What is the proper way to use commas?
Use commas to separate things in a list or series.
- For example, here is a list separated by commas: “At the store I will buy apples, oranges, pears, and bananas.”
- Do not place commas before or after the list or series. ...
- Do not use commas when all the items in a series are linked by and, or, or nor. ...
What are the rules for using a comma?
- Commas don't just signify pauses in a sentence — precise rules govern when to use this punctuation mark.
- Commas are needed before coordinating conjunctions, after dependent clauses (when they precede independent clauses), and to set off appositives.
- The Oxford comma reduces ambiguity in lists.
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How, why and when to use commas correctly in writing?
Why and when to use commas
- Connecting two independent clauses. You can use commas to connect two completely independent phrases. ...
- Eliminate confusion. Writing without commas can become a confusing read. ...
- Separate items. We use commas to separate several list items in one sentence. ...
- Introductory adverbs. ...
- Address elements. ...
- Full dates. ...
- Summary. ...
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 5 ways to use 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...
Do I need a comma in this sentence?
The following are the different circumstances that require a comma be used. Use a comma before any coordinating conjunction that links two independent clauses. Use a comma after a dependent clause that starts a sentence. Use commas to offset appositives from the rest of the sentence.
Where should the comma go in this sentence?
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.Jan 14, 2021
When should I use a 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.
Do we put comma before or?
Should you use a comma before or? The answer depends on how you are using or. Always place a comma before or when it begins an independent clause, but if it begins a dependent clause, don't. In a series (or list) of three or more items, you can use a comma before or, but this is a preference, not a rule.
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”.
Why do we put a comma in a sentence?
Simply put, a comma helps a sentence make sense. Similar to how a person’s voice might pause or change in pitch when talking, a comma signals readers to a quick pause or shift in tone.
Why do we use commas in writing?
The Final Word on when to use a Comma. Commas are intended to make your writing clearer by separating words, phrases, and clauses. All the “rules” are not intended to generate anxiety as you write. The best way to overcome your worry is to strengthen your understanding.
What are conjunctive adverbs?
A conjunctive adverb is defined as an adverb that joins two sentences together and usually appears near the middle of a sentence. Examples of conjunctive adverbs include: 1 however 2 nevertheless 3 therefore 4 consequently 5 besides 6 finally 7 similarly 8 meanwhile
How to use a comma with an appositive?
In writing, an appositive’s grammatical function involves placing a noun or noun phrase near another noun to provide more information about that noun. Using an appositive is a simple way of adding extra information about the noun.
What is the comma after "showered"?
An Oxford comma, or serial comma, is the final comma in a list. In the examples above, the serial or Oxford comma appears after the words “showered” and “cards.”. Some style guides, such as the AP Stylebook, don’t require the Oxford comma, but for the most part, using the Oxford comma is a good rule to follow to avoid misreading the sentence.
When to avoid a comma splice?
Avoid Creating a Comma Splice. A comma splice occurs when you join two complete sentences with a comma. If each part of the sentence could stand alone and make sense, you should use a semicolon or period in place of the comma. The period is preferred unless the second sentence is integral to the first.
What is a coordinating conjunction?
Think of a coordinating conjunction as a word that joins two complete thoughts into one with equal emphasis on both parts of the sentence. Coordinating conjunctions are these words: for. and.
When to use a comma?
). Use a comma after every three numbers when a number is bigger than 999 ( 1,000,000 ).
How to use a comma in a sentence?
Use a Comma in these situations: 1 After a dependent clause at the beginning of a sentence 2 After introductory adverbs and phrases like although, interestingly, and in fact. 3 After a freestanding “yes” or “no” 4 After directly addressing someone 5 Before coordinating conjunctions (like and, but, for, or, nor, yet, so) that join two independent clauses 6 To offset nonessential or nonrestrictive clauses 7 To offset appositives 8 To offset interrupters and parenthetical elements 9 Before question tags 10 To separate list items 11 After the day in the month-day-year format 12 Between the day of the week and a date in the day-month-year format 13 After every three numbers for numbers greater than 999 14 To separate cities from states 15 To separate proper names from titles 16 Between coordinate adjectives 17 Between attributive tags and quotations 18 Inside quotation marks in American English
What is the rule for using a comma in a dialogue?
Rule: Use a comma between dialogue tags and quotations. An attributive tag, or dialogue tag, identifies the speaker. For example, “she said” and “the professor explained” are attributive tags. Attributive tags can appear at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence.
Why do you put a comma in a video game?
Unlike an apostrophe, use a comma to separate words, not letters. It helps to think of commas in video game terms. Using a comma is like hitting the pause button on a sentence. You can resume your game—or sentence—when you’re ready.
Why do we put commas in writing?
Commas helps add clarity to your writing. For example, commas can indicate a pause or transition. What’s more, commas can help join ideas and make the relationships between them clearer. Generally, nonrestrictive clauses need commas. On the other hand, restrictive clauses do not need commas.
What is a comma in a list?
A comma is a punctuation mark that creates a soft pause. A comma separates words, not letters. Use a comma to separate coordinate adjectives ( We enjoyed the warm, sunny weather ). Use commas to separate items in a list. Use the Oxford or serial comma before the last item in a list to clarify the list. Put a comma after introductory words, phrases, ...
Why don't you put a comma in a sentence?
If the meaning does change, then you don’t need a comma. This is because the word or phrase represents a restrictive or essential clause. In other words, there is something that restricts us from removing it from the sentence. It is essential to the meaning of the sentence.
4 types of commas
When trying to decide if your sentence needs a comma, it can help to think about four types, or common uses, of commas.
The 8 rules for commas
Commas have many uses. It can be helpful to keep these eight rules in mind so you can use them correctly.
How to use commas in your writing
When you’re writing, it can help to keep in mind situations when you don’t need a comma. Here are some ways commas are often misused.
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.
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.
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.
What is a comma in writing?
October 22, 2020 Writing Tips. Even professional writers struggle with commas. In theory, everyone knows what a comma is—it’s a pause between parts of a sentence. In practice, though, it can be difficult to figure out where commas actually belong. Here’s a quick, user-friendly guide to help you master the comma in your everyday writing.
Why do we put commas in sentences?
(Pro tip: That rarely works.) Commas confuse us perhaps because there are so many rules for using them, and also because comma usage varies by style.
What is a conjunction in a sentence?
Conjunctions are words that link other words, phrases, or clauses together. There are different types of conjunctions, but for now, we’ll keep it simple. (You’re welcome!) When should you use commas with conjunctions?
Is there a comma before "because"?
Its job is straightforward—it introduces a “clause of purpose.” A clause beginning with because answers the question “Why?” There’s usually no comma before because.
Do professional writers use commas?
Even professional writers struggle with commas. In theory, everyone knows what a comma is—it’s a pause between parts of a sentence. In practice, though, it can be difficult to figure out where commas actually belong. Here’s a quick, user-friendly guide to help you master the comma in your everyday writing.
Is the Oxford comma a real comma?
The Oxford comma is an infamous example. The Associated Press (AP) Stylebook doesn’t ban the Oxford comma, but the guide recommends using it only when necessary for clarity. The Chicago Manual of Style, on the other hand, favors the Oxford comma. It’s a real comma conundrum! #oxfordcomma https://t.co/fGHbj2lXky.
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.