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Commas, Parentheses & Dashes

Inserting comments in sentences

 

 

Adding Aside Comments to Sentences

Commas, parentheses and dashes set off extra-information,  appositives (another name for a person, place or thing) and afterthoughts from the main clause of a sentence.

 

 

Commas are the preferred way to set-off information from the rest of the sentence.  However, parentheses and dashes can be used too. The use of dashes is considered to be more informal than the use of commas and parentheses.  Use these only when necessary, as straying from your topic too many times makes it difficult for your reader to follow your thought. 


 

Relative Emphasis
COMMAS PARENTHESES DASHES

set off with commasthought
        Add comments

set off with commasaside comment
   De-emphasize comments

set off with commasemphasis
   Emphasize comments

Commas set off a comment closely related to the central idea of the sentence: modify, qualify, clarify or add details.

Parentheses enclose a comment that diverges from the central idea of the sentence: give an aside comment, explain circumstances or add an afterthought. (informal use)

Dashes set off a comment that is loosely related to the central idea of the sentence: interrupt, contrast, introduce specifics or add an afterthought. (informal use)

Jay, my adventurous friend, is kayaking to Alaska.

Jay (my adventurous friend) is kayaking to Alaska.

Jay – my adventurous friend – is kayaking to Alaska.

John Wayne, born Marion Morrison, was a great actor.

John Wayne (born Marion Morrison) was a great actor.

John Wayne– born Marion Morrison – was a great actor.

Jay is kayaking to Alaska, I think.

 

Jay is kayaking to Alaska (I think).

Jay is kayaking to Alaska– I think.

See Clause Summary #commas for clauses that require commas.

Kayaking in Alaska

 

 

 

Relevance to Central Idea
COMMAS  PARENTHESES DASHES 

set off with commas Comments set off by commas tend to be closely related to the central idea of the sentence: modifying phrases and clauses.

set off with parenthesesComments set off by parentheses tend to digress, or go off the the central thought of the sentence: explanations, background information and details. Use in informal writing.

set off with commasComments set off by dashes tend to separate, go away from the central thought of the sentence: interrupting thoughts, contrasting and by-the-way comments. Use in informal writing.

MODIFYING COMMENT – keeps on topic

EXPLANATORY COMMENT — digression

INTERRUPTION — divergent

Alaskans, who endure cold and snowy weather, know how to get through harsh winters.   (True for all Alaskans.  See Non-restrictive Clauses)
 

Alaskans (because they live near the arctic circle) know how to get through harsh winters.

Alaskans — even though global warming is changing their climate —know how to get through harsh winters.


digress (v.) – to wander away from the main topic or purpose in speaking or writing; depart from the principal line of argument, plot, study, etc.
diverge (v.) – to move in a different direction from the common point; branch off; go off on its own

 

 

 

 

 

Commas

Appositives

 

 

 

Adding Another Name for It – Appositive
ANOTHER NAME FOR IT DETAILS

commas for appositives Use commas when mentioning another name for a person, place or thing, such as a title, position, nickname or other related information.
   

commas for appositives Use commas when mentioning another name for a person, place or thing, such as a title, position, nickname or other related information.  

Jay, my friend, will announce his plans.

We had a goodbye party on Tuesday, November 2, 2008.

Barack Obama, the President-Elect, will begin . . .  (President-Elect Barack ...)

We had a goodbye party in November 2008. (no commas)

Jay Byrd, CEO of Kayaking Inc., will announce his plans.

We held the meeting at the Apple Campus, 1 Infinite Loop.

The Aleutian Islands, formerly known as the Catherine Islands,  consist of more than 300 islands.

 

Alaska, "The Last Frontier", became a state in 1959.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Practice

Inuit regionInuit

Native Alaskans

 

 

Join the two sentences into one. 
  1. Select commas or no commas.
  2. Read the feedback about your option.

 

# SENTENCE - COMMENT  & FEEDBACK YOUR RESPONSE
1. SENTENCE:    Native Alaskans speak a number of dialects. 
COMMENT:      They are accustomed to snow.


  


2. SENTENCE:  Native Alaskans speak Inupiaq. 
COMMENT:   They live in the arctic region.




3. SENTENCE:  The Inuit people hunted and fished. 
COMMENT:   They hunted seals, whales, walruses and birds.




4. SENTENCE:  Kayaks were used for hunting and travel. 
COMMENT:  The boats were made of seal skins.

were used for hunting and traveling.






5. SENTENCE:  The Inuit people used dog sleds. 
COMMENT:   How cool is that!





6. SENTENCE:  Inuit people live along the northern Bering Sea coasts. 
COMMENT:  Don't call them Eskimos.





7. SENTENCE:  The word "Eskimo" meant "eaters of raw meat". 
COMMENT:   They thought.





8. SENTENCE:  The notion of being raw-meat eaters was offensive.  notion = idea, opinion or view
COMMENT:   It implied that they were primitive.





9. SENTENCE:  The notion of being raw-meat eaters was offensive.
COMMENT: 






10. SENTENCE:  The notion of being raw-meat eaters was offensive.
COMMENT:  Raw meat is unappetizing






11 SENTENCE:  Northern Alaska is a difficult place to live for three reasons. 
COMMENT:   It is cold; it is isolated; it has no farmable land  (farmable (adj)– able to grow food)





12 SENTENCE: An igloo had to be able to withstand harsh weather conditions
COMMENT:   The word igloo is not restricted to snow-block houses.






   

Inuit People - People & Cultures of the Arctic - All Things Arctic http://www.allthingsarctic.com/people/inuit.aspx