Use Commas To Set Off Certain Words
- Students, take out your books for the next lesson! ...
- I am waiting, students, for your response! ...
- I would like to visit your assistant, Jeremy! ...
- Reverend Burns, our church minister, has helped our family work through the loss of our mother. ...
- We were all glad when our little brother stood up to Alexander, the biggest bully in school. ...
What are the different types of comma rules?
Punctuation Marks with Rules
- Period. One of the more common punctuation marks used at the end of most sentences. ...
- Question Mark. A question mark is used as a replacement for the period when the sentence is a question rather than a declaration.
- Exclamation Point. ...
- Comma. ...
- Semicolon. ...
- Colon. ...
- Dash. ...
- Hyphen. ...
- Parentheses. ...
- Apostrophe. ...
What are some basic comma rules?
Ten Easy Comma Rules
- Rule 1: Use a comma between items that are listed in a series, which contain three or more words or clauses.
- Rule 2: Use a comma when quoting the words of others.
- Rule 3: Use a comma when writing dates and addresses.
- Rule 4: Use a comma after introductory phrases.
What are the 8 rules for commas?
What are the 8 rules for commas?
- 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.
What are the rules for using commas correctly?
Where to use a comma in a sentence?
- Before a coordinating conjunction that joins two independent clauses– and, for, so, yet, but, or, nor You can come with me to the party, or you can go home with ...
- After each item in a list Eggs, fruits, and milk are all good breakfast foods.
- Before a quotation begins She said, “I will not be able to come to the workshop today.”
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 12 rules for commas?
ShareUse a comma to separate items in a list (but beware of the serial comma). ... Use a comma to join independent clauses. ... Use a comma to join a dependent clause and an independent clause. ... Use a comma following an introductory word group. ... Use a comma to interrupt a sentence or to provide additional information.More items...
What are the 4 rules for commas?
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Where do you put commas examples?
Use commas after introductory a) clauses, b) phrases, or c) words that come before the main clause. a. Common starter words for introductory clauses that should be followed by a comma include after, although, as, because, if, since, when, while. While I was eating, the cat scratched at the door.
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.
Can you have 3 commas in a sentence?
If you have sentences like, "Bob walked, to, the store, slowly" then yes, there are too many commas. But a sentence that contains a list could legitimately have many commas. Like, "He found a bottle, three coins, two keys, a small metal box, a pack of matches, some scraps of paper, and a patridge in a pear tree."
What are the 5 uses of a comma?
The five uses of the comma are:Separating the main elements of a sentence from each other.Setting off a parenthetical element from the rest of the sentence.Separating elements in a series.Setting off dialogs or quotations.Other uses of the comma.
What is the comma rule?
Quick Guide to Commas Use commas to separate independent clauses when they are joined by any of these seven coordinating conjunctions: and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet. Use commas after introductory a) clauses, b) phrases, or c) words that come before the main clause.
Can you have 2 commas in a sentence?
Use two commas, not one, to set off a nonrestrictive clause in the middle of a sentence. Incorrect: The city, a polyglot of different races and religions provided many opportunities for cultural exchange. Correct: The city, a polyglot of different races and religions, provided many opportunities for cultural exchange.
What is an example of a simple sentence?
A simple sentence has the most basic elements that make it a sentence: a subject, a verb, and a completed thought. Examples of simple sentences include the following: Joe waited for the train. The train was late.
How many commas can you use in a sentence?
1 Answer. There's no set limit, but it has to make sense, and their use can affect the meaning.
Do you put a comma before and in a sentence?
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.
When to put a comma in a sentence?
Normally, you should put a comma between two complete sentences that are joined with a coordinating conjunction (and, or, but, for, nor, so, yet) that creates a single sentence with two independent clauses:
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”.
Why do we use dashes in a sentence?
John went for a jog – which took half an hour – before having a long hot shower. Dashes are useful if you want to imply a longer pause, or draw more attention to the nonessential element of the sentence. They’re also useful if you have several other commas in the sentence, to help avoid confusion.
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.
Can you use a comma between two independent clauses?
Rule #9: Don’t Use a Comma Between Two Independent Clauses (Without a Conjuction) If you have two independent clauses, you can’t just use a comma to join them. You can use a semi-colon, or you can use a conjunction plus a comma. Incorrect: There were no clouds in the sky, I went for a jog.
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.
Do you put a comma after the adjective?
You shouldn’t put a comma after the final adjective. For example: He’s a cheerful, kind boy. A comma is used here, because it would also make sense to say, “He’s a cheerful and kind boy”. There’s a blue bath towel on your bed. Here, “bath” is acting as an adjective to modify “towel”, but it’s not coordinate with “blue”.
When to use a comma in a list?
When you have a list that contains more than two elements, use commas to separate them. Julie loves ice cream books and kittens. Julie loves ice cream, books, and kittens. Julie loves ice cream, books and kittens. (The comma before the and in a list of three or more items is optional.
What does a comma mean in a sentence?
While a period ends a sentence, a comma indicates a smaller break. Some writers think of a comma as a soft pause—a punctuation mark that separates words, clauses, or ideas within a sentence.
What is a nonrestrictive clause?
A nonrestrictive clause offers extra information about something you have mentioned in a sentence, but the information isn’t essential to identify the thing you’re talking about. Nonrestrictive clauses are usually introduced by which or who and should be set off by commas.
When to use parentheses in a sentence?
Parentheses are used to give additional information to the reader—information that would disrupt the flow of the sentence if written as a nonrestrictive clause. Commas may be placed after the closing parenthesis but not before either the opening or the closing parenthesis. If the sentence would not require any commas if the parenthetical statement were removed, the sentence should not have any commas when the parentheses are added.
When do you need a conjunction?
When you want to join two independent clauses , you need a conjunction or a semicolon. A comma alone isn’t strong enough to join them. This kind of mistake is called a comma splice.
When do you get a compound predicate?
You get a compound predicate when the subject of a sentence is doing more than one thing. In a compound predicate that contains two verbs, don’t separate them with a comma.
How to tell if an adjective is coordinate?
One way to tell whether the adjectives are coordinate is to try switching the order of them . If the sentence still sounds natural, the adjectives are coordinate.
How to avoid commas in a sentence?
To avoid comma mistakes, pay attention to the function of different words in your sentences and their relation to each other. A comma should generally not come between a verb (the action word) and its subject (the person or thing doing the action).
Why do we use commas in writing?
Commas are used to split up different parts of a sentence, and when used correctly they bring clarity and flow to your writing. They’re probably the most common piece of punctuation in English, which means that they’re often the most misused.
Why is it called a restrictive clause?
This is called a restrictive clause because it restricts the meaning of the sentence. Commas should not be used around a restrictive clause.
What is the comma used in a coordinating conjunction?
The clauses can be joined by a semicolon, a colon, or a coordinating conjunction ( for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so ). When two independent clauses are connected by a coordinating conjunction, always use a comma before the conjunction. Many scientists have tried to solve the problem, but none have succeeded.
What is a serial comma?
Serial commas. In lists, commas are used to separate each item, and the last item is separated by a conjunction ( and , or ). A comma before the conjunction, known as the serial comma or Oxford comma, is optional. Whether or not you choose to use it, make sure to be consistent. With serial comma.
Is there a comma after a dependent clause?
When a dependent clause comes after an independent clause, a comma is often not necessary, especially if it adds information that is essential to the meaning of the independent clause.
Do dogs have commas?
Dogs, cats, and tortoises have been known to act strangely before major seismic events. Dogs, cats and tortoises have been known to act strangely before major seismic events. Sometimes a serial comma is necessary for clarity. One example is when the final list item itself contains a conjunction.
What is a comma in a sentence?
Commas are punctuation marks that mostly indicate pauses in sentences. The tricky thing about commas is that most people struggle to know where to put commas in sentences. There is some flexibility but knowing the comma rules will help you take away the guess work and build confidence in your placement of commas.
How to use commas in a list?
Use commas with lists. Use commas to separate direct quotations. Use commas to set off certain words. Use commas after an introductory clause or phrase. Use commas to separate independent clauses. Use commas to set off participial phrases. Use commas between certain parts of address. Use commas to separate certain parts of a date.
When to use a comma after a date?
You will need to place a comma after the year when it appears in the middle of a sentence. Friday, November 30, 1991, was my graduation day.
When to put a comma after a participial phrase?
If the participial phrase is before the main clause, put the comma after the participial phrase. If the participial phrase is in the middle of the sentence , the participial phrase requires a comma before and after it. If the participial phrase is after the main clause, put a comma before the participial phrase.
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.
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.
Using Commas in a List
Commas are one of the most used forms of punctuation, aside from periods. They are also one of the most misused punctuation marks in written English. Often, people misremember what they are taught about commas in primary school.
How to Use Commas in a List
There are many rules for using commas in a series. Remember, placing a comma correctly will elevate your writing. Below are some series comma rules, and, for each rule, some comma in a series examples.
When do you put a comma after "although"?
A comma comes after an adverb clause only at the beginning of a sentence —not at the end. Usually starts with after although, as, if, because, until, when, et. CORRECT: Although I would like to go hiking, I must study organizational communication. CORRECT: I must study organizational communication after we go for a hike.
How to fix a comma in a sentence?
There are five ways to fix this: ( One ), put a period where the comma is, ( Two ), use a semicolon instead, ( Three ), use a semicolon, coordinating conjunction, ( fourth ), semicolon, conjunctive adverb, comma, ( fifth ), change one of the independent clauses to a dependent or fragment.
When do you put a comma before a coordinating conjunction?
1. A comma comes before a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) when both are independent clauses. CORRECT: I would love to go hiking, but I have to study organizational communication. INCORRECT: I would love to, but I have to study. EXPLANATION: In the correct sentence, both sentences in bold are independent clauses.
Is "then" a comma or semicolon?
Whenever a conjunctive adverb follows a semicolon, it must be followed by a comma. With the second example, whenever a “ then” is after a comma, a “and” must go in front of the “then” or else it makes the clause a fragment.
When do you not use fanboys?
When you do not use FANBOYS are when the ideas do not connect unless you have a point you are trying to achieve within the sentence, but the diction and word choice should support this point. Think of sentences as a formula you have to put together and punctuation can help you achieve that. 2.
Is there a comma after "because"?
The first incorrect example shows a comma before because it creates extra wordiness. Everything after the “because and comma” is just extra information that is usually not needed.