Commas

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

When do you use a comma before 'but'?

Back

You use a comma before 'but' when it connects two independent clauses.

Front

How do you use commas in dates?

Back

Commas are used to separate the day from the month and the year in a date. For example, 'December 5, 2018'.

Front

What is the rule for using commas in a list?

Back

Use commas to separate three or more items in a list. For example, 'I like apples, oranges, and bananas.'

Front

When should you use a comma after an introductory phrase?

Back

Use a comma after an introductory phrase to separate it from the main clause. For example, 'After dinner, we went for a walk.'

Front

What is an independent clause?

Back

An independent clause is a group of words that can stand alone as a sentence because it has a subject and a verb.

Front

How do you punctuate a sentence with a conjunction?

Back

When using a conjunction (like 'and' or 'but') to connect two independent clauses, place a comma before the conjunction.

Front

What is the Oxford comma?

Back

The Oxford comma is the final comma in a list of items, placed before 'and' or 'or'. For example, 'I want to buy apples, oranges, and bananas.'

Front

When do you use commas with geographical names?

Back

Use commas to separate the city from the state or country. For example, 'I live in Seattle, Washington.'

Front

What is a compound sentence?

Back

A compound sentence is a sentence that contains at least two independent clauses joined by a conjunction.