Commas

Front

What is a comma?

Back

A comma is a punctuation mark (,) used to indicate a pause between parts of a sentence or to separate items in a list.

Front

When should commas be used in a list?

Back

Commas should be used to separate three or more items in a 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'. It is used for clarity, e.g., "I love my parents, Lady Gaga, and Humpty Dumpty."

Front

How do commas function in compound sentences?

Back

Commas are used before conjunctions (like 'and', 'but', 'or') to separate independent clauses in compound sentences, e.g., "I wanted to go for a walk, but it started to rain."

Front

What is a common mistake when using commas in sentences?

Back

A common mistake is to place a comma before 'and' in a simple list, e.g., "I like apples, oranges and bananas." (should be "apples, oranges, and bananas").

Front

When should commas be used after introductory phrases?

Back

Commas should be used after introductory phrases or clauses, e.g., "After dinner, we went for a walk."

Front

What is the rule for using commas with adjectives?

Back

Use commas to separate two or more coordinate adjectives that describe the same noun, e.g., "It was a long, exhausting day."

Front

How do commas help clarify meaning in sentences?

Back

Commas help clarify meaning by indicating pauses and separating ideas, which can change the meaning of a sentence, e.g., "Let's eat, Grandma!" vs. "Let's eat Grandma!"

Front

What is a non-restrictive clause?

Back

A non-restrictive clause adds extra information to a sentence and is set off by commas, e.g., "My brother, who lives in New York, is visiting."

Front

When should commas be used with direct address?

Back

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