Commas, commas and more commas

Front

What is the purpose of a comma 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 after an introductory phrase?

Back

A comma should be used after an introductory phrase to separate it from the main clause of the sentence.

Front

How do you use commas in a list?

Back

Commas are used to separate items in a list, except for the last item, which is usually preceded by 'and' or 'or'.

Front

What is a direct address in a sentence?

Back

A direct address is when you speak directly to someone, and their name or title is set off by commas.

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

What is an independent clause?

Back

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

Front

What is a dependent clause?

Back

A dependent clause cannot stand alone as a sentence and usually begins with a subordinating conjunction like 'although' or 'because'.

Front

How do you punctuate a sentence with a direct address?

Back

You place commas before and after the name or title of the person being addressed.

Front

What is the rule for using commas with adjectives?

Back

Use commas to separate two or more adjectives that equally describe a noun, but do not use commas if the adjectives are cumulative.

Front

What is the Oxford comma?

Back

The Oxford comma is the final comma in a list of items, placed before 'and' or 'or'. Its use is often debated.