- i. Comma between Independent Clauses. Usually, a comma separates two independent clauses when they are connected by certain coordinating conjunctions ( and, but, or, nor, or for ).
- iv. Comma before Tag Question. Commas are used before a tag question which is usually a reassuring statement of a sentence’s overall idea.
- v. Comma in Direct Address. Commas are used in vocative uses. Calling someone by name or directly referring to them requires separation by commas.
- vi. Comma for Adding Nonessential Ideas and Nonrestrictive Clauses. Commas can be used to add nonessential ideas or facts in the form of words, phrases, or clauses into a sentence.
- vii. Commas in Names and Dates. Commas are used to separate names of places and dates. Jefferson City, Missouri, is one of the biggest cities in the world.
When to use and with a comma?
1 : a punctuation mark, used especially as a mark of separation within the sentence. 2 : pause, interval. 3 : any of several nymphalid butterflies (genus Polygonia) with a silvery comma …
What are the rules for using a comma?
Commas and periods are the most frequently used punctuation marks. Commas customarily indicate a brief pause; they're not as final as periods. Rule 1. Use commas to separate words and word groups in a simple series of three or more items. Example: My estate goes to my husband, son, daughter-in-law, and nephew.
How to use commas correctly?
Using Commas to Separate a Sentence’s Elements Commas provide clarity, particularly in sentences that contain several different elements. Always use commas to separate the elements of a series of three or more things, particularly the last two. “She saddled her horse, hopped on, and rode off into the sunset.”
How, why and when to use commas correctly in writing?
Comma (,) is a type of Punctuation mark, and used as a separator within sentences, allowing for a short pause. It is a smallest break value within a sentence’s structure. When two independent clauses are joined by one of the coordinating conjunctions (and), (or), (but), (for) and (nor), we can use comma before the coordinating conjunctions.
What is comma and examples?
Commas and periods are the most frequently used punctuation marks. Commas customarily indicate a brief pause; they're not as final as periods. Rule 1. Use commas to separate words and word groups in a simple series of three or more items. Example: My estate goes to my husband, son, daughter-in-law, and nephew.
What is a comma in a sentence?
A comma marks a slight break between different parts of a sentence. Used properly, commas make the meaning of sentences clear by grouping and separating words, phrases, and clauses.
What is coma in grammar?
A comma is a punctuation mark that represents a short pause and is used to divide parts of a sentence. A comma usually resembles a dot with a tail (,) and is placed at the bottom of a line of text or writing.23-Feb-2022
What are the 5 uses of a comma?
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 4 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.
How do you use punctuation?
Punctuation shows how the sentence should be read and makes the meaning clear. Every sentence should include at least a capital letter at the start, and a full stop, exclamation mark or question mark at the end. This basic system indicates that the sentence is complete.
What is the difference between coma and comma?
The word coma used to describe the gas cloud around a comet comes from the Greek word kome which means hair on the head. A comma is a punctuation mark (,) that indicates a pause in speech. A comma is used to separate a clause or phrase or in a list.
Examples of comma in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web Every word, every comma, every quote mark, every proper name spelled out. — New York Times, 19 June 2021 Cousin to the comma, niece or nephew to the colon, this kindred outcast yearns for connection. — Gary Gilson, Star Tribune, 26 June 2021
Kids Definition of comma
What made you want to look up comma? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
When to use a comma in a sentence?
Example: That is my money, not yours. Rule 16a. Use a comma before and after certain introductory words or terms , such as namely, that is, i.e., e.g., and for instance, when they are followed by a series of items.
When to use a comma in an introduction?
If such a phrase contains more than one preposition, a comma may be used unless a verb immediately follows the phrase.
What is the most commonly used punctuation mark?
Commas and periods are the most frequently used punctuation marks. Commas customarily indicate a brief pause; they're not as final as periods. Rule 1. Use commas to separate words and word groups in a simple series of three or more items. Example: My estate goes to my husband, son, daughter-in-law, and nephew.
Why do we use commas in sentences?
Using Commas to Separate a Sentence’s Elements. Commas provide clarity, particularly in sentences that contain several different elements. Always use commas to separate the elements of a series of three or more things, particularly the last two.
Do writers use quotes?
Many writers use quoted material rarely, if ever. Because it’s fairly uncommon to use quotes in everyday writing, this rule can be difficult to remember. If ever in doubt, find a page from an article that incorporates several quotations and uses it as a model for constructing sentences with quotes.
Is it necessary to put a comma after a sentence?
While it is not always necessary to use a comma after a sentence’s introductory element, it’s usually a good idea to do so since omission can lead to hesitancy or confusion.
Introduction to commas
A comma helps to make meaning clear by separating words, phrases or clauses in a sentence.
Commas and adjectives
Commas can also be used to separate#N#coordinate adjectives#N#. We can describe#N#adjectives#N#as coordinate when the order is not important. They can be rearranged in front of a :
Commas and direct speech
Commas are used to punctuate#N#direct speech#N#by separating the#N#reporting clause#N#and 'introducing' the speech:
What is the Oxford comma?
The Oxford comma is also known as the serial or Harvard. It was first defined as the stylistic element of English grammar by Oxford University. It was in Oxford where people first began to use this punctuation mark in a sentence before the conjunction when listing several elements in order to avoid the confusion.
Do newspapers use commas?
Most newspapers and magazines drop the Oxford comma in a simple series, apparently feeling that it is unnecessary. The Associated Press Style - the style that journalists adhere to, does not require the use of the Oxford comma. However, according to the academic writing standards, you cannot skip this punctuation mark.
Do journalists use commas?
Most of the stylistic guides for journalists do not recommend using the Oxford comma. Other publications, for example, from the University of Oxford, consider its use mandatory. There are many discussions and disputes on this topic taking place in journalistic circles.
Is there a comma in English?
In English, both American and British, the question of the Oxford comma use is sometimes difficult to answer. Some grammar experts claim that this serial punctuation mark causes nothing but confusion, whereas others are convinced it allows you to put accents in the sentence right. So what is the Oxford comma?
Why do we put a comma in a sentence?
It's a common idea that a comma indicates a pause where a reader or speaker should take a breath, but simply adding commas when you feel a break is needed is not a reliable way to make sure you're punctuating your sentences correctly.
What is a comma splice?
A comma splice is when two independent clauses are incorrectly joined by a comma to make one sentence. To avoid comma splices, you first need to be able to identify an independent clause.
What is dependent clause?
A dependent clause often begins with a word that is meant to connect it to another sentence and cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. For example: When I went to the mall. Because "when" is added to the clause, it is no longer a complete sentence on its own.
What is a comma in writing?
Since the 16th century, the word comma has referred to the mark that sets off words, phrases, and clauses. Keep in mind that these four guidelines for using commas effectively are only guidelines: there are no unbreakable rules for using commas.
What is the most popular punctuation mark?
The most popular mark of punctuation, the comma (,) is also the least law-abiding. In Greek, the komma was a "piece cut off" from a line of verse—what in English today we'd call a phrase or a clause. Since the 16th century, the word comma has referred to the mark that sets off words, phrases, and clauses.
Who wrote the grammar manual of composition and rhetoric?
By the end of the industrious 19th century, grammarians had come to de-emphasize the elocutionary role of punctuation, as John Seely Hart noted in his 1892 "A Manual of Composition and Rhetoric."
What is punctuation in writing?
Punctuation is the set of marks used to regulate texts and clarify their meanings, mainly by separating or linking words, phrases, and clauses. The word comes from the Latin word punctuare meaning "making a point.". Marks of punctuation include ampersands, apostrophes, asterisks, brackets, bullets, colons, commas, dashes, diacritic marks, ellipsis, ...
When was the exclamation point used?
The exclamation point has been used since the 17th century to indicate strong emotion, such as surprise, wonder, disbelief, or pain. Here are the present-day guidelines for using periods, question marks, and exclamation points . Example of multiple types of punctuation from "Peanuts" by Charles Schulz:
Who is Richard Nordquist?
Dr. Richard Nordquist is professor emeritus of rhetoric and English at Georgia Southern University and the author of several university-level grammar and composition textbooks. Punctuation is the set of marks used to regulate texts and clarify their meanings, mainly by separating or linking words, phrases, and clauses.
What is the best way to end a sentence?
There are only three ways to end a sentence: with a period (.), a question mark (?), or an exclamation point (!). And because most of us state far more often than we question or exclaim, the period is by far the most popular end mark of punctuation. The American period, by the way, is more commonly known as a full stop in British English. Since around 1600, both terms have been used to describe the mark (or the long pause) at the end of a sentence.