Search results
Jul 1, 2023 · But fear not! Below, you’ll find guidance for the trickiest comma questions. What is a comma? While a period ends a sentence, a comma indicates a smaller break. Some writers think of a comma as a soft pause—a punctuation mark that separates words, clauses, or ideas within a sentence.
Commas | Punctuation Rules and Examples. Commas and periods are the most frequently used punctuation marks. Commas customarily indicate a brief pause; they're not as final as periods. Rule 1. Use commas to separate words and word groups in a simple series of three or more items.
The comma , is a punctuation mark that appears in several variants in different languages. It has the same shape as an apostrophe or single closing quotation mark ( ’) in many typefaces, but it differs from them in being placed on the baseline of the text.
David and Paige introduce you to the comma! The comma is a punctuation mark that separates sentence elements, such as lists, dates, and clauses. It's the superhero of punctuation, but it has one weakness: commas can't go at the end of sentences.
When to Use a Comma (,) | Guide, Rules & Examples. Commas are used to split up different parts of a sentence, and when used correctly they bring clarity and flow to your writing. They’re probably the most common piece of punctuation in English, which means that they’re often the most misused.
A simple sentence contains only one independent clause and no dependent clauses. When a simple sentence contains a conjunction, you might be tempted to insert a comma before the conjunction, as you do with a compound sentence. With a simple sentence, however, the general rule is to omit the comma.
Commas are used after the 'setting the scene for a sentence,' after a transitional phrase (e.g., 'however'), after an interjection (e.g., 'Yes'), before a conjunction (e.g., 'and,' 'but'), for parentheses (like brackets), after a long subject, in lists, and for direct address.
Quick Guide to Commas. Use commas to separate independent clauses when they are joined by any of these seven coordinating conjunctions: and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet. Use commas after introductory a) clauses, b) phrases, or c) words that come before the main clause.
Use a comma between items in a series or list. In a sentence, the last two items usually do not need a comma between them as they are separated by "and". However, if one or both of the last two items are long, a comma may be useful. My favourite sports are football, rugby, swimming, boxing and golf.
Use a comma to separate elements of a list, distinguish groups of words that go together, mark conjunctions between complete thoughts, and more. This handout offers seven easy steps to deciding when to use a comma.