuation (especially commas) can alter meaning and/or result in ambiguity. Ambiguous sentences are hard to understand and can be misinterpreted, thus potentially putting lives at risk.

How do you avoid punctuation errors?

How to avoid 9 common punctuation mistakes that make you look…

  1. Don’t confuse “it’s” and “its.”
  2. Don’t use an apostrophe to pluralize nouns.
  3. Don’t write run-on sentences.
  4. Don’t overuse commas.
  5. Don’t use dashes and hyphens interchangeably.
  6. Don’t use semicolons and commas interchangeably.