Top 5 Comma Errors

Check any style guide and you’ll find page after page of rules for use of the comma. Below are five of the most common comma mistakes we see as we review papers and the web:

1. With quotation marks

RULE: Put a comma that follows a closing quotation mark inside the last quotation mark.

EXAMPLE: The baby’s three new words are “Dog,” “Hot,” and “No.”

NOTE: In the US, (unlike the UK) commas and periods go inside the quotation marks. 

2. Comma splices or run-on sentences

RULE: Don’t put a comma between two independent clauses.

EXAMPLE: I used to love tofu, now I can’t stand the stuff.

NOTE: When you have two independent clauses (phrases that can stand by themselves as sentences), separate them with a semicolon, a period, or a comma and a coordinating conjunction, eg, I used to love tofu, but now I can’t stand the stuff. 

3. In a series

RULE: Use commas to separate items in a list or series

EXAMPLE: I picked up the dry cleaning, dropped the dog at the groomer’s, and met my husband for lunch. 

NOTE: Although some style guides say that using a comma before the last and in a series or list is optional, most style guides suggest using one to help avoid reader misunderstanding

4. To set off nonrestrictive clauses

RULE: A nonrestrictive clause can be left out of the sentence without changing the meaning. Nonrestrictive clauses usually are surrounded or preceded by commas.

EXAMPLE: Carrie Phillips, the girl we often see walking alone on the beach, won the science award. 

NOTE: Often the word which precedes a nonrestrictive clause. For example, Mark lives on Elm Street, which is only two blocks from my house. In this case, use the comma before which.

5. Commas with dates

RULES and EXAMPLES: 

- Use a comma between the day and the year: August 4, 1969.

- When writing the day as well as the date, use a comma after the day and date: Thursday, May 23, 2013.

- Do not use a comma when it is just the month and the year: December 1977.

- Do not use a comma when using an inverted date: 20 June 1990.

Deborah

How can I overcome nervousness when I present?

This question is the number one concern we hear from our audiences.

Believe it or not, even though we’re “professional public speakers,” we sometimes get nervous before we present, too. 

Preparation and practice are key to moving through your talk because you can shift to auto-pilot if needed. We put a lot of value in “working the room,” and find that arriving early and speaking on-to-one with the people who will listen to the presentation helps us see them as “regular people” and not the rock stars we imagined. Plus, we can use these conversations to connect with the audience during the presentation.

Remember these premises:

• The people who come to your talk must see value in the topic, or they would not attend.
• Someone invited you to present because you have shown expertise in your topic.
• You are the master of your topic, even if other experts attend your talk. Your peers would not attend if they did not want/need to learn something from you. 
• Your audience wants you to succeed. They are on your team. 

Over the years, many physicians and pharmacists in our audiences have suggested various forms of beta blockers and antihistamines to prevent the appearance of nervousness. Instead of therapeutic intervention, we recommend that you get plenty of rest the night before your talk, exercise in the days preceding your speech, and cut back on your caffeine consumption the day of your presentation.
 

A few other relevant tips:

• Visualize your goal: see yourself presenting your talk, answering questions, and hearing the applause. This Stephen Covey tip really works! Many pro athletes use this technique with great success.
• Don't forget to breathe. Take your time when you present.
• Practice in the room where you will present. This Billy Graham tip is fantastic. We have rehearsed in the room beforehand and even planned where to look at certain points in the talk.
• Don't try to tell everything you know. Instead, streamline your talk so that you can focus on key points. This technique will help you plan your talk and prevent you from rushing through it.

We hope these tips help you prepare for your next presentation. 

Let us know how it goes!

Steph & Deborah