Comma Commandments: Direct Address & Geographic Mastery

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, and to clarify meaning.

Front

How do you correctly punctuate a city and state in a sentence?

Back

A comma should be placed between the city and the state, and another comma should follow the state when it appears in a sentence.

Front

What is direct address in a sentence?

Back

Direct address occurs when a speaker directly addresses someone by name or title, often requiring a comma before the name or title.

Front

Provide an example of a sentence using a comma in direct address.

Back

"Can you help me with my homework, Sarah?"

Front

What is the effect of omitting a comma in direct address?

Back

Omitting a comma in direct address can change the meaning of a sentence, potentially leading to confusion.

Front

How should you punctuate a sentence that includes a direct address?

Back

You should place a comma before the name or title being used in direct address.

Front

What is the difference between 'Let's eat Grandma' and 'Let's eat, Grandma'?

Back

The first sentence suggests eating Grandma, while the second invites Grandma to eat, demonstrating the importance of commas for clarity.

Front

When should you use a comma before 'and' in a list?

Back

A comma should be used before 'and' in a list of three or more items (Oxford comma) for clarity.

Front

What is an example of a sentence that incorrectly uses commas for a city and state?

Back

"I moved to Nashville Tennessee last year." (Correct: "I moved to Nashville, Tennessee, last year.")

Front

What is the rule for using commas with introductory phrases?

Back

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