Commas & FANBOYS

Front

What does the acronym FANBOYS stand for?

Back

FANBOYS is an acronym for the coordinating conjunctions: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So.

Front

When should a comma be used with FANBOYS?

Back

A comma should be used before a FANBOYS conjunction when it connects two independent clauses.

Front

Is this comma usage correct? 'The bird, and the squirrel fought over the acorn.'

Back

No, it is incorrect. The comma before 'and' is unnecessary because it does not connect two independent clauses.

Front

Which sentence uses commas correctly? 'Our apartment walls are very thin, so we can hear our neighbors talking.'

Back

This sentence is correct because it uses a comma before 'so' to connect two independent clauses.

Front

What is an independent clause?

Back

An independent clause is a group of words that can stand alone as a sentence; it has a subject and a verb.

Front

What is a dependent clause?

Back

A dependent clause cannot stand alone as a sentence; it does not express a complete thought.

Front

Which is the correct way to write: 'Neither wind nor gale can keep Freddy Krueger from watching the latest My Little Pony episode.'

Back

The correct way is: 'Neither wind nor gale can keep Freddy Krueger from watching the latest My Little Pony episode.' No commas are needed.

Front

What is the purpose of using commas in a sentence?

Back

Commas are used to indicate a pause, separate items in a list, or clarify meaning in a sentence.

Front

Is this sentence correct? 'She is the head of the cheerleading squad and she just started soccer practice.'

Back

Yes, it is correct. However, a comma before 'and' can improve clarity: 'She is the head of the cheerleading squad, and she just started soccer practice.'

Front

What is a compound sentence?

Back

A compound sentence is made up of two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) and a comma.