Comma Rules A-J

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

How do you correctly punctuate dates in a sentence?

Back

When writing dates, use a comma after the day and after the year if the date is in the middle of a sentence (e.g., 'Monday, February 22, 2021').

Front

What is an appositive?

Back

An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that renames another noun right beside it, and it is set off by commas (e.g., 'My brother, a skilled musician, plays guitar').

Front

How do you use commas in a list?

Back

Use commas to separate items in a list of three or more (e.g., 'I bought apples, oranges, and bananas').

Front

What is a direct address in a sentence?

Back

A direct address is when you call someone by name in a sentence, and it should be set off by commas (e.g., 'Can you help me, Sarah?').

Front

When should you use a comma with introductory elements?

Back

Use a comma after introductory words, phrases, or clauses that come before the main clause (e.g., 'After dinner, we went for a walk').

Front

What is the rule for using 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 journey').

Front

How do you punctuate geographical names?

Back

Use commas to separate the name of a city from the name of the state or country (e.g., 'Los Angeles, California').

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., 'I like apples, bananas, and cherries').