commas, dashes, parentheses

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 should you use a comma in a list?

Back

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

Front

What is a dash?

Back

A dash (—) is a punctuation mark used to create a strong break in the structure of a sentence or to set off additional information.

Front

How do you use dashes in a sentence?

Back

Dashes can be used to add emphasis or to insert additional information. For example: 'My brother—who is very tall—plays basketball.'

Front

What are parentheses?

Back

Parentheses ( ) are punctuation marks used to enclose additional information or clarifications within a sentence.

Front

When should you use parentheses?

Back

Use parentheses to include information that is supplementary or not essential to the main point. For example: 'The book (which I borrowed from the library) was fascinating.'

Front

What is the correct way to use commas in a compound sentence?

Back

Use a comma before the conjunction (and, but, or) when connecting two independent clauses. For example: 'I wanted to go for a walk, but it started to rain.'

Front

How do you correctly use commas with introductory phrases?

Back

Use a comma after an introductory phrase or clause. For example: 'After dinner, we went for a walk.'

Front

What is the difference between a dash and a hyphen?

Back

A dash (—) is longer and used for breaks in thought, while a hyphen (-) is shorter and used to connect words or parts of words.

Front

Can you give an example of a sentence using parentheses correctly?

Back

Sure! 'The concert (which was sold out) was amazing.'