Commas to clarify meaning: headlight beetle
The Grammar Bit!
The correct placement of a comma within a sentence is very important. Incorrect placement can lead to confusion (ambiguity) for the reader and means they may not understand the text as intended by the author.
Read sentence 1A. Note where the comma is placed and discuss the meaning behind the sentence. Sentence 1B is worded exactly the same but the comma has been moved. How has this changed the meaning of the sentence?
Discuss the second pair of sentences. What has changed when writing them and how has this affected the meaning of each?
For sentence 3, decide with your talk partner where you would add commas to the list so that the different food items are clearly separated.
Scintillating Sentences
1A) As the sun lowered the headlight beetle, larvae began their bioluminescent display.
1B) As the sun lowered, the headlight beetle larvae began their bioluminescent display.
2A) The excited camerman fixed the zoom lens to his camera quickly, realising that the light show was just about to begin.
2B) The excited camerman fixed the zoom lens to his camera, quickly realising that the light show was just about to begin.
3) Headlight beetles feed on a variety of matter including pollen fermenting fruit and small insects.
Did you know?
The latin name for the headlight beetle is Pyrophorus nyctophanus. Pyrophorus means ‘fire-bearing’ and nyctophanus means ‘night-shiner.’