Comma Act

My brother Ron, an optometrist owns his own practice.

• NO CHANGE

• Ron an optometrist owns

• Ron, an optometrist, owns

• Ron; an optometrist, owns

The seven-year-old looked away from me when he lied reinforcing my suspicions.

• NO CHANGE

• when he lied reinforcing my suspicions.

• when he lied, reinforcing my suspicions.

• when he lied; reinforcing my suspicions.

I enjoy playing volleyball in the sand; however, I love volleyball so much that I will play on grass as well.

• NO CHANGE

• sand; however I love

• sand, however, I love

• sand however I love

To begin I should explain how it is that I am a sports-lover but lazy.  I have tried as many sports as have been possible in my life and I have enjoyed all of them.  I had competed in national gymnastics which is probably the most holistically challenging for ten years.  This sport took precedence in all of middle and high school for me.  When I retired I took up sprinting.  I ran for my university track team a D3 team don’t get too excited and performed as a top athlete in our conference.  I fell in love with running so much that I even signed up to run cross country in the fall.  Endurance is not my thing and that is part of why I am lazy.  I played soccer one season because the team needed an extra body.  I was an awful terrible soccer player but it was so much fun!  I now ride horses and run for fun.  I am lazy however because as I mentioned before I don’t have much endurance.  I’m a sprinter through and through!  I like the pain to be over in less than 60 seconds.  I’ll run longer but I’m not usually happy about it.  For as much as I love sports I also love to sit on my couch with potato chips and watch tv too!  Generally I love athletics but I am a lazy relaxer also!

What would make the underline portion grammatically correct?

• To begin: I should explain 

• To begin, I should explain 

• To begin—I should explain 

• To begin I should be happy to explain 

When I retired I took up sprinting.  I ran for my university track team a D3 team don’t get too excited—and performed as a top athlete in our conference.  I fell in love with running so much that I even signed up to run cross country in the fall.  Endurance is not my thing and that is part of why I am lazy.  I played soccer one season because the team needed an extra body.  I was an awful terrible soccer player but it was so much fun!  

What would make the underlined portion grammatically correct?

• NO CHANGE

• When I retired, I took up sprinting.

• When I retired and I took up sprinting.

• When I retired: I took up sprinting.

What is the correct edit for this sentence?
James the paperboy arrived early this morning

• James the paperboy arrived early this morning.

• James, the paperboy arrived early this morning.

• James, the paperboy, arrived early this morning.

• James, the paperboy arrived, early this morning.

Which shows the correct usage of a comma in a sentence?

• Jen isn't very funny, but her best friend Pam is hilarious.

• Jen isn't very funny but, her best friend Pam is hilarious.

Which sentences use a comma correctly (two independent clauses + FANBOYS)?

• I threw hot water, into the air but it turned, into snow.

• I threw hot water into the air but, it turned into snow.

• I threw hot water into the air, but it turned into snow.

• I threw hot water into the air but it turned into snow.

Which sentence is written correctly?

• Wind power is cheaper cleaner and renewable.

• Wind power is cheaper, cleaner and renewable.

• Wind power is cheaper, cleaner, and renewable.

• Wind power is cheaper cleaner, and renewable.

Which of these shows the correct usage of a comma in a sentence?

• Richie asked for a dog cat and walrus for Christmas.

• Richie asked for, a dog, cat and walrus for Christmas.

• Richie asked for a dog, cat, and walrus for Christmas.