Comma Usage Practice I

Front

What is the purpose of a comma in a sentence?

Back

Commas are used to indicate a pause between parts of a sentence, to separate items in a list, and to clarify meaning.

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 the correct way to write a date with commas?

Back

The correct format is 'Month Day, Year', e.g., 'May 5, 2016'.

Front

How do you punctuate a quote that is part of a sentence?

Back

Place a comma before the opening quotation mark, e.g., My sister replied, "I don't have any homework."

Front

What is the rule for using commas in a list?

Back

Use commas to separate items in a list, and include a comma before the conjunction in a series of three or more items.

Front

How should you punctuate a city and state in a sentence?

Back

Use a comma between the city and the state, e.g., 'Philadelphia, PA'.

Front

What is an example of incorrect comma usage?

Back

An example is: 'My cat Fluffy, is white.' The correct form is 'My cat, Fluffy, is white.'

Front

When is it appropriate to use commas with adjectives?

Back

Use commas to separate two or more coordinate adjectives that describe the same noun, e.g., 'It was a long, tiring day.'

Front

What is the Oxford comma?

Back

The Oxford comma is the final comma in a list of items, placed before 'and' or 'or', e.g., 'apples, oranges, and bananas'.

Front

How do you use commas with introductory phrases?

Back

Use a comma after an introductory phrase or clause, e.g., 'After dinner, we went for a walk.'