Intermediate Test Prep ELA 8 (Grades7-8) Literary Devices

When the writer adds a comment to the reader about the information in the sentence this comment is called an interrupter. These interrupters must be set apart from the rest of the sentence with commas to make the meaning for the sentence to be clear to the reader.

One way to test whether a word or phrase is an interrupter is to read the sentence without it. If you still have a complete idea, the word or phrase is an interrupter and commas will be needed to separate it from the rest of the sentence.

Interrupters, words or phrases that interrupt the main thought of the sentence, must be set apart from it with commas

Let's practice working with interrupters by punctuating these sentences correctly.

Exercise is great however some people take it too far.
Megan as a matter of fact gets up at dawn every day to run.
She runs five miles for example before she eats breakfast.
Then of course she has to rush to get to school on time.
Her schedule is so busy in fact she doesn't have time for fun.

How did you do? Remember, you can check for interrupters in two ways:

If you take the word or phrase out, the meaning of the sentence should not change.

If you move the word or phrase to a different part of the sentence, the meaning should not change.

Click on the Chalk board to return to
the commas with interrupters lesson page!

There are many other important and useful comma rules that you should know to improve your communication when you write. Follow the links below to the lessons that introduce them:

Commas
in dates, addresses, & letters

Commas
in a
Series

Commas in Compound Sentences

Commas in Direct Address

Commas With
Adjectives