basic comma rules

How do you use a comma?

Basic Comma Rules To better understand the use of the comma, begin by learning the following basic uses: 1. USE A COMMA TO SEPARATE INDEPENDENT CLAUSES. Rule: Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction (and, but, yet, so, or nor, for) when it joins two complete ideas (independent clauses). A. He walked down the street, and then he turned the corner

What are the rules of commas in the Constitution?

Commas 101: The Basics Commas, the peskiest of punctuation marks, have six main uses. These uses are outlined below. Understanding these comma basics is the key to correct comma usage. Rule #1: Fanboys Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so--a.k.a. fanboys) to separate two independent clauses:

When do you put a comma after a coordinating conjunction?

Comma Rules. 1. Use a comma to separate three or more words, phrases, or clauses written in a series. (A comma is necessary before the last ‘and.’) Example:

When should you not use commas in a sentence?

03/08/2016 · This is a video about some of the basic comma rules.Created with Powtoon.

What are the 5 Rules of commas?

Five Comma RulesUse a comma after an introductory phrase or clause. ... Use commas before and after a parenthetical phrase or clause. ... Use a comma to separate two independent clauses linked by a coordinating conjunction (and, but, for, nor or, so, yet) ... Use a comma to separate items in a series.More items...

What are the 6 rules of commas?

Six Comma RulesPut a comma before for, and, not, but, or, yet, so (FANBOYS), when they connect two. ... Put a comma after an introductory expression that doesn't flow smoothly into the. ... Put a comma between items in a series. ... Put commas around an expression that interrupts the flow of the sentence (such as.More items...

What is the rule for using commas?

Use commas to separate three or more words, phrases, or clauses written in a series. Use commas to separate two or more coordinate adjectives that describe the same noun. Be sure never to add an extra comma between the final adjective and the noun itself or to use commas with non-coordinate adjectives.

What are the 10 rules of commas?

When to Use a Comma: 10 Rules and ExamplesRule #1: Use Commas to Separate Items in a List. ... Rule #2: Use a Comma After an Introductory Word or Phrase. ... Rule #3: Use a Comma Before a Quotation. ... Rule #4: Use a Comma to Separate a Dependent Clause That Comes BEFORE the Independent Clause.More items...•15-Aug-2019

What are the 8 rules for commas?

Commas (Eight Basic Uses)Use a comma to separate independent clauses. ... Use a comma after an introductory clause or phrase. ... Use a comma between all items in a series. ... Use commas to set off nonrestrictive clauses. ... Use a comma to set off appositives. ... Use a comma to indicate direct address. ... Use commas to set off direct quotations.More items...

What are the examples of comma?

2. Examples of Comma UseThe pet store has cats, dogs, hamsters, fish, and turtles. Listing things.I really wanted cereal this morning, but I didn't have any milk. Connecting clauses.Well, if you really want pancakes, I guess I can make them. Creating pauses.14-Jan-2019

Should we put comma before and?

The word and is a conjunction, and when a conjunction joins two independent clauses, you should use a comma with it. The proper place for the comma is before the conjunction. On Monday we'll see the Eiffel Tower, and on Tuesday we'll visit the Louvre.

What are the four types of commas?

There are four types of comma: the listing comma, the joining comma, the gapping comma and bracketing commas.

Does the comma go before or after but?

You should put a comma before but only when but is connecting two independent clauses. I would go for a walk, but it's raining outside. Here's a tip: Commas can be tricky, but they don't have to trip you up.

What are the 3 comma rules?

Since I made such a stink about it, let's start with this rule:Use a comma between items in a series or list.Use a comma between two independent clauses separated by a conjunction.Use a comma between two adjectives preceding a noun.Your Mission.19-Apr-2012

How many rules of commas are there?

Saying “I thought there should be one” or “There seemed to be a pause” is not a good reason for using a comma. Properly used commas are important because they help the reader; without them, a reader would often have to backtrack and reread a sentence to find the writer's meaning. There are essentially six comma rules.

What is the first comma rule?

Rule 1: Use a comma after an introductory clause. Example. When he had tired of the mad pace of New York, he moved to Dubuque. Omit the comma if no ambiguity would result unless it would slow comprehension.28-Aug-2013

What does a comma tell you?

A comma tells readers that the introductory clause or phrase has come to a close and that the main part of the sentence is about to begin. When Evan was ready to iron, his cat tripped on the cord. Near a small stream at the bottom of the canyon, park rangers discovered a gold mine. 3.

When to use a comma in a series?

Use a comma between all items in a series. Rule: Use a comma to separate each item in a series; a series is a group of three or more items having the same function and form in a sentence. We bought apples, peaches, and bananas today. (series of words)

Do you put a comma in a direct quotation?

Use commas to set off direct quotations. Rule: A dialogue is a conversation between two or more people. If the speaker (not the listener) in the conversation is identified, his name, (or the noun or pronoun used to refer to the speaker), and the verb that refers to his speaking are enclosed within commas.

What is the gentleman standing by the fireplace?

The gentleman who is standing by the fireplace is a well-known composer. (restrictive) 5. Use a comma to set off appositives. Rule: An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that renames a nearby noun. Appositives offer nonessential information. Nonrestrictive appositives are set off with commas; restrictive appositives are not.

When was the Sitting Bull arrested?

On December 12, 1890, orders were sent out for the arrest of Sitting Bull. Rules for addresses: The elements of an address or place name are separated by commas. A zip code, however, is not preceded by a comma. Examples: John Lennon was born in Liverpool, England, in 1940.

What are some examples of commas in numbers?

In numbers four digits long, a comma is optional. Examples: 3,500 [or 3500] 100,000.

Where was John Lennon born?

John Lennon was born in Liverpool, England, in 1940. Please send the letter to Greg Carvin at 708 Spring Street, Washington, IL 61571. Rules for titles: If a title follows a name, separate the title from the rest of the sentence with a pair of commas. Example: Sandra Belinsky, MD, has been appointed to the board.

Why is a comma important?

The comma is a valuable, useful punctuation device because it separates the structural elements of sentences into manageable segments. The rules provided here are those found in traditional handbooks; however, in certain rhetorical contexts and for specific purposes, these rules may be broken.

When to use a comma in a sentence?

Use a pair of commas in the middle of a sentence to set off clauses, phrases, and words that are not essential to the meaning of the sentence. Use one comma before to indicate the beginning of the pause and one at the end to indicate the end of the pause.

How to use a comma in a compound sentence?

Rule Two: Use a comma to make a compound sentence. You will often also use and, but, yet, so, or nor to join the sentences. 1 I kept the picture, and I later had it framed. 2 I had it framed, but I later realized that the picture was crooked. 3 I showed my husband, yet he did not seem to be bothered. 4 I was still bothered, so I took the picture down. 5 My husband didn’t notice, nor did he care.

Is a comma a punctuation mark?

All English teachers will tell their students that punctuation can make a lot of difference in your writing! Today we will look at the comma, which is one of the more basic punctuation marks. Do not let the comma fool you: although it is seen in most paragraphs, it is often misused or overused.

What happened to May in Spider-Man?

May jumped over the pasture fence and landed in the mud. Jack and Jill sneaked out of the house and went to the Spider Man premiere. Roger ate the entire pie and got sick. 2. If a phrase or group of words come before the main sentence, place a comma after those words.

When to use a comma before a conjunction?

1. When two sentences are joined by a coordinating conjunction, use a comma before the conjunction. **Coordinating conjunctions are: and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet. **A sentence has a subject and a verb. **So, if there is a sentence on either side of the conjunction, use a comma. If not, don’t use a comma.

Do you need a comma after "that"?

Note: Clauses beginning with “that” do not require commas. Clauses after nouns that begin with “that” are always essential; also “that” clauses following verbs that express mental action (belief, wish, imagine, etc.) are always essential. Sometimes “that” is left out of a sentence and still makes sense.

How many rules are there for commas?

For those who are wondering, yes, there are more than six rules, but if you know the basic six rules, you’ll have almost everything you need to know about commas. If you have a question that falls outside these rules, try one of these sites for answers: Purdue University or Antioch University.

Where was the Hubble telescope located?

“Edwin Hubble, for whom the Hubble Telescope is named, used the largest telescope of his day in the 1920s at the Mt. Wilson Observatory near Pasadena, California, to discover galaxies beyond our own.”.

Do long sentences need commas?

Some long sentences don’t need commas. Myth #3: Rules for commas are vague, and they are impossible to figure out. Although there are a couple of flexible rules, most of the time commas belong in specific places.

What is dependent clause?

A dependent clause, or subordinate clause, is one that can’t stand alone as a whole sentence. It should be separated from the independent clause that follows it using a comma: If you can’t make it, please call me. After the race, John was exhausted.

How to use commas in a list?

Rule #1: Use Commas to Separate Items in a List. This probably the first use of commas you learned in school: separating items in a list of three or more things. Here’s an example: The cake mix requires flour, sugar, eggs, and butter. Note that some style guides would not add the comma after the word “eggs”.

When to use a comma in a sentence?

Rule #7: Use Commas to Separate Coordinate Adjectives. When you’re describing something with two or more adjectives, you can use a comma between them if those adjectives are coordinating . (They’re coordinating if you could place “and” between them.) You shouldn’t put a comma after the final adjective.

Do you need a comma after an independent clause?

However, it’s normally not necessary to use a comma if the independent clause comes first: Please call me if you can’t make it. John was exhausted after the race. For more on this, plus an example of an instance where a comma is required after the independent clause, take a look at Subordinate Clauses and Commas.

What is the comma used after the penultimate item in a list?

We need bread, milk, cheese and eggs. In the first case, the “serial comma” or “Oxford comma” is used after the penultimate item in the list. In the second case, that comma is omitted. Some writers have very strong feelings for and against the serial comma.

Do you need a comma in Sue and John?

John was determined to get the unicorn slime his daughter wanted, but all the shops had sold out. You don’t need a comma if both the independent clauses are relatively short and similar in meaning: Sue went to the shops and John went home.

Do you put a comma before or after a sentence?

Sometimes, you might want to include extra information within a sentence that isn’t essential to its meaning. You should set this information off using a comma before and a comma after it: John went for a jog, which took half an hour, before having a long hot shower.

Why was the girl late for class?

She was late for class because her alarm clock was broken. She was still quite upset, although she had won the Oscar. (extreme contrast) 6. Use a comma to set off all geographical names, items in dates (except the month and day), addresses (except the street number and name), and titles in names. Examples:

What is a comma in a sentence?

The comma separates the structural elements of a sentence into manageable segments. In this lesson, you will learn 8 important rules for using comma in English.

When to use a comma?

Use a comma to separate three or more words, phrases, or clauses written in a series. (A comma is necessary before the last ‘ and .’ ) Example: The Constitution establishes the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government. 2.

What are the most common subordinating conjunctions?

The most common subordinating conjunctions are: after, although, as, as if, because, before, even though, if, since, so that, than, that, though, unless, until, when, where, whether, and while. She was late for class because her alarm clock was broken.

What are the rules for punctuation?

Follow these 6 basic punctuation rules and they will help you to write more clearly and effectively. 1. Punctuation Must be Parallel. When punctuation is parallel it means that interrupting a main clause with a dash or a comma requires the same punctuation at both the beginning and end of the clause.

How many punctuation marks are there in English?

There are 14 punctuation marks in English grammar, and, at minimum, one of them has to appear in every sentence, never mind every paragraph, to make it easily understood. The good news is, with fourteen different punctuation marks to choose from, variety will remain the spice of life.

When to use emdash?

A pair of emdashes might be used if the sentence already contains commas. Similarly, it might be used to mark off information for emphasis. An emdash can also act alone, drawing attention to a modifier or an extra piece of information.

Do you use a semicolon in a list?

Correct: The teenagers-students from Mrs. Smith's art class-went on a field trip to the museum. This rule also means that you should not use a semicolon to set off just one item in a list.

What does an apostrophe show?

Apostrophes Show Possession or Indicate an Omission. An apostrophe is used to show possession or ownership. An apostrophe and an -s should be added to singular possessive nouns, plural possessive nouns that do not end in -s, and singular possessive nouns that end in -s.

When to use colons in a sentence?

A Colon Appears at the End of a Main Clause. If you have trouble deciding when to use a colon in your writing, it helps to ask yourself if a period or question mark would be appropriate in the same location. If the sentence is already complete, you may use a colon to add a list, elaboration, or restatement.

What is a possessive noun that ends in a s?

Plural possessive nouns: the children's school. Plural possessive noun that ends in -s: my parents' house. An apostrophe can also be used to show that a letter has been omitted from a word to form a contraction. For example, "they're" is a contraction of "they are" and "it's" is a contraction of "it is.".

Why Talk About commas?

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