Commas, Ellipses and Dashes

Front

What is a comma?

Back

A punctuation mark used to indicate a pause between parts of a sentence or to separate items in a list.

Front

When should a comma be used after an introductory phrase?

Back

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

Front

What is an ellipsis?

Back

A series of three dots (...) used to indicate the omission of words or a pause in speech.

Front

When should ellipses be used in dialogue?

Back

Ellipses are used in dialogue to indicate a trailing off of thought or speech.

Front

What is a dash?

Back

A punctuation mark (—) used to indicate a break in thought or to set off additional information.

Front

How is a dash different from a comma?

Back

A dash indicates a stronger break in thought than a comma and is often used for emphasis.

Front

Where should a comma be placed in a compound sentence?

Back

A comma should be placed before the coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) that connects two independent clauses.

Front

What is the purpose of using commas in a list?

Back

Commas are used to separate items in a list to clarify the individual elements.

Front

How do you use ellipses to indicate a pause?

Back

Ellipses can be used to show a pause in speech, suggesting that the speaker is thinking or hesitating.

Front

What is the rule for using commas with direct address?

Back

When directly addressing someone, a comma should be placed before or after the name or title.