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 you use a comma before 'and' in a list?

Back

You should use a comma before 'and' in a list when it separates the last two items in a series, known as the Oxford comma.

Front

How do you use commas in direct address?

Back

Use commas to separate the name of the person being addressed from the rest of the sentence. For example: 'Can you help me, Sarah?'.

Front

What is the rule for using commas with introductory phrases?

Back

Use a comma after an introductory phrase or clause to separate it from the main part of the sentence. For example: 'After dinner, we went for a walk.'

Front

When should you use a comma in dates?

Back

Use commas to separate the day from the year in a date. For example: 'She was born on December 13, 1989.'

Front

How do you use commas in compound sentences?

Back

Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) when it connects two independent clauses. For example: 'I wanted to go, but it was raining.'

Front

What is a common mistake when using commas?

Back

A common mistake is to use a comma to separate a subject from its verb, which is incorrect. For example: 'The dog, barks loudly.' should be 'The dog barks loudly.'

Front

How do you use commas with adjectives?

Back

Use commas to separate two or more adjectives that equally describe a noun. For example: 'It was a long, tiring day.'

Front

What is the purpose of a comma in a sentence?

Back

The purpose of a comma is to clarify meaning by indicating pauses, separating elements, and organizing information within a sentence.

Front

When should you not use a comma?

Back

Do not use a comma to separate a subject from its verb or to separate two items that are closely related.