Mastering Comma Usage in Writing

Which sentence correctly uses commas in a series?

• I bought apples, oranges and bananas.

• I bought apples, oranges, and bananas.

• I bought, apples oranges, and bananas.

• I bought apples oranges and bananas.

Identify the sentence that correctly uses a comma before a conjunction in a compound sentence.

• She wanted to go to the park but it started raining.

• She wanted to go to the park, but it started raining.

• She wanted to go to the park but, it started raining.

• She wanted to go to the park, but, it started raining.

Choose the sentence that correctly uses a comma after a subordinate clause at the beginning.

• Because it was raining we stayed inside.

• Because it was raining, we stayed inside.

• Because, it was raining we stayed inside.

• Because it was raining we, stayed inside.

Select the sentence that correctly uses commas to set off a name of a person being addressed.

• Let's eat, Grandma.

• Let's eat Grandma.

• Let's, eat Grandma.

• Let's eat, Grandma,

Which sentence correctly uses a comma to set off words like "yes" at the beginning of a sentence?

• Yes we can go to the park.

• Yes, we can go to the park.

• Yes we, can go to the park.

• Yes, we can, go to the park.

Identify the sentence that correctly uses a comma to set off an appositive.

• My brother, a talented musician is performing tonight.

• My brother a talented musician, is performing tonight.

• My brother, a talented musician, is performing tonight.

• My brother a talented, musician is performing tonight.

Choose the sentence that correctly uses quotation marks around dialogue.

• She said, "Let's go to the movies."

• She said "Let's go to the movies".

• She said, Let's go to the movies.

• She said "Let's go to the movies."

Select the sentence that correctly uses quotation marks and commas when dialogue is divided in a sentence.

• "I can't believe it," she said "that we won!"

• "I can't believe it," she said, "that we won!"

• "I can't believe it" she said, "that we won!"

• "I can't believe it," she said "that we won!"

Which sentence correctly uses commas in a series?

• For breakfast, I had eggs, toast, and juice.

• For breakfast, I had eggs toast and juice.

• For breakfast I had, eggs, toast, and juice.

• For breakfast I had eggs, toast and juice.

Identify the sentence that correctly uses a comma before a conjunction in a compound sentence.

• I wanted to go swimming, but the pool was closed.

• I wanted to go swimming but, the pool was closed.

• I wanted to go swimming but the pool was closed.

• I wanted, to go swimming but the pool was closed.