What are the five comma rules?

• Use a comma after an introductory phrase or clause. ...
• Use commas before and after a parenthetical phrase or clause. ...
• Use a comma to separate two independent clauses linked by a coordinating conjunction (and, but, for, nor or, so, yet) ...
• Use a comma to separate items in a series.

• USE A COMMA TO SEPARATE INDEPENDENT CLAUSES. ...
• USE A COMMA AFTER AN INTRODUCTORY CLAUSE OR PHRASE. ...
• USE A COMMA BETWEEN ALL ITEMS IN A SERIES. ...
• USE COMMAS TO SET OFF NONRESTRICTIVE CLAUSES. ...
• USE A COMMA TO SET OFF APPOSITIVES.

• Signal Beginning. Rule: Commas signal where the main statement in a sentence begins. ...
• Change Direction. Rule: Commas signal a change in the direction or focus of a sentence. ...
• Separate Supplemental Information. ...
• Distinguish Complete Statements.

What is the comma trick?

Use a comma between two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction such as and, or, nor, for, so, yet, and but. Billy threw the ball, and the dog ran. Maria and Troy love to go shopping, but they don't like malls.

What is the 6th comma rule?

6. Put commas around nonessential material. ( This material is relevant, but the sentence.

What is the comma rule 3?

COMMA RULE #3 – THE COMMA IN A COMPOUND SENTENCE: Use a comma before and, but, or, nor, for, so, or yet to join two independent clauses that form a compound sentence. What is a compound sentence? A compound sentence is a sentence that has 2 independent clauses.

What is a floating comma?

Apostrophes are the curly floating commas in sentences that usually indicate possession or a contraction. There are a few set phrases and holidays, however, that also use apostrophes. In fact, apostrophes have some of the most confusing grammar rules in the English language.

Where should you not put a comma?

Do you put a comma before and in a list?

The comma before “and” (or comma before “or”) at the end of a list is optional. It's referred to as an Oxford comma or serial comma. Most academic style guides recommend adding it (“salt, pepper, and paprika”). But it's also not a grammatical error to write a list without it (“salt, pepper and paprika”).

What is the rule for the first comma?

Rule 1: Use a comma after an introductory clause. When he had tired of the mad pace of New York, he moved to Dubuque. Omit the comma if no ambiguity would result unless it would slow comprehension.

How many commas is too many?

Some writers think of a comma as a soft pause—a punctuation mark that separates words, clauses, or ideas within a sentence. Therefore there is no limit on the number of commas that we may use in a sentence.

What is comma rule 9 examples?

9. Use commas to separate a specific date from the rest of a sentence. Place a comma after the year if you are referencing a specific date in day/month/ year format within a sentence. For example, it is correct to write: “March 17, 1988, was the day that my parents met.”

What is the Oxford comma rule?

So what is the Oxford comma? Well, appropriately enough, the Oxford Dictionary has the answer. The proper definition of the Oxford comma is “a comma used after the penultimate item in a list of three or more items, before 'and' or 'or'.” For example: “Today I went to lunch with my roommates, Tom, and Molly.”

Are there different types of commas?

There are four types of comma: the listing comma, the joining comma, the gapping comma and bracketing commas. A listing comma can always be replaced by the word and or or: Vanessa seems to live on eggs, pasta and aubergines.

What is a comma with a dot above it called?

What Is a Semicolon? The semicolon is the colon's quirkier sibling. While the colon is simply two dots stacked : the semicolon is a dot hovering over a comma ; The semicolon does jobs that are also done by other punctuation marks, but puts its own spin on the task.

What do double commas mean?

Use two commas to set off an appositive or an aside in the midst of a sentence. An appositive is a word or phrase that describes a noun it follows. An aside tells us something about the noun, but is not essential to defining the noun. Correct Use with an Appositive: The police chief, William A.

What is comma rule 7?

7. Use commas to set off direct quotations. Rule: A dialogue is a conversation between two or more people. If the speaker (not the listener) in the conversation is identified, his name, (or the noun or pronoun used to refer to the speaker), and the verb that refers to his speaking are enclosed within commas.

Do you put a comma before and three items?

As mentioned above, when you are listing three or more items, commas should separate each element of the list. However, the final comma—the one that comes before the and—is optional. This comma is called the serial comma or the Oxford comma. Whether or not you use the serial comma is a style choice.

Can comma rules ever be broken?

In general, you should try to be consistent with your usage. However, clarity trumps consistency, so you may decide to 'break' the rule you've imposed if the sentence needs it. And both the omission or inclusion of a serial comma can create confusion!

What is a restrictive comma?

A restrictive clause introduces information that is necessary to the meaning of the sentence. A nonrestrictive clause can be removed without changing the meaning. Restrictive clauses require no punctuation; nonrestrictive clauses are usually separated from the independent clause with commas.

What is the most common comma mistake?

How do you master a comma?

Use commas after introductory a) clauses, b) phrases, or c) words that come before the main clause. Example: In the beginning, there was light. Use a pair of commas in the middle of a sentence to set off clauses, phrases, and words that are not essential to the meaning of the sentence.