Commas in a Series Flashcard

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

What is the purpose of using commas in a series?

Back

Commas in a series are used to separate three or more items in a list to clarify the meaning of the sentence.

Front

How do you correctly punctuate a list of items?

Back

You place a comma between each item in the list, and before the conjunction (like 'and' or 'or') before the last item.

Front

What is the correct way to write: 'I like apples bananas and oranges.'?

Back

The correct way is: 'I like apples, bananas, and oranges.'

Front

What is the Oxford comma?

Back

The Oxford comma is the final comma in a list of items, placed before 'and' or 'or'. It is used to avoid ambiguity.

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When should you not use a comma in a series?

Back

You should not use a comma in a series when there are only two items being listed, e.g., 'I like apples and oranges.'

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What is an example of a sentence with correct comma usage?

Back

An example is: 'For breakfast, I had eggs, toast, and orange juice.'

Front

What happens if you omit commas in a series?

Back

Omitting commas can lead to confusion or misinterpretation of the items in the list.

Front

How do you punctuate: 'The dog chased the cat the mouse and the bird.'?

Back

It should be: 'The dog chased the cat, the mouse, and the bird.'

Front

What is a common mistake when using commas in a series?

Back

A common mistake is to forget the comma before the conjunction, e.g., 'I bought apples, oranges and bananas.'