Commas in a series

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

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 make the sentence clearer.

Front

How do you correctly use commas in a series?

Back

You place a comma between each item in the list and before the conjunction (like 'and' or 'or') that precedes the last item.

Front

Example of a correct sentence using commas in a series:

Back

I bought apples, oranges, bananas, and grapes.

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 to avoid ambiguity.

Front

Is the following sentence correct? 'I like pizza, pasta and salad.'

Back

No, it should be 'I like pizza, pasta, and salad.' with a comma before 'and'.

Front

What change needs to be made in the sentence: 'I need to buy milk eggs and bread.'?

Back

Add commas: 'I need to buy milk, eggs, and bread.'

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When do you not need a comma in a series?

Back

You do not need a comma in a series when there are only two items, e.g., 'I like apples and oranges.'

Front

Correct the sentence: 'For breakfast I had eggs toast and juice.'

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'For breakfast, I had eggs, toast, and juice.'

Front

What is a common mistake when using commas in a series?

Back

A common mistake is forgetting to add a comma before the conjunction in a list.