Punctuation
It's important to understand the rules of punctuation because they will help your writing to be clearly understood.
Commas
Commas are used to make things easier to read. They signal short pauses in the rhythm of writing, and, more importantly, they are used to clarify meaning. There are four basic rules for placing commas in sentences.
1. Commas are used to separate items in a list:
Language, mathematics, science, expressive arts and physical education are essential aspects of the primary curriculum.
McLaren challenges teachers to be courageous moral leaders who understand how knowledge, language, experience and power are central to society and to classrooms.
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(Note: a comma is not usually placed before the and at the end of a list.) |
2. A comma is used to separate parts of a sentence:
Teachers must organise learning experiences, and they are better able to do this when they understand how children learn.
If students are denied the opportunity to use their own language, they are denied the opportunity to develop their cognition.
3. A comma is used to enclose phrases or words that can be separated from the rest of the sentence:
The lecturer, famous for his expertise in educational psychology, hopes to publish a book next year.
Minority groups, whether they are based on culture or on gender, are often under-represented in programs for the gifted.
Anti-racist education, however, demands that teachers practise what they preach.
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(Note: in each of these examples, the material within the commas could be removed from the sentence, and it would still make sense.) |
4. A comma is used after a word or phrase occurring before the main part of the sentence:
Furthermore, schooling may act against the empowerment of learners.
However, unlearning means that I have to look seriously at myself as well as at others.
From this perspective, the most important feature of human communication is that it builds upon layers of meaning.
Despite the controversial nature of Vygotsky’s work, it has had a profound influence on educational theory.
