Friday, September 30, 2011

Comma Police

Comma police, arrest this man
He talks so fast
He introduces me
Without using punctuation

Comma police, arrest this girl
She doesn’t see
Her introductory phrase
Sets the stage
For the rest of the sentence

This is what you get
This is what you get
This is what you get
When you use less of us

Comma police, I’ve done it once or twice
I may have left one out
But commas are important
I see that now

This is what you get
This is what you get
This is what you get
When you use less of us

When introducing you, I use a comma
In an introductory phrase, I use a comma


And now for your listening pleasure:

This is what The Purdue OWL says about introductory phrases:
  • Introductory clauses are dependent clauses that provide background information or "set the stage" for the main part of the sentence, the independent clause. For example: 
    • If they want to win, athletes must exercise every day. (introductory dependent clause, main clause) 
    • Because he kept barking insistently, we threw the ball for Smokey. (introductory dependent clause, main clause)
NOTE: We see this type of sentence in the Radiohead song.

Also, if you are introducing a person, use a comma.

Example: My neighbor, Barack Obama, sings in the shower.

If he didn't sing off key, I wouldn't mind so much...

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