Comma Rules

Front

What is the purpose of using commas in a sentence?

Back

Commas are used to indicate a pause between parts of a sentence, to separate items in a list, to set off non-essential information, and to clarify meaning.

Front

How should dialogue be punctuated in a sentence?

Back

Dialogue should be enclosed in quotation marks, and a comma is used to separate the dialogue from the rest of the sentence.

Front

What is an example of a correctly punctuated dialogue sentence?

Back

John told his mom, "I'm going to go upstairs and finish my homework."

Front

When should commas be used in a list?

Back

Commas should be used to separate items in a list, including before the conjunction in a series (Oxford comma) if necessary.

Front

What is a compound sentence?

Back

A compound sentence consists of two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction, often requiring a comma before the conjunction.

Front

Provide an example of a compound sentence with correct comma usage.

Back

Sarah went to the store to get ingredients for a recipe, but she left her grocery list at home.

Front

What is the rule for using commas with introductory phrases?

Back

A comma should be placed after an introductory phrase or clause to separate it from the main clause.

Front

How should commas be used with dates and locations?

Back

Commas should be used to separate the elements of a date and to separate the city from the state or country.

Front

Where should a comma be placed in the sentence: 'Abraham Lincoln was born in Hodgenville Kentucky on February 12, 1809.'?

Back

A comma should be placed after 'Hodgenville': 'Abraham Lincoln was born in Hodgenville, Kentucky on February 12, 1809.'

Front

What is a non-essential clause?

Back

A non-essential clause provides additional information but can be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence; it should be set off by commas.