The essential comma rules are as follows:
- A comma is usually placed between main clauses. Also, it separates main and subordinate clauses if these are at the...
- “I don’t have any time left, and my car is broken.” This statement is a combination of two main clauses and, therefore,...
- This statement is a combination of two main clauses and, therefore, requires a comma.
- “ Yes, I know him.”
- 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 of using commas?
The mantra is “warm but strict” and there are clear rules. Every morning pupils line up while teachers check that they have the correct uniform, equipment and books. There are sanctions if they forget a pen, wear the wrong shoes or arrive late. Mobile phones must be switched off at the gate.
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.
When to use commas correctly?
The series is also recommended and used by newcomer Fram, who posts openly about her teachings and political views on Twitter, including tweeting about how police should be abolished and why she prefers 'mom' and 'dad' to be called 'the adults who take care of you.'
How to use commas correctly?
Lindsay Fram, also known as 'Sexually Smart' on Twitter, is expected to teach four sessions next month at Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School in ... Fonte was also blasted for using the controversial Amaze sex education video series, which teach kids ...
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 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 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 grammar rule for using commas in a sentence?
Use commas to separate independent clauses when they are joined by any of these seven coordinating conjunctions: and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet. Example: I love vanilla ice cream, but my brother prefers chocolate. Use commas after introductory a) clauses, b) phrases, or c) words that come before the main clause.
What are the 7 rules of 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 4 types of commas?
There are four types of comma: the listing comma, the joining comma, the gapping comma and bracketing commas.
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
How do you use commas in a list of three?
As mentioned above, when you are listing three or more items, commas should separate each element of the list. However, the final comma—the one that comes before the and—is optional. This comma is called the serial comma or the Oxford comma. Whether or not you use the serial comma is a style choice.14-Jan-2021
Does the comma go before or after but?
When Do You Need a Comma Before 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.
Do I need a comma in this sentence?
Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, for, nor, yet, so) that connects two complete sentences (independent clauses). Use a comma after an introductory element (like a dependent clause or a long phrase) to make the sentence easier to read. Use commas to separate elements in series.
Do we need comma before because?
Because is a subordinating conjunction, which means that it connects a subordinate clause to an independent clause; good style dictates that there should be no comma between these two clauses. An exception can and should be made when the lack of a comma would cause ambiguity.
How many commas should be in a sentence?
Last but not least, use a comma to separate three or more items. You can use two commas for three items, or if you're like me you obsess over the Oxford Comma. That's the little comma that can be arguable both necessary and unnecessary, and is after the last item listed in the series.04-Aug-2018
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.
How to know if a comma is needed?
Another way to determine if a comma is needed is to mentally put and between the two adjectives. If the result still makes sense, add the comma. In the examples above, a strong and healthy man makes sense, but an expensive and summer resort does not. Rule 3a.
When is a comma unnecessary?
A comma is usually unnecessary when the sentence starts with an independent clause followed by a dependent clause. Example: Let me know now if you are not sure about this. Rule 5. Use commas to set off nonessential words, clauses, and phrases (see Who, That, Which, Rule 2b).
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.
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.
Do fiction books use commas?
Fiction and nonfiction books generally prefer the Oxford comma. Writers must decide Oxford or no Oxford and not switch back and forth, except when omitting the Oxford comma could cause confusion as in the cheese and crackers example. Rule 2. Use a comma to separate two adjectives when the order of the adjectives is interchangeable.
Do newspapers use the Oxford comma?
Most newspapers and magazine s drop the Oxford comma in a simple series, apparently feeling it's unnecessary. However, omission of the Oxford comma can sometimes lead to misunderstandings. Example: We had coffee, cheese and crackers and grapes.
When to use a comma in a quote?
Use a comma when you’re quoting someone or when a character is speaking in dialogue. When the quote comes first in the sentence, put the comma inside the quotation marks.
When to put commas after date?
When you’re including dates in a sentence, you need to add commas after the year, as well as after the day of the week. On Friday, May 13, 2009, I turned 12 years old. President Roosevelt called December 7, 1941, a day that would live in infamy. April 19, 1775, was the day that the American Revolution began.
What is an intro clause?
Introductory clauses and phrases are groups of words that come before an independent clause in a sentence. When you start a sentence with a dependent clause, you follow it with a comma (just like that sentence!).
What is a non-defining clause?
Non-defining clauses add more details about a noun in a sentence, but they’re not essential. The sentence still makes sense when you remove them. Use commas to separate non-defining relative clauses from the rest of your sentence.
Do you need a comma at the end of a sentence?
If you add these phrases to the end of the sentence, they don’t require commas. For example, “The dog barked at me to scare me away” doesn’t need a comma to separate the infinitive phrase from the rest of the sentence. 3. Use Commas After Introductory Adverbs and Mild Interjections.
Can a comma be used instead of a conjunction?
Commas are powerful, but they can’t function in the same way as conjunctions. Using a comma instead of a conjunction is known as a comma splice, and it’s a common grammatical error. It looks like this:
Do you need a comma when writing a list of nouns?
When you’re writing a list of nouns, verbs, or any other part of speech, you’ll need to include commas to separate them. The same goes for a list of phrases and clauses.
When to use commas?
Use commas to separate three or more words, phrases, or clauses written in a series. Example: George traveled to Spain, France, and Germany. Use commas to separate two or more coordinate adjectives that describe the same noun.
When to use commas in a sentence?
Use commas to separate independent clauses when they are joined by any of these seven coordinating conjunctions: and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet.#N#Example: I love vanilla ice cream, but my brother prefers chocolate.
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.
How to use commas in a sentence?
Use commas to separate items in a series. I own goats, chickens, geese, and cattle. The dog jumped over the fence, growled at me, and raced up a tree. Unless you come right home, unless you clean up your room, unless you finish your homework, you can't go anywhere. • 3.
What does a comma mean in a sentence?
Comma is a punctuation mark that groups and separates words within a sentence. It indicates a pause. Below are some of the most common comma use cases. •1. Use a comma before and, but, or, nor, for, yet, and so when these words connect two independent clauses.
Where is the comma in a sentence?
A comma is usually placed between main clauses. Also, it separates main and subordinate clauses if these are at the beginning of a complex sentence ( Note: Commas are also often put before connecting words, such as ‘and, but, or’, etc.): “I don’t have any time left, and my car is broken.”.
Is a comma liberal?
In general, the use of commas is relatively liberal in the English language. This lack of rigidity means that commas in texts may not be as frequent as in other languages and, thus, rather scarce. The essential comma rules are as follows: A comma is usually placed between main clauses. Also, it separates main and subordinate clauses ...
Do you need a comma in a subordinate clause?
Here, a subordinate clause starts the complex sentence. A comma is needed. Relative clauses that are not necessary for the understanding of the statement are separated by commas (for details see defining and non-defining relative clauses ): “My sister, who knows a lot about geography, helps me with my homework.”.
What does a comma show in a sentence?
While a period closes a sentence, a comma shows a little break. A few essayists think about a comma as a delicate respite—an accentuation stamp that isolates words, conditions, or thoughts inside a sentence.
When to use a comma before "but"?
Use a comma before the word but if it is joining two independent clauses: Example: Max is a good singer but she’s an even better dancer. Max is a good singer, but she’s an even better dancer. If but is not joining two independent clauses, leave the comma out. Example:
How long does it take to learn punctuation?
Learning Punctuation / 7 minutes of reading. There are so many punctuation marks in the English Language, but there some among them which are the most abused and misused. And it’s no wonder. There are lots of rules about comma usage, and often the factors that determine whether you should use one are quite subtle. But don’t worry!
When to use commas in a date?
How to Use Commas in Dates. When writing a date in month-day-year format, set off the year with commas. Example: July 4, 1776, was an important day in American history. I was born on Sunday, May 12, 1968. If you are using the day-month-year format, however, commas are unnecessary.
When do you get a compound predicate?
You get a compound predicate when the subject of a sentence is accomplishing in excess of a certain something. In a compound predicate that contains two action words, don’t separate them with a comma. Examples: Cleo will sing, and play the banjo. Cleo will sing and play the banjo.
When to use a comma in an intensifying expression?
At the point when a word intensifying expression starts a sentence, it’s frequently trailed by a comma yet it doesn’t need to be, particularly if it’s short. As a standard guideline, if the expression is longer than around four words, utilize the comma.
Do you put a comma between a subject and action word?
With a couple of special cases, a comma ought not to separate a subject from its action word. Example: My companion Cleo, is a great vocalist. Experts are frequently enticed to embed a comma between a subject and action word along these lines since speakers once in a while stop by then in a sentence.
Why do we put commas in sentences?
Sometimes commas are used to indicate omitted material in a sentence that can be understood from context: The little old lady’s statement took forty-five minutes; mine, four hours. However, if you don’t need these commas for clarity, don’t use them.
When to put a comma before "fanboys"?
When two independent clauses that each contain a subject and a verb are connected by for, and , nor, but, or, yet, or so (a list of coordinating conjunctions also known by the acronym FANBOYS), put a comma before the FANBOYS.
Do you put a comma at the beginning of a sentence?
This lets your reader know the main action of the sentence is yet to come.
Do you separate a noun with a comma?
Two adjectives that modify one noun should be separated by commas if they both have the same descriptive force: The silly, frightened purse-snatcher dropped the purse with all its contents.
Commas and Independent Clauses
Commas and Introductory Clauses
- Sometimes commas connect a dependent clause to an independent clause. A dependent clause has a subject and a verb, but does not express a complete thought so cannot stand alone as a sentence. When an independent clause is connected to one or more dependent clauses, it’s called a complex sentence. If there are two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent c…
Commas and Parenthetical Phrases
- Commas can set apart phrases in a sentence that don’t fit with the main clause. You might otherwise set these phrases apart with parentheses, colons, or em dashes. There are several types of parenthetical phrases that commas can set apart. First are non-restrictive clauses or non-restrictive phrases. These are types of appositive phrases that modify a noun but are not require…
Commas and Quotation Marks
- Use a comma before the quotation marks if a quote is at the end of a sentence. 1. Rick said, “I’m never going to give you up or let you down.” If the quote is at the beginning of a sentence, place the comma just before the closing quotation mark. 1. “I’m never going to give you up or let you down,” Rick said. Sometimes we use quotation marks around...
Commas in Dates
- We use commas when we write dates. There are several ways to write dates, so let’s look at a few of them. If you’re only writing out the date, and it’s not in a sentence, place the comma after the day and before the year. If you are leaving off the year, no comma is necessary. 1. June 19, 1990 2. June 19 Sometimes, you might include the day of the week. In this case, use a comma after th…
Commas in Addresses
- We use commas when we write addresses. When you’re addressing a letter, place a comma between the city and state. No other commas are required. 123 E. Main St. Anywhere, TX 70111 Sometimes we need to write addresses in a single line. In this case, place commas in the following places. 1. After the recipient’s name 2. After the street address 3. Before and after an a…
Commas in A List
- Commas separate items in a list. We place a comma between each item in a list. However, the final comma, or the comma before the conjunction, is a highly debated rule in English grammar. This final comma is called an Oxford commaor a serial comma. You can choose to use the serial comma or not; both are grammatically correct. Here’s an example of a sentence with the Oxford …
Commas and Transition Words
- We use commas after transition words or phrases and before the rest of the sentence. Transition words include however, therefore, finally, or for example. Let’s look an example sentence. 1. Starting transition word: Finally, we made it to the party after a crazy adventure. We use commas to set transition words off when they occur in the middle of a sentence or the end of a sentence, …
Commas in Numbers
- We use commas in ordinal numbersbetween hundreds, thousands, millions, etc. In non-math terms, that’s every three places except in numbers under 1,000. Here are some examples of how to use commas in numbers. 1. 3,000 2. 2,450,900 3. 320,812
Commas in Names and Titles
- A comma separates a person’s academic or professional title from their name. If the name and title are in the middle of a sentence, place a comma after the title, too. 1. Jane Doe, MD 2. The keynote speaker is Michelle Garcia, Ph.D. 3. You have an appointment with Robert Marley, CPA, at 2 p.m. tomorrow. It is no longer standard to place a comma before “Jr.” or “Sr.” in a person’s na…