Commas, Ellipses and Dashes

Front

What is a comma?

Back

A punctuation mark (,) used to indicate a pause between parts of a sentence or to separate items in a list.

Front

When should a comma be used after an introductory phrase?

Back

A comma should be placed after an introductory phrase to separate it from the main clause, e.g., 'After dinner, we went for a walk.'

Front

What is an ellipsis?

Back

A punctuation mark consisting of three dots (...) used to indicate the omission of words or a trailing off of thought.

Front

When should ellipses be used in writing?

Back

Ellipses are used to show that part of a quote has been omitted or to indicate a pause or unfinished thought.

Front

What is a dash?

Back

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 to add emphasis?

Back

Dashes can be used to add emphasis by setting off a phrase or clause, e.g., 'He was the best player—no one could deny that.'

Front

What is the difference between a comma and a dash?

Back

A comma indicates a slight pause, while a dash indicates a stronger break or interruption in thought.

Front

How do you punctuate a list with commas?

Back

Use commas to separate items in a list, e.g., 'I bought apples, oranges, and bananas.'

Front

What is the Oxford comma?

Back

The Oxford comma is the final comma in a list of three or more items, placed before 'and' or 'or', e.g., 'I like apples, oranges, and bananas.'

Front

When should you not use a comma?

Back

Do not use a comma to separate two independent clauses without a conjunction, e.g., 'I went to the store I bought milk.'