Commas

Front

What is the purpose of using commas in a sentence?

Back

Commas are used to indicate a pause between parts of a sentence, separate items in a list, and clarify meaning.

Front

When should you use a comma before a conjunction?

Back

A comma should be used before a conjunction (like 'and', 'but', 'or') when it connects two independent clauses.

Front

How do you punctuate a city and state in a sentence?

Back

A comma should be placed between the city and the state, e.g., 'I live in New York, New York.'

Front

What is the correct way to address a letter?

Back

The salutation of a letter should be followed by a comma, e.g., 'Dear John,'.

Front

When listing three or more items, how should commas be used?

Back

Commas should be used to separate each item in the list, e.g., 'I bought apples, oranges, and bananas.'

Front

What is the Oxford comma?

Back

The Oxford comma is the final comma in a list of items, placed before 'and' or 'or', e.g., 'I like apples, bananas, and cherries.'

Front

How do you use commas with introductory phrases?

Back

A comma should be placed after an introductory phrase or clause, e.g., 'After dinner, we went for a walk.'

Front

What is a common mistake when using commas in sentences?

Back

A common mistake is to omit the comma before a conjunction in a compound sentence.

Front

How should you punctuate a direct address in a sentence?

Back

A comma should be used to separate the name of the person being addressed from the rest of the sentence, e.g., 'Can you help me, Sarah?'.

Front

When should commas be used in dates?

Back

Commas should be used to separate the day from the year in a full date, e.g., 'July 4, 1776'.