1105 Commas in a Series

Front

What is the purpose of using commas in a series?

Back

Commas in a series are used to separate three or more items in a list to clarify the meaning and improve readability.

Front

How do you punctuate a list of three items?

Back

You should place commas between the items, and use 'and' before the last item. For example: 'apples, oranges, and bananas'.

Front

What is the Oxford comma?

Back

The Oxford comma, also known as the serial comma, is the final comma in a list of items, placed before 'and' or 'or'. Its use can clarify meaning.

Front

When should you add a comma before 'and' in a list?

Back

You should add a comma before 'and' in a list if you are using the Oxford comma, which is optional but can prevent ambiguity.

Front

What change should be made to the sentence: 'He had never been on a plane bus train or bicycle!'?

Back

Add a comma after 'plane' to read: 'He had never been on a plane, bus, train, or bicycle!'.

Front

Which of the following sentences uses commas correctly? 'Ginny Marshall Steve and Fran went camping last weekend.'

Back

The correct sentence is: 'Ginny, Marshall, Steve, and Fran went camping last weekend.'.

Front

What change should be made to the sentence: 'At the fair the kids went on the Ferris wheel the tilt-o-wheel and the carousel.'?

Back

Add commas after 'Ferris wheel' and 'tilt-o-wheel' to read: 'At the fair, the kids went on the Ferris wheel, the tilt-o-wheel, and the carousel.'.

Front

What is the correct punctuation for the hobbies listed: 'Soccer reading and running are her favorite hobbies.'?

Back

Add a comma after 'Soccer' to read: 'Soccer, reading, and running are her favorite hobbies.'.

Front

Which sentence uses commas correctly? 'Sally is sweet pretty and nice.'

Back

The correct sentence is: 'Sally is sweet, pretty, and nice.'.

Front

What is the rule for using commas in a series of adjectives?

Back

Use commas to separate adjectives that equally modify a noun. For example: 'It was a long, tiring, and exhausting day.'.